Sod installation cost in Sheboygan, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,500 – $3,300
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $2
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #98
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Sheboygan, WI usually costs $1,500 to $3,300 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1 to $2 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $19.75 an hour in the Sheboygan area, 5% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Sheboygan, WI, standard level
$2,050 to $2,750
About $1.30 to $1.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,400 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $2,050 | $2,750 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Sheboygan, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 44% |
| Labor | $810 | $1,200 | $1,600 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,400 | $3,300 | 100% |
Why Sheboygan 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, Sheboygan wages are 1.08 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Sheboygan is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,050 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 94.0: $0 to $280.
Sheboygan weather and the sod installation calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Sheboygan (in the city). 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 Sheboygan are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, 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 133 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Sheboygan gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.0 inches in August). Inside the workable window, July and September are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 30 | 15 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 33 | 17 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 42 | 26 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 52 | 36 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 63 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 56 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 63 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 62 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 55 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 42 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 31 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 22 | 2.1 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Sheboygan
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Sheboygan wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+11%) and gravel driveway lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +11% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,450 – $11,100 | +11% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,800 – $14,100 | +7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $38,900 – $121,500 | +8% |
Is Sheboygan cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Sheboygan. Oshkosh is the lowest at about $2,350 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WIthis page | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | |
| Appleton, WI50 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Oshkosh, WI50 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −4% |
| Green Bay, WI50 miles | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Milwaukee, WI55 miles | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Racine, WI65 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | level |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Sheboygan ranks #98 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Sheboygan is 0% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sheboygan against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $1,350 – $2,900 | $2,150 | −12% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −9% |
| Decatur, AL | 61,240 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −6% |
| Chambersburg, PA | 60,280 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −2% |
What local crews earn in Sheboygan
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 Sheboygan the blend is 1.08.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $19.75 an hour, 5% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $22.29 an hour. About 440 work in the metro. That is 72.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $27.14 an hour, which is 20% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.69 and $31.93 an hour. BLS counts 310 of them working in the area, 51.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 5.4% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Sheboygan has 60,630 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 285th 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% | $17.03 | $19.75 | $22.29 | $18.82 | 1.05 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.69 | $27.14 | $31.93 | $22.66 | 1.20 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Sheboygan: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Sheboygan. 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
$1,500 to $2,250
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,050 to $2,750
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,600 to $3,300
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,000 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,900 | $1,800 – $2,300 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,250 | $2,050 – $2,750 | $2,600 – $3,300 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,050 – $5,750 | $5,350 – $7,050 | $6,600 – $8,350 |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Sheboygan
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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Sod installation in Sheboygan: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Sheboygan?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,500 to $3,300 in the Sheboygan area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,050 to $2,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Sheboygan?
About $1 to $2 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 Sheboygan or Appleton?
Appleton is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 4% more than Sheboygan ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sheboygan?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $1,200 out of $2,400. Materials are 44% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Sheboygan?
$1,500 to $3,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Sheboygan?
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 Sheboygan area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sheboygan expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Sheboygan is 0% below 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 Sheboygan?
The BLS median is $19.75 an hour in the Sheboygan area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.03 to $22.29.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Sheboygan?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $2,250 and premium work $2,600 to $3,300. 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 Sheboygan?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July and September 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 Sheboygan
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.