How much 10-10-10 fertilizer per 1,000 sq ft?
To apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet with 10-10-10, spread 10 pounds of product. That also puts down 1 pound of phosphate and 1 pound of potash, and a 40 lb bag covers about 4,000 square feet.
How to work it out
- 1 lb N ÷ 10% N = 10 lb per 1,000 sq ft of product
- 10 lb × 1,000 sq ft ÷ 1,000 = 10 lb → 1 bag of 40 lb
- That puts down N 1 lb · P₂O₅ 1 lb · K₂O 1 lb
Balanced 10-10-10 is sold everywhere and is fine for vegetable gardens, but on lawns it takes a lot of product to supply the nitrogen grass needs, and it adds phosphorus that many established lawns don’t need. Check a soil test, and whether your state restricts phosphorus on lawns, before using it there.
Adjust for your project
More options: Phosphate % · Potash % · Slow-release …
- Fertilizer to spread
- 10 lb (4.54 kg)
- Product per 1,000 sq ft (not the spreader dial)
- 10 lb per 1,000 sq ft
- One bag covers (at this rate)
- 4,000 sq ft
- Spreader setting: use the setting printed on the bag for your spreader model. The rate above is pounds per 1,000 sq ft, not a dial number.
- Easiest check: the bag also says how many sq ft it covers. If that disagrees with this, follow the bag.
- Several US states (e.g. Minnesota, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland) restrict phosphorus on established lawns unless a soil test shows a need or you’re seeding. Check yours.
Bags of 10-10-10 for 1,000 sq ft, and how far each bag goes
| Bag weight | Bags to buy | One bag covers (at this rate) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | 1 bag | 1,000 sq ft |
| 20 lb | 1 bag | 2,000 sq ft |
| 40 lb | 1 bag | 4,000 sq ft |
| 50 lb | 1 bag | 5,000 sq ft |
What to know about 10-10-10 on 1,000 sq ft of lawn
Ten pounds is a lot of granules for 1,000 sq ft, about two and a half times the weight of a high-nitrogen lawn product for the same feeding. You will see them on the grass, and a hand spreader will need refilling. Wet leaves hold granules, so spread on a dry lawn and water it in.
The real issue is the phosphorus. Each feeding at this rate adds a pound of phosphate per 1,000 sq ft, and several a year build up more than an established lawn uses. University of Minnesota Extension recommends phosphorus only when a soil test shows a need, and some states restrict it on lawns. A new lawn or a soil test showing low phosphorus is where 10-10-10 makes the most sense.
A 40 lb bag feeds 4,000 sq ft once at this rate, so on a small lawn most of it goes to the vegetable beds, where a balanced product is a better fit. Square foot and raised beds usually get far less per square foot than a lawn; follow the bag’s garden rate there.
For a whole lawn with a lawn-type product, see how much 24-0-6 fertilizer for 5,000 sq ft.
Different size? Use the full Lawn Fertilizer Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Handheld spreaderBudget price
A hand-crank spreader for seed and fertilizer on small lawns and patches.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Soil test kitBudget price
A quick read on pH and nutrients. For detailed results, many state extension labs offer inexpensive mail-in tests.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Coated work glovesBudget price
Grippy, cut-resistant palms for handling stone, block and bags. Buy a couple of pairs — they wear out fast on concrete block.
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Frequently asked questions
How much 10-10-10 per 1,000 sq ft for a light feeding?
5 pounds puts down half a pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, a common light feeding.
How much 10-10-10 fertilizer for a 5,000 sq ft lawn?
About 50 pounds at 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet: 2 bags of 40 lb.
How much 29-0-4 lawn fertilizer replaces 10 lb of 10-10-10?
About 3.45 pounds of 29-0-4 delivers the same 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, without the phosphorus.
Other common sizes
- How much 24-0-6 fertilizer for 5,000 sq ft — Buy 2 bags (15 lb) and spread 20.8 lb.
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension: Fertilizing lawns (opens in a new tab) — N-P-K meaning; product = N wanted ÷ N%; no more than 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft per application; annual N by maintenance level; P only when a soil test shows need
- Purdue Extension AY-22: Fertilizing Established Cool-season Lawns (opens in a new tab) — No more than 1.0 lb water-soluble N per 1,000 sq ft per application; up to 2.0 lb total N when more than 50% of the N is slow-release; 1–5 lb N a year for mature cool-season lawns
- NC State Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 9: Lawns (opens in a new tab) — Annual N ranges for cool- and warm-season grasses; what N, P and K do
- Connecticut Office of Legislative Research 2012-R-0076: State laws banning phosphorus fertilizer use (opens in a new tab) — 11 states with lawn phosphorus bans (IL, ME, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NY, VT, VA, WA, WI) and their exemptions (deficiency by soil test, new turf); Illinois covers applicators for hire. 2012 summary — check current state rules