Sod installation cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,550 – $3,400
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #70
- 1 = most expensive
Appleton homeowners pay roughly $1,550 to $3,400 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $1.05 to $2.10 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Appleton is 4% higher. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.34 an hour in the Appleton area, 13% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$2,150 to $2,850
About $1.35 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $190 |
| Total | $2,150 | $2,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 42% |
| Labor | $870 | $1,300 | $1,750 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,550 | $2,500 | $3,400 | 100% |
Why Appleton prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Appleton wages are 1.16 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,050, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.4) and land at $0 to $280.
What nearby projects cost in Appleton
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +18% and retaining wall +10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $710 – $2,450 | +18% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,600 – $11,600 | +16% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,100 – $14,500 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,100 – $128,000 | +14% |
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 Appleton is 1.16 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $21.34 an hour, which is 13% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.77 and $22.57 an hour. BLS counts 840 of them working in the area, 67.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.49 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.86 and $36.28 an hour. About 1,030 work in the metro. That is 82.9 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 ($22.57 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($17.77) it shrinks by about $170. The total moves by 2.4% or 6.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $17.77 | $21.34 | $22.57 | $18.82 | 1.13 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.86 | $28.49 | $36.28 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
When to schedule sod lawn in Appleton
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Appleton (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Appleton (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 157 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Appleton gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 25 | 10 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 12 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 22 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 46 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 39 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 43 | 28 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 31 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
Appleton against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Appleton is the priciest of the group. Wausau is the cheapest at $2,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −6% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −3% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −7% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | level |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −3% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −4% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #70 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, Appleton is 3% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | level |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −6% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −6% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | −5% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −13% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −8% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +2% |
Why two Appleton quotes can differ
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).
Appleton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton 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
$1,550 to $2,300
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,150 to $2,850
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,700 to $3,400
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,000 | $1,850 – $2,350 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,550 – $2,300 | $2,150 – $2,850 | $2,700 – $3,400 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,200 – $6,000 | $5,550 – $7,300 | $6,850 – $8,650 |
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 $2,150 to $2,850 for Appleton, WI is attached.
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Sod installation in Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Appleton?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,550 to $3,400 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,150 to $2,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Appleton?
About $1.05 to $2.10 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 Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 7% less than Appleton ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,500. Materials are 42% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$1,550 to $3,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Appleton?
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 Appleton area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 3% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $21.34 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.77 to $22.57.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Appleton?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,550 to $2,300 and premium work $2,700 to $3,400. 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 Appleton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. 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 Appleton
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.