How Much Does Sod Installation Cost in Florida?
Installed sod in Florida runs $1.10 to $1.80 per square foot, one national cost guide reported in 2026. Its typical rate is $1.42. A pallet of sod alone runs about $90 to $450 across national guides, depending on the grass.
At that Florida rate, a 2,000 square foot lawn comes to $2,200 to $3,600 installed. Tearing out an old lawn and fixing the grade cost extra. These are market numbers, not our price list.
What does sod installation cost per square foot in Florida?
The 2026 Florida figures cover the sod, delivery, basic soil prep and labor. Old grass removal and grading are priced as extras.
National guides spread wider. Their headline ranges run from $0.85 to $2.60 per square foot installed. One 2026 guide lists Palm Coast at $1.90 to $3.20, labor and materials included.
For sod installation in Ormond Beach and across Volusia and Flagler counties, the quote comes after we see the yard. Prep and access both show up in that quote.
How much does a pallet of sod cost?
Guides put a pallet at about $90 to $450 for the sod alone. The grass sets most of that spread. Bahia carries the lowest listed price in each guide that prices it, and St. Augustine runs near the top.
| Grass | Sod only, per square foot | Pallet of 450 square feet, sod only | Installed, per square foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahia | $0.20 to $0.33 | $90 to $150 | $0.77 to $1.26 |
| St. Augustine | $0.41 to $0.86 | $185 to $390 | $0.98 to $1.79 |
| Bermuda | $0.44 to $0.83 | $200 to $375 | $1.01 to $1.76 |
| Zoysia | $0.47 to $0.72 | $215 to $325 | $1.04 to $1.65 |
The per square foot columns come from a 2026 national guide, and the pallet column from a 2025 one. The 2026 Florida figures land close, with St. Augustine at $0.40 to $0.80 per square foot.
Pallet sizes differ by farm. Guides put one pallet at about 400 to 500 square feet, and one notes some cover up to 650.
Should you pick up sod, have it delivered or have it installed?
Pickup costs the least, since you pay for the sod alone. One 2026 guide notes you need the right vehicle and help loading it. UF/IFAS Extension guidance says to lay sod within 24 hours of delivery. So plan the pickup for the day you lay it.
Delivery adds a fee, which guides put at about $50 to $230. One adds that a far-off farm can push it to $200 to $350. Some suppliers set a delivery minimum of 2 to 6 pallets, and big orders sometimes get the fee waived.
Installed costs the most and saves you the labor. Two 2026 guides put installation labor at $0.35 to $1 per square foot. A 2025 guide says sod installers charge $0.57 to $0.93 per square foot to lay sod the customer buys.
GBS Sod sells sod by the pallet and delivers it. Pickup is available, so call for the yard location.
What does it cost to sod 1,000 to 5,000 square feet?
The table runs three published rates across common lawn sizes. Tear-out and grading come on top of every row.
| Lawn area | Florida rate, 2026 guide | National guide, 2025 | National guide, 2026 | Pallets needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 square feet | $1,100 to $1,800 | $850 to $1,750 | $1,700 to $2,600 | 2 to 3 |
| 2,000 square feet | $2,200 to $3,600 | $1,700 to $3,500 | $3,400 to $5,200 | 4 to 5 |
| 3,000 square feet | $3,300 to $5,400 | $2,550 to $5,250 | $5,100 to $7,800 | 6 to 8 |
| 5,000 square feet | $5,500 to $9,000 | $4,250 to $8,750 | $8,500 to $13,000 | 10 to 13 |
The Florida column is that guide’s $1.10 to $1.80 rate times the area. Pallet counts assume 400 to 500 square feet per pallet, rounded up.
What moves the price of a new lawn?
The 2026 Florida guide calls site prep the biggest variable in a Florida sod job. The grass, lawn size, access, irrigation and local permits move the rest.
- The grass. Bahia costs the least, while St. Augustine sod and Zoysia cost more. The Florida guide says grass choice drives 30 to 50 percent of the variation in installed cost.
- Tear-out. UF/IFAS Extension guidance says not to lay sod over existing weeds and grass. Guides put removal and haul-off at $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot.
- Grading. UF/IFAS guidance calls for a 1 to 2 percent slope away from the house or toward drains. The Florida guide puts grading at $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot. Low spots that hold water need grading and drainage work before sod goes down.
- Lawn size. One guide says bigger orders can cut the sod price per square foot by 15 to 40 percent. Small patch jobs often cost more per square foot, since minimum crew and delivery fees stay fixed.
- Access and shape. Curved beds and hard-to-reach backyards take more labor. One 2026 guide says that can add about 15 to 20 percent.
- Irrigation. New sod needs a lot of water in its first two weeks, so a broken zone shows fast. A 2025 guide says to put sprinklers in before new grass, so trenching does not tear it up. It puts a sprinkler system with new sod at $9,800 to $14,200 on average. Sunshine 811 says private lines like irrigation are not in its database, so show the crew where yours run.
- Permits. Palm Coast requires a Lot Regrading Permit when heavy equipment removes old sod or grades a lot. Its building page lists tillers as heavy equipment. Other towns set their own rules, so ask the city building division first.
How do you measure your yard for sod?
Measure only the area that gets grass, not the beds or the driveway. Split the lawn into rectangles and multiply length by width for each. For a triangle, multiply the base by the height and halve it. Then add the pieces together.
A backyard 50 feet wide and 40 feet deep is 2,000 square feet. At 400 to 500 square feet a pallet, that is 4 to 5 pallets. Sizes differ by farm, so ask what one pallet covers before you order.
Curves and beds mean more cuts, so leave room for a little extra. Have that count ready when you ask about sod delivery or pickup.
How do you get a quote for a new lawn?
GBS Sod and Landscape is based in Ormond Beach and works across Volusia and Flagler counties. We sell St. Augustine, Zoysia, Bahia and Bermuda sod, and we install all four.
On a full job, we tear out the old grass and weeds and grade the ground. Then we lay the new sod and water it in. Our after-care advice is to water daily in the morning for the first two weeks.
See our sod installation service for how the job runs, then call or text (386) 238-9215. We look at the yard and put a free quote in writing.