How much does Lawn seeding cost?

Few things pump up a home’s curb appeal like a lush lawn. Conversely, a yard full of bare spots instantly detracts from your property’s value. According to a 2021 survey of real estate agents for Trees.com, lawn quality has a greater impact on resale prices than any other landscaping or hardscaping element.  

Proper lawn seeding is key to a vibrant, healthy lawn—whether you’re creating a new one from scratch or reseeding (also called overseeding) to revive an existing yard. A lawn or landscaping professional has the tools and knowhow to ensure, for example, that the soil is healthy enough to grow a lush green carpet, using aerating, fertilizing, soil conditioning, and other lawn-care services.

“If the soil is bad, then the lawn seeding job is going to be more expensive than simply spreading grass seed,” says Miguel Wong, owner of Century Lawn Care Co. in Evanston, Illinois. “I have to remove some of the existing soil, put down new topsoil, some compost, and fertilizer before seeding.”

This guide explains the cost of hiring a professional landscaping company to seed a new lawn or overseed an existing one. Pricing data is based on real quotes provided to Yelp users by professionals, along with industry research. Learn more in the methodology section at the end of the guide.

The typical cost for basic lawn seeding is $207, but the cost can range from $115–375 nationwide, according to Yelp data. 

These costs were provided by Yelp professionals who handle lawn seeding and reseeding, and represent jobs of typical size and scope. Your specific cost will depend on the size of your lawn, condition of the soil, local labor rates, and other factors explained below.  

You’ll typically pay $68 per hour for lawn seeding by a landscaper, but rates can range from $25–118 per hour plus the cost of materials, according to Yelp data. 

The terms “seeding,” “overseeding,” and “reseeding” are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Seeding refers to applying seeds to start a new lawn on bare soil. Overseeding and reseeding both mean spreading seeds to repair bare spots, as well as spreading seed on an existing lawn to promote grass growth.

The cost to overseed an existing lawn is $0.06–0.22 per square foot (sq ft), including labor and materials. The average price for a 10,000-square-foot lawn, which is just under one-quarter acre, ranges from $600–2,200. This includes using a spreader to apply the seed as well as aerating the lawn, which adds another $0.02–0.05 per square foot to the overall bill. Aeration involves using special tools to pull plugs of soil to the surface, allowing water and nutrients to reach roots to promote germination. 

The cost of spreading seed for a new lawn on bare soil is about the same as the cost of reseeding, $0.06–0.22 per square foot. But most bare soil needs a jumpstart—in the form of rototilling, fertilizing, and mulching—increasing the total cost of planting a new lawn to $0.30–0.75 per square foot. Planting a typical 10,000-square-foot lawn will cost $3,000–7,500.

Hydroseeding costs $0.10–0.25 per square foot. While most landscapers use a spreader to distribute seed for a new lawn, hydroseeding mixes the seed, mulch, soil amendments, and water into a slurry that’s sprayed onto the soil. This makes the lawn grow more quickly and evenly, resulting in better grass coverage.

The average cost of sod—pre-grown strips of turf that include a layer of soil with grass attached—is $0.40–0.85 per square foot, for the sod only. Professional installation, which includes both labor and the cost of sod, averages $0.90–2.00 per square foot. There’s often a separate delivery charge of $75–250 to carry the sod to your home, but some companies will include delivery in their estimate.

Compared with spreading grass seed, sod installation is difficult work. Sod comes in rectangles, and the landscaper must cut it to fit around curved walkways and flower beds, and trim it to accommodate sprinkler systems. While laying sod is more expensive than planting seed, it’s a fast solution to a new lawn. In most cases, you can start walking on a sod lawn about 2 weeks after it’s installed.

The cost of lawn seeding is partly determined by the type of seed you choose. The best type for your lawn will depend on your local climate. With overseeding, the new seed needs to be the same as, or compatible with, your existing grass.

Grass seeds can be divided into two broad categories: warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. Warm-season varieties do best in hot, sunny climates. They peak during the summer and go dormant during the winter. Cool-season grasses maintain their vigor and color into the fall in most parts of the country. In addition to those categories, grass seed companies produce seed blends made for sun, shade, or other special conditions.

Prices are usually stated per pound. As a general rule, you’ll typically need 4–7 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet when seeding a new lawn, or 2–4 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet when overseeding (more if you need to cover large bare spots).

The national average cost for Bahiagrass is $7–14 per pound. This warm-season grass is known for its ability to withstand high heat and humidity, so it’s a favorite with homeowners in the deep South. It has a rough texture that enables it to withstand heavy foot traffic. 

At a cost of $3–11 per pound, this warm-season grass is drought tolerant, grows quickly, and is known for better weed control. Some homeowners find it to be too aggressive when planted around flower beds. Bermuda grass loses its color in the winter. 

The cost for carpetgrass seed is $10–25 per pound. This warm-season grass is low-maintenance and tough enough to withstand regular foot traffic. It thrives in most types of soil. 

The cost of centipede grass is $6–25 per pound. This warm-season grass thrives in hot climates, but doesn’t handle cool temperatures well. It’s a low-growing grass that resists weeds and lawn pests, and can tolerate slightly acidic soil. 

At $5–10 per pound, fine fescue, as its name implies, has a finer texture than most other grasses. It’s a cool-season grass that is drought-tolerant and can do well in shady conditions, but may go dormant in hot summer conditions. 

The national average cost of Kentucky bluegrass seed is $6–12 per pound. This cool-season grass thrives in the northern areas of the US, and it can stand up to foot traffic. Bluegrass goes through growth spurts in the spring and fall, but slows down during the heat of summer. 

Perennial ryegrass costs $2–10 per pound. It’s often blended with other types of grass seed because it germinates quickly and produces grass that can withstand foot traffic. Some lawn care professionals overseed ryegrass on lawns with warm-season grasses to keep the lawn looking good over the winter months. 

St. Augustine grass seed costs $5–20 per pound. This warm-season grass grows quickly and has a distinctive blue-green color that lasts into the fall. It thrives in warm weather and sandy soil. 

At $5–12 per pound, tall fescue is one of the most popular cool-season grasses. It’s relatively drought tolerant and can withstand cooler temperatures. The deep green color of tall fescue stays vibrant into the fall in northern areas.

Here are some additional issues that can affect the cost of seeding a new lawn or overseeding an existing one. 

If additional topsoil is needed for a new lawn, expect to pay $15–55 per cubic yard, which will cover 50–75 square feet of lawn at 4–6 inches deep. Delivery fees average $20–150, depending on size of the load and delivery distance. 

Not every new lawn requires a soil test, but a lawn seeding service will often want testing to determine which soil amendments (substances added to improve soil’s physical or chemical properties) will be necessary to promote lawn growth. Average cost is $25–55 per soil sample; large lawns may require multiple samples. 

Dethatching costs typically range from $0.04–0.07 per square foot. This is a power-raking process that removes excess dead grass fibers from the root crown. Dethatching allows proper penetration into the grass root zone and helps improve lawn quality.

In some cases, an old lawn must be completely removed before seeding a new lawn. Average cost is $0.75–2.10 per square foot, including disposal of the old grass.

Leveling the ground and improving terrain are sometimes necessary before planting a new lawn. Expect to pay $1–2.50 per square foot for soil grading. In many cases, only part of the lawn area will need grading. In some areas, you may need a grading permit, depending on the size of your yard and the area that needs grading. The cost of a permit typically ranges from $100–500. 

Here are some ways to reduce your expenses for lawn seeding or overseeding.

Be sure the area is clear of lawn furniture, play structures, and any other obstructions. If the lawn has a heavy layer of thatch, you can remove it before asking for bids for your job. Some large home-improvement centers rent out power rakes for dethatching at about $100 per day. 

If you already use a lawn care service for regular maintenance, such as mowing and leaf raking, that company can usually handle overseeding an existing lawn. If you don’t, it’s a good idea to compare bids from 3 or more qualified local companies. Check their reviews and references, and ask neighbors with the best-looking lawns for recommendations.

Just overseeding a few bare spots is a reasonable DIY home-improvement project for many homeowners. Large-scale overseeding, on the other hand, is best left to a pro, especially because it usually involves aerating the lawn. Lawn care providers typically have favorite grass seed brands and know what works best in your area.

The same is true when planting a new lawn. Anyone can push a seed spreader, but new lawns often require grading the yard and adding soil amendments to ensure growth. If this isn’t done properly, you could end up wasting money on pounds of seed that don’t sprout. 

How much does it cost to seed a 1,000-square-foot lawn? 

You’ll typically pay $0.30–0.75 per square foot to have a professional to prepare the soil and seed a new lawn. For a 1,000-square-foot lawn, the cost would be $300–750.

Can I just throw grass seed down on the existing lawn? 

Throwing seed on an existing lawn is an easy way to fill in thin or patchy areas. But for a more thorough job, a landscaper will aerate the lawn before overseeding, at a typical cost of $0.02–0.05 per square foot. 

Is it cheaper to grow grass seed or lay sod for a new lawn? 

Using grass seed is considerably less expensive than laying sod. A 5,000-square-foot lawn professionally planted with grass seed can cost up to $3,750. The same lawn planted with professionally installed sod can cost up to $10,000. 

Find a lawn care professional in your area.

Cost data in this guide is based on project quote estimates provided to Yelp users by licensed professionals and businesses on Yelp (as well as analysis of industry data). Actual project costs may vary depending on location or complexity of the project. Cost data has been reviewed by our industry expert, Don Vandervort, a nationally known home improvement author. Don is the founder of the website HomeTips.com and has written or produced more than 30 home improvement books.