Sod installation cost in Dothan, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,350 – $2,900
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.80
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #288
- 1 = most expensive
Dothan homeowners pay roughly $1,350 to $2,900 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.90 to $1.80 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dothan is 11% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $16.00 an hour in the Dothan area, 15% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Dothan, AL, standard level
$1,800 to $2,450
About $1.15 to $1.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $800 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $180 |
| Total | $1,800 | $2,450 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Dothan, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 51% |
| Labor | $610 | $920 | $1,200 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $250 | 6% |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,150 | $2,900 | 100% |
Where the Dothan price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on landscaping and groundskeeping workers, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $16.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dothan is 0.82 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dothan 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 (83.8) and land at $0 to $250.
When to schedule sod lawn in Dothan
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dothan Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Dothan (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Dothan gets about 54 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 89 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 | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 43 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 49 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 64 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 6.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 72 | 6.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 67 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 57 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 47 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Dothan
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dothan 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
$1,350 to $1,950
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,800 to $2,450
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,300 to $2,900
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $890 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,050 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,350 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,450 | $2,300 – $2,900 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,550 – $5,100 | $4,700 – $6,250 | $5,850 – $7,350 |
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 Dothan is 0.82 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $16.00 an hour, which is 15% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $13.27 and $17.17 an hour. BLS counts 300 of them working in the area, 49.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $15.39 an hour, 32% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $12.40 and $18.76 an hour. About 600 work in the metro. That is 98.8 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 ($17.17 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $55. At the 25th percentile ($13.27) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 2.6% or 6.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 60,720 jobs in the Dothan area. That makes it the 284th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $13.27 | $16.00 | $17.17 | $18.82 | 0.85 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $12.40 | $15.39 | $18.76 | $22.66 | 0.68 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Why two Dothan quotes can differ
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.
Related projects, priced for Dothan
Because every project leans on different trades, Dothan's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −13% and sprinkler system −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,450 | −15% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $5,950 – $11,900 | −13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,100 – $8,650 | −15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $30,600 – $95,900 | −15% |
Is Dothan 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. Albany is the cheapest at $2,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, ALthis page | $1,350 – $2,900 | $2,150 | |
| Panama City, FL70 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +6% |
| Crestview, FL70 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +8% |
| Albany, GA85 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,100 | −2% |
| Auburn, AL85 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +3% |
| Columbus, GA90 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +2% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +4% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Dothan comes in at #288 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, Dothan is 4% below the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +6% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +6% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +4% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +4% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +4% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Dothan's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dothan against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | 61,240 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +6% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +13% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +14% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +3% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,800 to $2,450 for Dothan, AL is attached.
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Multi-page report for Dothan, AL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Sod installation in Dothan: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Dothan?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,350 to $2,900 in the Dothan area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,800 to $2,450. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Dothan?
About $0.90 to $1.80 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $250 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Dothan or Panama City?
Panama City is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,250, which is 6% more than Dothan ($2,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dothan?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $920 out of $2,150. Materials are 51% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Dothan?
$1,350 to $2,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Dothan?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $250 for fees in the Dothan area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dothan expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Alabama?
Dothan is 4% below 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 Dothan?
The BLS median is $16.00 an hour in the Dothan area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $13.27 to $17.17.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Dothan?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $1,950 and premium work $2,300 to $2,900. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+When is the best time to lay sod in Dothan?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. May and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Sod installation near Dothan
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.