Sod installation cost in Florida
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,450 – $3,200
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.95
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $2,400
- Metros covered
- 19
Across Florida, a new sod lawn costs about $1,450 to $3,200 for 1,500 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% below the US figure of $2,400. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median $17.84 an hour in Florida (US: $18.82).
Inside Florida, the metros we cover range from $2,250 (Tallahassee) to $2,400 (Miami) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Florida (statewide), standard level
$1,950 to $2,650
About $1.25 to $1.65 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $960 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $920 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $220 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,650 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Florida
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $740 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 48% |
| Labor | $710 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $160 | $310 | 7% |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,300 | $3,200 | 100% |
Florida labor market for sod lawn
Florida's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.95 times the national level.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.84 an hour, 5% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $20.99 an hour. About 86,040 work in the state. That is 86.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.17 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.83 and $23.06 an hour. BLS counts 87,040 of them working in the state, 87.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for landscaping and groundskeeping workers ($20.99 an hour) would add about $150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.03) would take off about $40. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 9,929,860 jobs across Florida (May 2025), which is 6.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $17.03 | $17.84 | $20.99 | $18.82 | 0.95 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.83 | $21.17 | $23.06 | $22.66 | 0.93 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
Florida metro-by-metro prices
2 of the 19 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $2,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1,500 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +4% |
| Naples, FL | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +1% |
| North Port, FL | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Crestview, FL | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Tampa, FL | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Palm Bay, FL | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Sebastian, FL | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Deltona, FL | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Pensacola, FL | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −2% |
| Orlando, FL | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −2% |
| Gainesville, FL | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −3% |
| Panama City, FL | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −3% |
| Lakeland, FL | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −4% |
| Ocala, FL | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −4% |
| Tallahassee, FL | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −4% |
How Florida compares with nearby states
Florida ranks 32 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for sod lawn, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $2,850 and the cheapest Mississippi at $2,100, both for 1,500 sq ft at the midpoint. Florida sits at $2,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 420 miles away | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | level |
| South Carolina | 430 miles away | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,250 | −2% |
| Alabama | 480 miles away | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −5% |
| North Carolina | 540 miles away | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | level |
| Mississippi | 550 miles away | $1,350 – $2,900 | $2,100 | −9% |
Related projects, priced for Florida
Each project weights the trades differently, so Florida's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, French drain is −6% and sprinkler system −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $570 – $2,000 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,250 | −8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,450 – $12,600 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,500 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,400 – $104,500 | −7% |
Why two Florida quotes can differ
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.
Permit
Sodding permits cost $40-$300 where required, mostly for large lawns or those next to a public road.
Basic, standard or premium: Florida prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small yard (1,000 sq ft) to large yard (4,000 sq ft).
Basic
$1,450 to $2,150
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,950 to $2,650
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,500 to $3,200
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $960 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,850 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,650 | $2,500 – $3,200 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,850 – $5,500 | $5,100 – $6,750 | $6,350 – $8,000 |
Florida seasons and sod lawn
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen, and Florida is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Miami has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Florida at 12 months; Punta Gorda has the shortest at 7 (October through April). Rainfall runs from 46 inches a year in Lakeland to 68 inches in Pensacola.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 61 | 88 | 57 | 12: all year |
| Tampa | 53 | 91 | 49 | 8: October through May |
| Orlando | 50 | 92 | 51 | 8: October through May |
| Jacksonville | 47 | 92 | 48 | 9: September through May |
| North Port | 51 | 93 | 53 | 7: October through April |
| Cape Coral | 54 | 92 | 57 | 7: October through April |
| Lakeland | 52 | 93 | 46 | 7: October through April |
| Palm Bay | 49 | 91 | 56 | 9: September through May |
| Deltona | 50 | 93 | 50 | 8: October through May |
| Pensacola | 44 | 92 | 68 | 9: September through May |
| Tallahassee | 41 | 92 | 59 | 9: September through May |
| Naples | 56 | 91 | 50 | 8: October through May |
| Port St. Lucie | 51 | 90 | 51 | 10: September through June |
| Gainesville | 43 | 91 | 48 | 9: September through May |
| Crestview | 39 | 92 | 64 | 9: September through May |
| Ocala | 46 | 92 | 52 | 8: October through May |
| Panama City | 43 | 91 | 61 | 10: September through June |
| Sebastian | 52 | 91 | 53 | 10: September through June |
| Punta Gorda | 51 | 93 | 53 | 7: October through April |
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Sod installation in Florida: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Florida?
$1,450 to $3,200 for 1,500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Florida can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Florida is cheapest for sod lawn?
Tallahassee at about $2,250 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). The priciest is Miami at $2,400.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Florida than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $2,300 against $2,400 for 1,500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Florida?
About 46% ($1,050). Materials are 48%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.95x the national wage level.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Florida?
The BLS statewide median is $17.84 an hour, against $18.82 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.03 to $20.99.
+Where does Florida rank for sod lawn costs?
32nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,300 for 1,500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Florida?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,150 and premium work $2,500 to $3,200. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+Does the season matter for sod lawn in Florida?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Florida metros we cover, Miami has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Sod installation by city in Florida
- Miami, FL$2,400 midpoint
- Naples, FL$2,350 midpoint
- North Port, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Crestview, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Jacksonville, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Punta Gorda, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Tampa, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Cape Coral, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Palm Bay, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Sebastian, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Deltona, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Port St. Lucie, FL$2,300 midpoint
- Pensacola, FL$2,250 midpoint
- Orlando, FL$2,250 midpoint
- Gainesville, FL$2,250 midpoint
- Panama City, FL$2,250 midpoint
- Lakeland, FL$2,250 midpoint
- Ocala, FL$2,250 midpoint
- Tallahassee, FL$2,250 midpoint
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.