Sod installation cost in Florence, SC
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
- #256
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Florence area: $1,400 to $3,050 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 7% lower than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $16.56 an hour in the Florence area, 12% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Florence, SC, 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 | $80 | $180 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Florence, SC
| 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 | $130 | $260 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,200 | $3,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Florence number
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 $16.56 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Florence is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 45% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Florence is at 96.3 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 86.8: $0 to $260.
Planning more than one job in Florence?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Florence wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (−7%) and retaining wall lowest (−9%); 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 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,000 – $103,000 | −9% |
Is Florence cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlotte is the priciest of the group at $2,350. Myrtle Beach is the cheapest at $2,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, SCthis page | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC50 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Columbia, SC70 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Charleston, SC80 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +4% |
| Charlotte, NC90 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +5% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,250 | +2% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Florence ranks #256 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Florence is 2% below the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +4% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Florence against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +15% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +6% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +4% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −9% |
Who does the work: Florence 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 Florence the blend is 0.90.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $16.56 an hour, 12% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.11 and $17.77 an hour. About 380 work in the metro. That is 42.7 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 $21.75 an hour, which is 4% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.11 and $26.11 an hour. BLS counts 650 of them working in the area, 73.0 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 $60 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 5.3% to 2.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Florence has 89,060 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 221st 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% | $14.11 | $16.56 | $17.77 | $18.82 | 0.88 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.11 | $21.75 | $26.11 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Florence
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Florence. 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 $2,050
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 – $2,100 |
| 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 |
The best months for sod lawn in Florence
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Florence Rgnl 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 Florence are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Florence gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.8 inches in July). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 70 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 39 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 44 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 52 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 61 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 69 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 5.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 71 | 4.9 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 66 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 77 | 54 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Florence bid
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.
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Detailed sod installation report for Florence, SC, $9
Multi-page report for Florence, SC: 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 Florence: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Florence?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,050 in the Florence 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 Florence?
About $0.95 to $1.85 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 Florence or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 1% less than Florence ($2,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Florence?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $2,200. Materials are 49% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Florence?
$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 Florence?
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 Florence area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Florence expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Florence is 2% below the South Carolina statewide estimate ($2,250 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Florence?
The BLS median is $16.56 an hour in the Florence area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.11 to $17.77.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Florence?
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 Florence?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September 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 Florence
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.