Sod installation cost in Tallahassee, FL
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
- $0.95 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #251
- 1 = most expensive
Tallahassee homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $3,050 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.95 to $1.85 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Tallahassee is 7% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.09 an hour in the Tallahassee area, 9% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Tallahassee, FL, standard level
$1,900 to $2,550
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 | $870 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Tallahassee, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 49% |
| Labor | $670 | $1,000 | $1,350 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,050 | 100% |
Why Tallahassee prices look the way they do
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 $17.09 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Tallahassee is 0.89 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 45% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Tallahassee metro is 96.2 (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 (93.9) and land at $0 to $280.
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 Tallahassee is 0.89 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.09 an hour, which is 9% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.75 and $18.18 an hour. BLS counts 1,260 of them working in the area, 67.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.61 an hour, 18% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.91 and $21.61 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 74.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($18.18 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($15.75) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 2.3% or 2.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 186,160 jobs in the Tallahassee area. That makes it the 124th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $15.75 | $17.09 | $18.18 | $18.82 | 0.91 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.91 | $18.61 | $21.61 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Tallahassee?
Because every project leans on different trades, Tallahassee's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −10% and sprinkler system −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $540 – $1,900 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,700 | −13% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,200 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,000 | −12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,800 – $99,500 | −12% |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Tallahassee
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.
When to schedule sod lawn in Tallahassee
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Tallahassee (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 Tallahassee (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Tallahassee gets about 59 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 103 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 | 64 | 41 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 68 | 44 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Mar | 74 | 49 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 54 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 63 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 7.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 73 | 7.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 7.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 70 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 59 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 73 | 48 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 43 | 4.2 | Workable |
How Tallahassee compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1,500 sq ft range from $2,100 to $2,300 across Tallahassee and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee, FLthis page | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | |
| Panama City, FL80 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Albany, GA90 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,100 | −6% |
| Dothan, AL95 miles | $1,350 – $2,900 | $2,150 | −4% |
| Gainesville, FL115 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Crestview, FL125 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Florida (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +4% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Tallahassee comes in at #251 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, Tallahassee is 4% below the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +8% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +4% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Tallahassee's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tallahassee against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | 186,430 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +22% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +8% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +18% |
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
Tallahassee: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Tallahassee 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 $2,550
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) | $930 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,750 | $1,650 – $2,150 |
| 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 – $6,500 | $6,100 – $7,700 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Sod installation in Tallahassee: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Tallahassee?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,050 in the Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee?
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 Tallahassee or Panama City?
Panama City is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,250, which is 1% more than Tallahassee ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tallahassee?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $2,250. Materials are 49% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Tallahassee?
$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 Tallahassee?
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 Tallahassee area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tallahassee expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Florida?
Tallahassee is 4% below the Florida statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 19 metros in Florida; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Tallahassee?
The BLS median is $17.09 an hour in the Tallahassee area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.75 to $18.18.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Tallahassee?
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 Tallahassee?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. October and November 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 Tallahassee
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.