Sod installation cost in Wilmington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,450 – $3,150
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #179
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to lay sod in Wilmington, plan on $1,450 to $3,150 for 1,500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $0.95 to $1.90 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.63 an hour in the Wilmington area, 6% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$1,950 to $2,650
About $1.25 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $920 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,650 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 47% |
| Labor | $710 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $290 | 6% |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,300 | $3,150 | 100% |
Why Wilmington 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 $17.63 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Wilmington is 0.95 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Wilmington metro is 96.6 (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 (96.4) and land at $0 to $290.
Cost by quality level and size in Wilmington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Wilmington 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
$1,450 to $2,100
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,950 to $2,650
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,450 to $3,150
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $960 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,650 | $2,450 – $3,150 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,800 – $5,450 | $5,050 – $6,700 | $6,300 – $7,950 |
Climate in Wilmington: timing your sod lawn job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Wilmington Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Wilmington (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Wilmington gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (8.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 45 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 61 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 8.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 67 | 8.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.7 | Workable |
Wilmington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Wilmington. Myrtle Beach is the lowest at about $2,200 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −4% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −2% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −2% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −3% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Wilmington comes in at #179 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, Wilmington is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | level |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Wilmington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +12% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −5% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +15% |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Wilmington
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.
Related projects, priced for Wilmington
Because every project leans on different trades, Wilmington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −6% and retaining wall −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $2,000 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,350 | −7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,450 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,200 – $103,500 | −8% |
Wilmington labor market for sod lawn
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 Wilmington is 0.95 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.63 an hour, which is 6% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.49 and $21.07 an hour. BLS counts 2,190 of them working in the area, 114.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.16 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $26.94 an hour. About 1,870 work in the metro. That is 97.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.07 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $160. At the 25th percentile ($16.49) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 7.2% or 2.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 191,280 jobs in the Wilmington area. That makes it the 120th 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% | $16.49 | $17.63 | $21.07 | $18.82 | 0.94 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.02 | $22.16 | $26.94 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
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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 $1,950 to $2,650 for Wilmington, NC is attached.
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Multi-page report for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Wilmington?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,450 to $3,150 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $2,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Wilmington?
About $0.95 to $1.90 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 4% less than Wilmington ($2,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,300. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Wilmington?
$1,450 to $3,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Wilmington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $290 for fees in the Wilmington area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 1% 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 Wilmington?
The BLS median is $17.63 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.49 to $21.07.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Wilmington?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,100 and premium work $2,450 to $3,150. 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 Wilmington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and April 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 Wilmington
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.