Sod installation cost in Memphis, TN
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
- #204
- 1 = most expensive
Memphis 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, Memphis is 5% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.55 an hour in the Memphis area, 7% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Memphis, TN, 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 | $85 | $190 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,600 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Memphis, TN
| 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 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,100 | 100% |
Where the Memphis price comes from
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 Memphis the blended ratio comes out at 0.94.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Memphis metro is 96.2 (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 (92.2) and land at $0 to $280.
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 Memphis is 0.94 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.55 an hour, which is 7% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.72 and $20.63 an hour. BLS counts 3,100 of them working in the area, 50.7 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 $21.54 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.31 and $24.40 an hour. About 3,940 work in the metro. That is 64.4 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 ($20.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($16.72) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 6.5% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 611,670 jobs in the Memphis area. That makes it the 46th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.39% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $16.72 | $17.55 | $20.63 | $18.82 | 0.93 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.31 | $21.54 | $24.40 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Memphis?
Because every project leans on different trades, Memphis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −3% and gravel driveway −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $570 – $2,000 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,800 – $9,450 | −6% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,900 – $13,100 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,600 – $108,000 | −4% |
Memphis: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Memphis 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 – $5,450 | $5,000 – $6,650 | $6,250 – $7,850 |
Memphis against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
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 $2,200 to $2,250 across Memphis and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNthis page | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | |
| Jonesboro, AR65 miles | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −3% |
| Jackson, TN75 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −2% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −3% |
| Decatur, AL160 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN170 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Memphis comes in at #204 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, Memphis is 1% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Memphis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Memphis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +1% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +12% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −2% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +1% |
When to schedule sod lawn in Memphis
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Memphis Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Memphis (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Memphis gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and December (5.9 inches in April). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 72 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 | 51 | 33 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 37 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 44 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 53 | 5.9 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 70 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 66 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 43 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 36 | 5.5 | Workable |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Memphis
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.
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 Memphis, TN is attached.
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Multi-page report for Memphis, TN: 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 Memphis: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Memphis?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,100 in the Memphis 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 Memphis?
About $0.95 to $1.90 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Memphis or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 3% less than Memphis ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Memphis?
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 Memphis?
$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 Memphis?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $280 for fees in the Memphis area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Memphis expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Memphis is 1% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Memphis?
The BLS median is $17.55 an hour in the Memphis area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.72 to $20.63.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Memphis?
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 Memphis?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. September and October 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 Memphis
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.