Sod installation cost in Daphne, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,100
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #241
- 1 = most expensive
Daphne homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $3,100 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.95 to $1.85 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Daphne is 7% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.37 an hour in the Daphne area, 8% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Daphne, AL, standard level
$1,900 to $2,600
About $1.20 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $880 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,600 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Daphne, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 48% |
| Labor | $680 | $1,000 | $1,350 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,100 | 100% |
Why Daphne prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Daphne wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Daphne metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,100, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (94.7) and land at $0 to $280.
Planning more than one job in Daphne?
Because every project leans on different trades, Daphne's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs −10% and inground pool −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $540 – $1,900 | −11% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,000 | −10% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,100 – $12,100 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,050 | −12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,900 – $99,800 | −12% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Daphne bid
Permit
Sodding permits cost $40-$300 where required, mostly for large lawns or those next to a public road.
Old grass removal
Removing an old lawn first adds $0.50-$2.00 per sq ft, and a full remove-and-resod runs $1.50-$4.00 per sq ft (HomeGuide).
Sod type
Sod alone costs $0.30-$0.80 per sq ft, or $130-$360 per pallet; delivery is $50-$250 per load.
When to schedule sod lawn in Daphne
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Fairhope 3 Ne (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Daphne: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Daphne gets about 66 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.6 inches in July). The station averages about 47 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 39 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 43 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 47 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 53 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 70 | 6.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 89 | 72 | 7.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 89 | 71 | 7.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 86 | 67 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 56 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 46 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 42 | 5.1 | Workable |
Is Daphne cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Crestview is the priciest of the group at $2,300. Hattiesburg is the cheapest at $2,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, ALthis page | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | |
| Mobile, AL25 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Pensacola, FL35 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Gulfport, MS75 miles | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | −5% |
| Crestview, FL85 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Hattiesburg, MS95 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −8% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Daphne comes in at #241 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $2,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $2,000 (midpoints, 1,500 sq ft). Statewide, Daphne is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Daphne's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Daphne against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +5% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −10% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | level |
Cost by quality level and size in Daphne
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Daphne wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,400 to $2,050
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,900 to $2,600
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,400 to $3,100
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $930 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,150 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,600 | $2,400 – $3,100 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,750 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,550 | $6,150 – $7,750 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Daphne is 0.90 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.37 an hour, which is 8% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.61 and $18.93 an hour. BLS counts 960 of them working in the area, 110.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.48 an hour, 18% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.06 and $22.49 an hour. About 970 work in the metro. That is 111.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($18.93 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $75. At the 25th percentile ($14.61) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 3.3% or 5.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 87,120 jobs in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley area. That makes it the 225th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $14.61 | $17.37 | $18.93 | $18.82 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.06 | $18.48 | $22.49 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
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Sod installation in Daphne: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Daphne?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,100 in the Daphne area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $2,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Daphne?
About $0.95 to $1.85 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Daphne or Mobile?
Mobile is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 1% less than Daphne ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Daphne?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $2,250. Materials are 48% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Daphne?
$1,400 to $3,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Daphne?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $280 for fees in the Daphne area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Daphne expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Alabama?
Daphne is 1% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($2,200 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Daphne?
The BLS median is $17.37 an hour in the Daphne area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.61 to $18.93.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Daphne?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,050 and premium work $2,400 to $3,100. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+Is there a bad season to lay sod in Daphne?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Sod installation near Daphne
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.