Sod installation cost in Hattiesburg, MS
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,300 – $2,850
- Per sq ft
- $0.85 – $1.70
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #295
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Hattiesburg area: $1,300 to $2,850 for 1,500 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 14% lower than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $14.23 an hour in the Hattiesburg area, 24% below the US median of $18.82.
Estimate your sod installation cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Hattiesburg, MS, standard level
$1,750 to $2,400
About $1.10 to $1.45 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $740 | $960 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $180 |
| Total | $1,750 | $2,400 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Hattiesburg, MS
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 52% |
| Labor | $570 | $850 | $1,150 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $260 | 6% |
| Total | $1,300 | $2,050 | $2,850 | 100% |
Why Hattiesburg 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 $14.23 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hattiesburg is 0.76 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 41% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Hattiesburg is at 96.2 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 87.6: $0 to $260.
How Hattiesburg compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Hattiesburg. Jackson comes closest at about $2,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MSthis page | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | |
| Gulfport, MS50 miles | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | +3% |
| Slidell, LA70 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +7% |
| Mobile, AL70 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +7% |
| Daphne, AL95 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +9% |
| Jackson, MS100 miles | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | +2% |
| Mississippi (statewide) | $1,350 – $2,900 | $2,100 | +3% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +16% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hattiesburg ranks #295 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hattiesburg is 3% below the Mississippi figure.
Elsewhere in Mississippi
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | +2% |
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hattiesburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | 62,300 jobs | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +22% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +13% |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +9% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +17% |
The best months for sod lawn in Hattiesburg
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Hattiesburg Chain Muni Ap (5 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 Hattiesburg are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Hattiesburg gets about 59 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, June and July (5.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 96 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 | 38 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 42 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 72 | 48 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 54 | 5.4 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 62 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 70 | 5.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 5.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 72 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 80 | 55 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 69 | 44 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 62 | 41 | 5.0 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Hattiesburg
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hattiesburg. 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
$1,300 to $1,900
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,750 to $2,400
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,200 to $2,850
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $860 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,650 | $1,550 – $2,000 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,300 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $2,850 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,450 – $4,900 | $4,550 – $6,050 | $5,650 – $7,150 |
Who does the work: Hattiesburg trade wages
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 Hattiesburg the blend is 0.76.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $14.23 an hour, 24% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $13.36 and $17.47 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 41.8 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 $17.17 an hour, which is 24% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.92 and $19.52 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 67.5 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 $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $40. That is a swing of roughly 2.0% to 7.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hattiesburg has 62,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 280th 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% | $13.36 | $14.23 | $17.47 | $18.82 | 0.76 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.92 | $17.17 | $19.52 | $22.66 | 0.76 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Hattiesburg 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.
What nearby projects cost in Hattiesburg
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hattiesburg wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−12%) and sprinkler system lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,850 | −13% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,450 – $8,650 | −14% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,000 – $11,900 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,850 | −13% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,200 – $97,500 | −14% |
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 $1,750 to $2,400 for Hattiesburg, MS is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Hattiesburg, MS, $9
Multi-page report for Hattiesburg, MS: 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 Hattiesburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Hattiesburg?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,300 to $2,850 in the Hattiesburg area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,750 to $2,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Hattiesburg?
About $0.85 to $1.70 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $260 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Hattiesburg or Gulfport?
Gulfport is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,100, which is 3% more than Hattiesburg ($2,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hattiesburg?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $850 out of $2,050. Materials are 52% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Hattiesburg?
$1,300 to $2,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Hattiesburg?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $260 for fees in the Hattiesburg area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hattiesburg expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Mississippi?
Hattiesburg is 3% below the Mississippi statewide estimate ($2,100 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Mississippi; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Hattiesburg?
The BLS median is $14.23 an hour in the Hattiesburg area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $13.36 to $17.47.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Hattiesburg?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,300 to $1,900 and premium work $2,200 to $2,850. 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 Hattiesburg?
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 Hattiesburg
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.