Sod Calculator

Find the lawn area in square feet, subtract any area that will not get sod, then add about 5 percent for waste. A 50 × 30 ft lawn is 1,500 sq ft, which becomes 1,575 sq ft with 5 percent waste. Divide that by the area of a piece or a pallet to find how many to buy. The calculator does each step.

It depends on the area of the lawn and the waste you allow. For 1,500 sq ft with 5 percent waste you need 1,575 sq ft, or 175 square yards, which is 3.5 pallets of 450 sq ft. Enter your own measurements and the tool shows the order in square feet, square yards, pieces and pallets.

Measure with a tape or a measuring wheel, split the lawn into simple shapes, and write down each length and width. Add the areas, then subtract the house, beds, patios and paths. Mississippi State University Extension suggests buying about 5 percent more than you measure. Measure twice, because small errors on both sides multiply into a large area error.

For a rectangle multiply length by width. For a circle multiply pi by the diameter squared and divide by 4. For an odd shape split it into rectangles and add them. A 40 ft circle is 1,257 sq ft. Subtract any area that will not be sodded. The sod calculator accepts all of these and a known area.

Sod to order equals (lawn area minus area to skip) times (1 plus waste percent divided by 100). Pieces equal the order divided by the area of one piece, rounded up. For 1,500 sq ft with 5 percent waste, the order is 1,575 sq ft, or 591 slabs of 16 × 24 inches.

Most pallets hold 450 to 500 square feet, according to Mississippi State University Extension. A turfgrass producer lists slab pallets of 399, 452 or 503 sq ft and large roll pallets of 500, 600 or 700 sq ft. Pallet size varies by grass and region, so enter the figure your seller gives you. The default here is 450 sq ft, and you can change it.

A standard roll covers about 10 square feet, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. A mini roll of 40 × 18 inches covers 5 sq ft and a 16 × 24 inch slab covers 2.67 sq ft. For 1,000 sq ft with 5 percent waste you need 105 standard rolls or 394 slabs. Choose the format in the calculator.

About 5 percent is a common allowance, and Mississippi State University Extension gives the same figure. Use 8 to 10 percent for curved edges, many cuts or sloped ground. On a 1,500 sq ft lawn, 5 percent adds 75 sq ft and 10 percent adds 150 sq ft. Extra pieces also help if some are damaged in transit.

Break the lawn into rectangles, measure each, and add the areas. The calculator takes three sections, so 40 × 25, 20 × 15 and 10 × 10 ft gives 1,400 sq ft. If a house or bed sits inside, enter its area in the subtract box. Here that leaves 1,000 sq ft of lawn.

Measure the diameter across the middle and use pi times the diameter squared, divided by 4. A circular lawn 40 ft across has 1,257 sq ft. With 5 percent waste the order is 1,319 sq ft. Choose the circle shape in the calculator and enter the diameter.

Yes. This one is free and works in square feet or square metres. Pick a shape, enter the measurements, choose the piece format and the pallet size, and set the waste. Results show the order in square feet and square yards, the number of pieces and pallets, the cost and an optional topsoil volume.

Yes. Switch to metric, enter lengths in metres, pallet size in square metres and prices per square metre or per pallet. A 12 × 8 m lawn with 5 percent waste needs 100.8 square metres, which is 2.4 pallets of 42 square metres. Check your supplier for the pallet size they use.

The area calculation is the same for every grass. St. Augustine is often sold as slabs on pallets of about 400 to 500 sq ft, so pick the slab format and enter the pallet size your grower states. For 1,500 sq ft with 5 percent waste you need 591 slabs, which is 3.5 pallets of 450 sq ft.

Yes, with one check. Retail sod is sold by the pallet or by the square foot, and pallet sizes differ by store and grass. Read the coverage on the label or ask staff, enter it as the pallet size, and enter the posted price. The calculator then gives whole pallets and a total. It does not know what any store stocks.

This page is built to work on a phone, so you can use it on the lawn with no app. For measuring, Mississippi State University Extension notes that several smartphone applications can help measure a lawn. Take the area they give you, enter it as a known area, subtract the house and beds, and add waste.

Divide square feet by 9. A 1,500 sq ft lawn with 5 percent waste is 1,575 sq ft, which is 175 square yards. Some growers sell by the square yard, and a 450 sq ft pallet is exactly 50 square yards. The calculator shows both units so you can match your quote.

Add the depth of topsoil or compost times the lawn area. Mississippi State University Extension suggests working 1 to 2 inches of compost into the top of the soil for a 4 inch root zone. For 1,500 sq ft at 2 inches that is 9.26 cubic yards. Enter the depth you plan to add.

Divide the order in square feet by the pallet coverage. For 1,575 sq ft and 450 sq ft per pallet that is 3.50 pallets. If your seller only sells whole pallets, round up to 4. Some sellers split pallets, so ask before you decide.

Virginia Cooperative Extension gives about 20 to 25 pounds per square yard for dry sod and 30 to 40 for wet sod. A 450 sq ft pallet is 50 square yards, so roughly 1,000 to 1,250 lb dry and 1,500 to 2,000 lb wet. Plan the delivery spot and a way to move the pallets.

It depends on the seller. Many sell whole pallets, so the calculator rounds up and prices 4 pallets for 3.50 pallets of need. Others sell by the square foot, which the calculator also supports. If you have a part pallet left over, use it on bare spots, and do not let it sit.

As soon as possible. Virginia Cooperative Extension says sod is perishable and should be installed within eight hours of harvest, and Mississippi State University Extension notes it is not sold with enough soil to last more than a few days. Prepare the bed and arrange water before the pallets arrive, then lay and water at once.

Sod gives an instant lawn and costs more per square foot. Seed is cheaper but takes longer and needs more care while it grows. If you choose seed, the grass seed calculator gives the amount by area and seeding rate. The area measuring steps on this page apply to both.