Sod calculator

A standard US sod roll is 2 × 5 ft (10 sq ft), and a pallet commonly holds around 400–500 sq ft and weighs a ton or more.

How the sod calculation works

Sod is sold by area. Measure the lawn, add a little for trimming around edges and beds, then divide by the size of a roll and of a pallet.

sod to order = lawn area × (1 + waste)
rolls = sod ÷ roll size (10 sq ft for a 2 × 5 ft roll)
pallets = sod ÷ pallet coverage
1 square yard = 9 sq ft

Worked examples: how much sod for 1,000 sq ft and how much sod for 5,000 sq ft.

How many square feet in a pallet of sod?

There is no standard pallet. Mississippi State University Extension says a pallet typically holds 450 to 500 sq ft, and Purdue Extension’s sod guide uses about 50 square yards (450 sq ft). Sod Solutions, which licenses turfgrass varieties to farms, lists slab pallets (the 16 × 24 in pieces common for bermuda and St. Augustine in the South) at about 400, 450 or 500 sq ft, and big-roll pallets in the North at 500–700 sq ft. Ask the farm or garden center two questions before you order: how many square feet are on one of their pallets, and whether they sell part pallets or single rolls. Pick their size under Pallet size, or choose "My supplier gave me a size".

Many suppliers price and sell by the square yard rather than the square foot. Divide square feet by 9: 1,000 sq ft is about 111 square yards. Others quote a price per pallet; pick "Per pallet" under More options and the calculator prices whole pallets.

How much does a pallet of sod weigh?

More than most people expect. Sod Solutions puts a pallet at roughly 1,500 to 3,000 lb depending on the grass and how wet it is, and notes that a soaked pallet can weigh up to 50% more. Across 400–500 sq ft that works out to roughly 4–7 lb per square foot; the calculator uses 5 lb (about 2,250 lb for a 450 sq ft pallet) and you can change it under More options.

That matters for the drive home. Many half-ton pickups are rated for less payload than a single full pallet, and the rating sticker in the door jamb is the number to trust. Delivery with a forklift or a truck-mounted lift is usually the sensible choice for more than a few rolls; if you haul it yourself, take part loads.

How much extra to order

Mississippi State suggests buying about 5% more than you think you need; Purdue suggests about 10% to cover measuring errors and the cuts around corners and edges. Use 5% for a simple rectangle and 8–10% for curvy beds, trees and paths. Purdue also advises against using pieces narrower than about 9 in or shorter than 18 in, because small strips dry out — that is where most of the allowance goes.

Tips for laying sod

• Prepare the soil first: remove old turf, loosen the top few inches, rake level, and roll lightly. Sod doesn’t hide a lumpy grade, and the soil should slope away from the house.
• Have the site ready and water available before delivery. Fresh-cut sod only lasts a few days on the pallet, less in heat.
• Start along a straight edge (a driveway or a string line) and stagger the joints like brickwork.
• Butt edges tightly without stretching or overlapping; gaps dry out.
• In summer, start watering the first pieces while the rest is still being laid, then roll and soak the whole lawn. Keep it moist until the roots knit — lift a corner to check.

Measuring for sod

Sod is more expensive per square foot than any other lawn option, so measuring carefully pays off more than it does for seed. Measure each section of lawn as a rectangle, triangle or circle, add them up, and subtract beds, paths and patios. Around curves and trees you cut sod to fit, and the offcuts are rarely big enough to reuse, which is where the waste allowance goes. Order a little extra rather than trying to patch a gap with a second delivery that may not match.

Not sure whether to seed or sod? See overseeding vs sod, or compare seed for the same area in how much grass seed for 1,000 sq ft of tall fescue. Once new sod has rooted, lawns commonly need about an inch of water a week; the garden watering calculator turns that into gallons.