How much 24-0-6 fertilizer for 5,000 sq ft?
A 5,000 square foot lawn needs about 20.8 pounds of 24-0-6 fertilizer to apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet (4.17 lb per 1,000 sq ft). That delivers 5 pounds of nitrogen and 1.25 pounds of potash, and takes 2 bags of 15 lb.
How to work it out
- 1 lb N ÷ 24% N = 4.17 lb per 1,000 sq ft of product
- 4.17 lb × 5,000 sq ft ÷ 1,000 = 20.8 lb → 2 bags of 15 lb
- That puts down N 5 lb · P₂O₅ 0 lb · K₂O 1.25 lb
Many retail lawn bags are sized to cover about 5,000 sq ft at the label rate, which is often a little under 1 lb of N per 1,000 sq ft. Working it out yourself tells you whether one bag is enough for the rate you actually want, or whether you need part of a second.
Adjust for your project
More options: Phosphate % · Potash % · Slow-release …
- Fertilizer to spread
- 20.8 lb (9.45 kg)
- Product per 1,000 sq ft (not the spreader dial)
- 4.17 lb per 1,000 sq ft
- One bag covers (at this rate)
- 3,600 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.
24-0-6 for 5,000 sq ft by nitrogen rate
| Nitrogen per application | Fertilizer to spread | Product per 1,000 sq ft (not the spreader dial) | Bags to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 lb N | 10.4 lb | 2.08 lb per 1,000 sq ft | 1 bag |
| 0.75 lb N | 15.6 lb | 3.13 lb per 1,000 sq ft | 2 bags |
| 1 lb N | 20.8 lb | 4.17 lb per 1,000 sq ft | 2 bags |
| 1.5 lb N (slow-release) | 31.3 lb | 6.25 lb per 1,000 sq ft | 3 bags |
What to know about fertilizing 5,000 sq ft with 24-0-6
At the full 1 lb rate, one 15 lb bag covers only about 3,600 sq ft, so a 5,000 sq ft lawn needs most of a second bag. That is not a mistake on the label: bags that say “covers 5,000 sq ft” are usually set for a lighter rate. Decide which rate you want first, then buy for it.
Check the spreader, not just the setting. Mark out a 1,000 sq ft strip (20 × 50 ft), put about 4.2 lb in the hopper, and run the strip at the label setting. If there is a lot left, open the setting a notch; if it runs out early, close it. Doing this once saves burned stripes on the whole lawn.
Spread in two half-rate passes at right angles. With about 21 lb going over 5,000 sq ft, each pass is roughly 10 lb, and any overlap errors are halved rather than doubled.
The 6 in 24-0-6 is potash: about 1.25 lb over the whole lawn. The zero means no phosphorus, which suits the many established lawns that do not need it. In early fall this feeding often goes down alongside how much seed to overseed 5,000 sq ft; for a balanced product on a small area, compare how much 10-10-10 fertilizer per 1,000 sq ft.
Different size? Use the full Lawn Fertilizer Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Broadcast spreaderMid-range price
Spreads seed and granular fertilizer evenly. Use the setting on the product label, then check it on a measured area.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Measuring wheelBudget price
Rolls off long distances — driveways, lawn edges, fence lines — quicker and more accurately than a tape for one person.
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much 24-0-6 for 5,000 sq ft at 0.75 lb of nitrogen?
About 15.6 pounds (3.13 lb per 1,000 sq ft). A lighter rate like this is common for quick-release products and for the spring feeding of cool-season lawns.
How much 29-0-4 fertilizer for a 5,000 sq ft lawn?
About 17.2 pounds for 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet (3.45 lb per 1,000 sq ft): a higher first number means less product.
How many square feet does a 15 lb bag of 24-0-6 cover?
About 3,600 square feet at 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. At a lighter label rate the same bag stretches further, which is how bags end up labelled for 5,000 square feet.
Other common sizes
- How much 10-10-10 fertilizer per 1,000 sq ft — Buy 1 bag (40 lb) and spread 10 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