Sod installation cost in Montgomery, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,050
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #260
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Montgomery, AL usually costs $1,400 to $3,050 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $190 less. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.14 an hour in the Montgomery area, 9% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Montgomery, AL, standard level
$1,900 to $2,550
About $1.20 to $1.55 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $860 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Montgomery, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 49% |
| Labor | $660 | $990 | $1,350 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,200 | $3,050 | 100% |
Where the Montgomery price comes from
Labor is 45% of the midpoint bill here, against 47% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is landscaping and groundskeeping workers (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Montgomery the blended ratio comes out at 0.88.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Montgomery is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,100 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.7: $0 to $270.
Sod installation: what moves the price in Montgomery
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.
Site prep
The cost listed here assumes leveled, cleared ground. Grading and soil amendments are extra.
What local crews earn in Montgomery
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Montgomery the blend is 0.88.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.14 an hour, 9% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $13.70 and $18.84 an hour. About 760 work in the metro. That is 45.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $17.61 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.10 and $21.41 an hour. BLS counts 1,040 of them working in the area, 62.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $80 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 7.4% to 3.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Montgomery has 165,550 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 142nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $13.70 | $17.14 | $18.84 | $18.82 | 0.91 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.10 | $17.61 | $21.41 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Montgomery weather and the sod installation calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Montgomery Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Montgomery are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Montgomery gets about 51 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.2 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.7 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 93 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 37 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 40 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 53 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 69 | 4.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 80 | 55 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 43 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 62 | 39 | 5.0 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Montgomery
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Montgomery. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small yard (1,000 sq ft) to large yard (4,000 sq ft).
Basic
$1,400 to $2,050
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,900 to $2,550
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,400 to $3,050
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $920 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,750 | $1,650 – $2,100 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,550 | $2,400 – $3,050 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,700 – $5,300 | $4,900 – $6,450 | $6,050 – $7,650 |
Is Montgomery cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Montgomery. Dothan is the lowest at about $2,150 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, ALthis page | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | |
| Auburn, AL50 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Birmingham, AL80 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Columbus, GA90 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −2% |
| Dothan, AL95 miles | $1,350 – $2,900 | $2,150 | −4% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL95 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| Alabama (statewide) | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Montgomery ranks #260 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Montgomery is 0% above the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Montgomery against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +6% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +3% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | −3% |
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
What nearby projects cost in Montgomery
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Montgomery wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (−11%) and gravel driveway lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,550 – $8,900 | −11% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,050 – $12,000 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,800 | −14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,400 – $98,300 | −13% |
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Multi-page report for Montgomery, 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 Montgomery: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Montgomery?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,050 in the Montgomery area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $2,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Montgomery?
About $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $270 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Montgomery or Auburn?
Auburn is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 1% less than Montgomery ($2,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Montgomery?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $990 out of $2,200. Materials are 49% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Montgomery?
$1,400 to $3,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Montgomery?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $270 for fees in the Montgomery area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Montgomery expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Alabama?
Montgomery is 0% 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 Montgomery?
The BLS median is $17.14 an hour in the Montgomery area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $13.70 to $18.84.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Montgomery?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,050 and premium work $2,400 to $3,050. 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 Montgomery?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September 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 Montgomery
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.