Sod installation cost in Spartanburg, SC
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
- −5%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #207
- 1 = most expensive
Spartanburg homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $3,100 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.95 to $1.90 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Spartanburg is 5% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.72 an hour in the Spartanburg area, 6% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Spartanburg, SC, standard level
$1,950 to $2,600
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 | $910 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,600 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Spartanburg, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 48% |
| Labor | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,100 | 100% |
Why Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg the blended ratio comes out at 0.93.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Spartanburg metro is 96.3 (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 (91.1) and land at $0 to $270.
When to schedule sod lawn in Spartanburg
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Spartanburg 3 Sse (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and August through December are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Spartanburg (10 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 76 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Spartanburg gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, June and December (4.8 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 57 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 | 54 | 32 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 59 | 34 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 47 | 4.3 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 4.7 | Workable |
Is Spartanburg cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Spartanburg. Columbia is the lowest at about $2,250 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SCthis page | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | |
| Greenville, SC35 miles | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | level |
| Charlotte, NC65 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +3% |
| Asheville, NC70 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +3% |
| Columbia, SC70 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Hickory, NC70 miles | $1,450 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,250 | level |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Spartanburg comes in at #207 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, Spartanburg is 0% below the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | level |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −3% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −2% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Spartanburg's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Spartanburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −2% |
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −3% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | level |
Spartanburg: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Spartanburg 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 $2,100
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,950 to $2,600
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,450 to $3,100
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $950 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,150 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,600 | $2,450 – $3,100 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,800 – $5,400 | $5,000 – $6,650 | $6,250 – $7,850 |
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 Spartanburg is 0.93 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.72 an hour, which is 6% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.04 and $20.70 an hour. BLS counts 850 of them working in the area, 51.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $20.29 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.77 and $23.33 an hour. About 1,310 work in the metro. That is 79.3 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 ($20.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $140. At the 25th percentile ($16.04) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 6.3% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 165,150 jobs in the Spartanburg area. That makes it the 143rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $16.04 | $17.72 | $20.70 | $18.82 | 0.94 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.77 | $20.29 | $23.33 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Spartanburg bid
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.
What nearby projects cost in Spartanburg
Because every project leans on different trades, Spartanburg's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −8% and retaining wall −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,050 | −9% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,200 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,400 – $101,500 | −10% |
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 $1,950 to $2,600 for Spartanburg, SC is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Spartanburg, 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 Spartanburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Spartanburg?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,100 in the Spartanburg area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 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 Spartanburg?
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 Spartanburg or Greenville?
Greenville is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 0% more than Spartanburg ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Spartanburg?
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 Spartanburg?
$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 Spartanburg?
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 Spartanburg area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Spartanburg expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Spartanburg is 0% 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 Spartanburg?
The BLS median is $17.72 an hour in the Spartanburg area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.04 to $20.70.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Spartanburg?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,100 and premium work $2,450 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 Spartanburg?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and August through December. September 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 Spartanburg
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.