Sod Calculator

Measure the length and width of your yard in feet, multiply them to get square feet, then add a waste factor of 5% for simple rectangles or 10% for irregular shapes. Example: a 40 ft x 25 ft yard is 1,000 sq ft; with 10% waste you order 1,100 sq ft of sod. This calculator does the math for you, including L-shaped yards, circles, and irregular polygons.

Divide your total order area (including waste) by the roll size. A standard US sod roll covers 10 sq ft (2 ft x 5 ft), so 1,100 sq ft needs 110 rolls. Some suppliers sell 8 sq ft rolls (2 ft x 4 ft) — the calculator lets you switch roll size, and always rounds up because you cannot buy a partial roll.

A standard pallet holds about 50 small rolls, covering roughly 500 sq ft (some pallets cover 450 sq ft). Always confirm with your supplier, because pallet coverage varies by farm. The calculator shows both the exact pallet count (e.g. 2.44) and the whole pallets you must order (3), since pallets are sold whole.

Typically 450 to 500 square feet, depending on the sod farm and grass type. Big-roll (slab) pallets can cover 400 to 600 sq ft. Because this varies, this calculator defaults to 450 sq ft but lets you enter your supplier's exact pallet coverage for an accurate order.

Break the yard into simple shapes and add their areas: an L-shape is two rectangles, a curved bed can be approximated with a circle or trapezoid, and any odd shape can be measured as a polygon with the shoelace method (enter corner coordinates). Then add 10% waste — irregular edges create more cutting waste than straight rectangles.

A pallet of sod typically costs $150 to $400 for the material, depending on grass type, region, and season — warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia differ from cool-season Kentucky bluegrass or fescue. Delivery ($50-$150) and installation ($0.50-$1.50 per sq ft extra) are usually separate. Use the cost estimator tab with your local price per sq ft, per roll, or per pallet.

Seed is far cheaper upfront — roughly $30-$150 of seed can cover 1,000 sq ft versus $400-$800 for sod on the same area. But sod gives an instant lawn that roots in 2-3 weeks, while seed takes 6-12 weeks, needs constant watering, and can fail in patches that need reseeding. The sod vs seed tab compares material costs side by side so you can weigh price against time and risk.

Order 5% extra for simple rectangular areas and 10% for irregular, curved, or L-shaped yards where cutting around edges creates offcuts. Never order exactly your measured area — a shortfall means a second delivery fee and a visible seam where new sod meets week-old sod.

Walk the yard with a tape measure (or a measuring wheel) and record the length and width of each section in feet. Sketch the yard, split it into rectangles, triangles, or circles, and measure each. Subtract large areas you will not sod, like the house footprint, driveway, and garden beds. Enter each section in the calculator or use the polygon mode with corner coordinates.

A single small roll (10 sq ft) weighs 30-50 lbs depending on moisture, and a full pallet weighs 1,500-2,500 lbs. Weight matters for delivery: most suppliers deliver by truck or forklift, and wet sod is dramatically heavier than dry. Plan access for the delivery truck before ordering. For per-pallet shipping and handling weight limits, see our dedicated sod-weight calculator (coming soon).

Satellite measuring tools can estimate your lot size, but they cannot see what you will actually sod versus beds, patios, and driveways — so treat them as a rough starting point. Measure the sod area yourself (or trace the lawn outline and subtract non-lawn areas), then enter the dimensions here for rolls, pallets, and cost.

Usually not. The advertised price per pallet or per square foot is for the sod material picked up at the farm. Delivery typically adds $50-$150, and professional installation adds roughly $0.50-$1.50 per sq ft. This calculator keeps material, delivery fee, and totals separate so the quote stays honest.

Soil prep is not included in sod prices but it decides whether the sod lives: remove old grass and debris, loosen the top 4-6 inches, level the grade away from the house, and add starter fertilizer or compost if your soil is poor. Sod laid on hard, unprepared ground roots slowly and can die in patches.

One acre is 43,560 square feet — about 87-97 pallets of sod at 450-500 sq ft per pallet, before waste. For half an acre (21,780 sq ft) with 5% waste you would order about 22,869 sq ft, or 46 pallets at 500 sq ft each. Large areas usually qualify for bulk or farm-direct pricing, so get a quote rather than paying retail per-pallet prices.

A common seeding rate is 5-10 lbs of seed per 1,000 sq ft (8 lbs is a typical middle value), so 1,000 sq ft needs about 8 lbs of seed. At $4 per lb that is $32 of seed versus roughly $500-$600 of sod for the same area. The trade-off is time: seed needs weeks of careful watering and can wash out in heavy rain, while sod is an instant lawn.

Early fall is ideal for cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, fescue) and late spring to early summer for warm-season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia) — sod roots fastest when soil is warm but air temperatures are mild. Avoid laying sod in extreme heat or on frozen ground; dormant winter sod can work in mild climates but roots slowly until spring.