How Much Does It Cost to Seed a Lawn?

Cost to Reseed or Overseed a Lawn

It costs about $1,025 to reseed or overseed a lawn, or between $400 and $1,650, labor excluded. Overseeding is another word for reseeding, but the process and cost factors are the same. The method can also impact price. For example, some homeowners prefer hydroseeding—spraying a mixture of seed, fertilizer, mulch, and water over the area. While this is cheaper than laying sod, it’s more expensive than traditional reseeding. Hydroseeding a lawn costs between $500 and $4,000, depending on the size and condition of your yard.

Cost to Seed a New Lawn

The cost to seed a new lawn ranges from $550 to $1,150, not including labor. Expect to pay less for reseeding a new lawn because you don’t have to factor in the time needed to prepare the old grass. 

Seed vs. Sod

Some homeowners opt to lay sod instead because it’s a faster way to get a lush and full lawn. The cost to install sod ranges from about $1,050 to $2,900. 

Lawn Seeding Cost Factors 

Several factors can influence the price of seeding a lawn. Lawn size is one of the biggest factors, with seed type and preparation work also playing important roles in how much you’ll spend.

Size

It costs an average of $5,880 to seed an acre of grass or 43,560 square feet. Cost can rise or fall significantly, depending on factors like grass type and how extensive the job is.

Here’s a look at seeding costs based on lawn size.

Seed Type

Most seeds cost between $3 and $10 per pound, so the type of seed you choose can impact your total costs. Fescue, clover, and Bermuda grass are three of the most cost-effective options, while Bahia seeds are towards the high end of the cost range.

Location

Your location can impact the cost of your project. Some budget-friendly grass species are less common in certain regions because they don’t thrive there. For example, Bahia grass thrives in a Southern environment but won’t do well in the Northeast because it’s not a freeze-hardy grass species. It’s a good idea to check with a local landscaper when choosing seed for your reseeding project to avoid selecting a grass that won’t do well in your region.

Lawn Quality

Maintaining your lawn quality might mean aerating your lawn every season. Lawn aeration costs $150 on average, with loam and clay soils generally costing more to aerate than sandy soil types. 

Likewise, if your soil has thick layers of thatch, the cost to dethatch a lawn is $215 for a medium-sized lawn. Some lawns might also need more watering than others, and your pro might recommend installing a sprinkler system for around $2,500. 

Packages

Some lawn service companies offer 20% off flat-rate packages for reseeding lawns if it's part of your routine lawn care maintenance plan. Packages usually include a combination of fertilization, aeration, weed control, and lawn mowing.

Labor

Hiring a pro to reseed or overseed your lawn can increase your cost by $250 to $350. For general lawn care, homeowners typically pay between $150 and $750 in labor costs for services like removing dead grass, raking the soil, spreading the seed, and fertilizing. On its own, lawn fertilization costs about $0.02 to $0.14 per square foot per year.

Landscape Prep

Additional preparation expenses include the price to mow an existing lawn, cost of tree and shrub services, and removal of debris. These services can add on $75 to $1,300, depending on the extent of the preparation.

Cost to Seed by Type of Grass

A 20-pound bag of high-end grass seed can cost anywhere between $60 and $380. Again, the type of grass impacts the cost to seed your yard, with Bahia and Kentucky bluegrass seeds falling at the higher end of the price range and fescue and clover coming in towards the lower end. Bermuda seeds fall in the middle of the range.

Bermuda

Bermuda grass seeds cost about $5 to $7 per pound. This species does well in warmer climates, as it requires a lot of sunlight and good drainage. It’s tolerant to elements like heat, drought, and traffic, but it does require quite a bit of maintenance to keep it healthy and prospering.

Fescue 

Fescue seeds cost about $3 to $4 per pound. Fescue, or tall fescue, is considered a cool-season grass because it can survive freezing temperatures. It’s disease resistant and has heat, drought, and shade tolerance. However, it doesn’t have a significant ability to repair itself when damaged.

Bahia

Bahia grass costs $9 to $11 per pound on average. You may find that spending a little more is better because this grass species thrives in a Southern environment. This will not be a good choice for you if you live in a climate like the Northeast because you need a species that can survive freezing temperatures.

Clover

Though not technically a grass, clover does well in temperate climates and costs between $4 and $5 per pound. This wallet-friendly seed option is also low-maintenance and attracts pollinators, but some homeowners associations might consider it a weed.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Another temperate-dwelling grass is Kentucky bluegrass, which costs anywhere from $12 to $19 per pound. This option is one of the costliest, but it's great for areas with a lot of foot traffic.

Seed Cost

Grass seed typically ranges from $3 to $19 per pound or $30 to $190 or more per bag. How much you’ll pay depends on where you live, how healthy your lawn is, and the species of grass you have planted. Grass seeding usually costs between $0.09 and $0.18 per square foot.

DIY Seeding Costs

The cost to DIY your seeding project can fall between $190 to $1,030. This includes $150 to $950 for a 50-pound bag of seed and $40 to $80 for a push aerator rental at $20 per hour. 

DIY vs. Professional Lawn Service

Reseeding your lawn is a doable but involved DIY project. Hiring a pro can increase the cost to reseed by $250 to $350. The average cost for hiring a pro is around $700 if they’re also completing prep work, soil amendment, and everything down to the first watering. A lawn service company near you can save you time and prevent costly mistakes—all while giving your lawn the best chance of looking vibrant and healthy.

Lawn Seeding Tips

If you decide to handle this project yourself, here are some tips:

• Test your soil early. This will give you time to figure out if you’ll need to aerate and dethatch your yard before reseeding. 

• Know your growing area, so you know what kinds of grasses flourish in your region.

• Get seeds suited to what you intend to use your lawn for. If it’s a playground for the kids, you want tough, hardy grass that holds up to foot traffic. If it’s for appearance, pick a soft, lush grass.

• Note how much shade your yard has. Some grasses don’t do well in the shade, while other types don’t do well in blazing sunlight.

• Decide if you should seed or overseed. Overseeding is less costly if your lawn has just turned brown and has some patchy spots. If large areas are damaged, you may need to seed or have a pro remove the damaged areas and lay down sod.

• If you only have a patch or two, spot-seed only in those areas.

• Mix with damp sand a day prior. This will help the seeds germinate faster and hold them in place in the event of wind.

• Water with a gentle spray two to three times per day until they germinate, then water according to your normal schedule.

Once your new grass looks healthy, familiarize yourself with how to diagnose and deal with common lawn problems. Some issues can crop up seemingly overnight, like lawn fungus. Knowing the common types of lawn fungus and how to prevent them from taking up residence in your yard can save you money.

FAQs

How much grass seed do I need?

How much grass seed you need depends on the type and area you need to cover. A brand new tall Fescue lawn requires 8 to 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet of area, while colonial and creeping bentgrasses require 1/2 to 1 pound for the same area.

How long does it take to reseed a lawn?

It takes seven to 30 days to reseed a lawn, although the exact timeline changes depending on where you live and the grass species.

Will grass seed grow if you just throw it on the ground?

No, grass seed will not grow if you just throw it on the ground. While a few seeds may sprout, if you don’t go through the proper process to plant them, they won’t germinate—wasting time and money.

Can you put down too much grass seed?

Yes, you can put down too much grass seed. You can tell because some areas are thicker and darker than other spots. You risk exposing your lawn to issues like a disease if you put down too much.

What’s the difference between overseeding and reseeding a lawn?

The difference between overseeding and reseeding a lawn is marginal. People often use the terms interchangeably, although some use the term “reseeding” when talking about seeding a very large portion of a lawn or the entire area.

Can you walk on grass seed?

You can walk on grass seed after mowing it three to four times. You should keep children, pets, and other foot traffic away from it in the meantime.