Sod installation cost in Greenville, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,100
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #235
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Greenville, NC usually costs $1,400 to $3,100 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $0.95 to $1.90 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $150 less. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.26 an hour in the Greenville area, 8% 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 Greenville, NC, standard level
$1,900 to $2,600
About $1.20 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $890 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,600 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Greenville, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 48% |
| Labor | $690 | $1,050 | $1,350 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,100 | 100% |
Why Greenville prices look the way they do
Labor is 46% 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 Greenville the blended ratio comes out at 0.91.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Greenville is at 96.6 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 88.4: $0 to $270.
Planning more than one job in Greenville?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Greenville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−8%) and retaining wall lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,200 | −8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,050 – $12,000 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,300 – $101,000 | −10% |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Greenville
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.
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).
What local crews earn in Greenville
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 Greenville the blend is 0.91.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.26 an hour, 8% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.26 and $19.60 an hour. About 430 work in the metro. That is 53.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $20.40 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.36 and $23.08 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 55.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 4.3% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Greenville has 80,770 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 236th 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% | $15.26 | $17.26 | $19.60 | $18.82 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.36 | $20.40 | $23.08 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Greenville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Greenville. 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 $2,100
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,900 to $2,600
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,400 to $3,100
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $940 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,150 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,600 | $2,400 – $3,100 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,750 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,600 | $6,150 – $7,800 |
Greenville 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, Greenville (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 Greenville are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Greenville gets about 53 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (7.3 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 53 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 | 53 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 41 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 67 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 71 | 5.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 70 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 64 | 7.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 52 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 35 | 3.5 | Workable |
Is Greenville cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $2,250 to $2,350 across Greenville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NCthis page | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | |
| Raleigh, NC60 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Fayetteville, NC100 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Wilmington, NC100 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Durham, NC100 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Virginia Beach, VA100 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +3% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Greenville ranks #235 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Greenville is 3% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Greenville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | level |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
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 $1,900 to $2,600 for Greenville, NC is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Greenville, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Greenville, NC: 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 Greenville: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Greenville?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,100 in the Greenville area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $2,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Greenville?
About $0.95 to $1.90 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 Greenville or Raleigh?
Raleigh is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 4% more than Greenville ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Greenville?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,250. Materials are 48% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Greenville?
$1,400 to $3,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Greenville?
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 Greenville area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Greenville expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Greenville is 3% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Greenville?
The BLS median is $17.26 an hour in the Greenville area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.26 to $19.60.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Greenville?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,100 and premium work $2,400 to $3,100. 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 Greenville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February 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 Greenville
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.