The published numbers, side by side
| Line | Tampa Pro Landscape (Tampa) | Coastal Outdoor (Plant City) |
|---|---|---|
| Sod installed, per sq ft | St. Augustine $1.50–$3.00, including prep; zoysia or bahia $1.75–$3.50 | $0.80–$1.85 all-in |
| Sod material alone, per sq ft | St. Augustine $0.40–$0.75 | $0.30–$0.85, by grass type |
| Labor, per sq ft | Not listed on its own | $0.50–$1.00 |
| Grading | Grading and topdressing $0.50–$1.25 per sq ft | Grading or leveling $500–$2,000+, by yard condition |
| Taking out the old sod | Not listed on its own | $1–$2 per sq ft |
| Their example | A 2,000 sq ft front yard in St. Augustine: $3,000–$6,000 installed | 1,000 sq ft: $800–$1,850 before any additional prep work |
Each figure is the installer's own published number, read on its web page on October 21, 2026. Prices change; a written estimate for your yard is the number that counts.
Why the two ranges sit so far apart
Read what each number includes. Tampa Pro Landscape's St. Augustine figure includes prep. Coastal Outdoor's all-in figure is sod plus labor, and it lists grading and taking out the old sod as separate lines on top.
So a bare, level yard and a yard where a dead lawn has to come out first are priced differently. When the old lawn comes out and the ground is regraded, those lines are added.
What moves the price on your yard
- Size. Every line above is priced by the square foot, so the lawn's area drives the total.
- The grass. Tampa Pro Landscape prices zoysia and bahia above St. Augustine. Coastal Outdoor's material price varies by grass type. How the three grasses differ.
- Tear-out. A dead or weedy lawn has to come out before new sod goes down. Why sod should not go over old grass.
- Grading and soil. Tampa Pro Landscape writes that Tampa's sandy soil usually needs grading and a starter topdressing first. UF/IFAS Extension notes that the majority of Florida's soils are sand-based, with little organic matter.
Work out your square footage first
Measure the length and width of each lawn area in feet and multiply them. A back yard 40 feet by 50 feet is 2,000 square feet. Add the areas together and leave out flower beds, walks and the driveway.
That number lets you set an estimate beside the published ranges above, and it answers the first question on our request form.
What to get in writing
Ask for an estimate that names each line on its own, so you can compare it with the ranges above:
- The square footage being sodded.
- The grass, and the variety.
- Taking out the old lawn, and where it goes.
- Grading, and any soil brought in.
- Delivery, and when the sod is cut.
Sources
- Tampa Pro Landscape, “Tampa Landscaping Cost Guide 2026” (page last updated October 7, 2026; read October 21, 2026)
- Coastal Outdoor, “What Sod Installation Really Costs Per Square Foot” (read October 21, 2026)
- UF/IFAS Extension, ENH-02, “Preparing to Plant a Florida Lawn” (read September 24, 2026)