How to use the sod calculator
- Enter the lawn length and width.
- Keep a small allowance for cuts along edges, beds and curves; 5% suits simple shapes.
- Choose the piece or roll size your supplier sells.
- Enter the coverage of one pallet from your supplier. It varies by farm and grass type.
Book delivery for the day you plan to lay the sod, because cut rolls dry out quickly. That is the one timing tip Decoratoradvice gives for every lawn.
Sod formula
Area = length × width × (1 + extra)
Pieces = area ÷ piece area, rounded up
Pallets = area ÷ pallet coverage, rounded up
Worked example
A 40 × 25 ft lawn, 5% extra, 16 × 24 in pieces (2.67 sq ft), pallets of 450 sq ft:
40 × 25 = 1,000 sq ft
With 5% extra: 1,050 sq ft
Pieces: 1,050 ÷ 2.67 = 393.75, so 394
Pallets: 1,050 ÷ 450 = 2.33, so 3 pallets
Piece sizes
| Piece | Area |
|---|---|
| 16 × 24 in slab | 2.67 sq ft |
| 18 in × 6 ft roll | 9 sq ft |
| 2 × 5 ft roll | 10 sq ft |
Suppliers sell different sizes; use the one on your order.
Tips
- Prepare the soil before delivery. New lawns often need topsoil; see the topsoil calculator.
- Lay sod the day it arrives, staggering the joints like brickwork.
- Water soon after laying, following your supplier's instructions.
- For odd shapes, add the areas of simple shapes with the square footage calculator.
Common mistakes
- Rounding pallets down. A shortfall is hard to match later from a different harvest.
- No allowance for curves. Cutting around beds wastes more than straight edges.
- Ordering before the ground is ready. Sod left stacked deteriorates quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How much sod do I need for 1,000 sq ft?
1,050 sq ft with 5% extra: 394 pieces of 16 × 24 in, or 105 rolls of 10 sq ft.
How many square feet are on a pallet of sod?
It depends on the supplier and grass. Ask for the figure and enter it; the calculator defaults to an example of 450 sq ft.
How much extra sod should I order?
About 5% for simple rectangles and more for curved beds and narrow strips.
How do I measure a curved lawn?
Break it into rectangles and half-circles, add them up with the square footage calculator, then enter the total as length × 1.
Should I put mulch around new sod?
Mulch belongs in planting beds, not on the lawn. For beds beside the lawn, use the mulch calculator.
Is sod sold by the square yard?
Some suppliers price by the square yard. Divide square feet by 9; 1,050 sq ft is about 117 sq yd.
Key takeaways
- Order area × 1.05 for simple lawns, more for curves.
- Pieces = area ÷ piece area; pallets = area ÷ pallet coverage.
- Use your supplier's pallet coverage.
- Prepare the soil before the sod arrives.