Sod Calculator
Square feet, rolls, and pallets of sod for a new lawn.
5% for simple rectangles, 10% for curves, slopes, and lots of edges.
You need
1,050 sq ft
Waste included. Sod farms sell by the square foot, roll, or pallet.
- Standard rolls (10 sq ft)
- 105 rolls
- Pallets (450 sq ft)
- 2.3 pallets
- Measured lawn area
- 1,000 sq ft
Estimates only. Verify quantities before ordering.
How this is calculated
Area = length (ft) x width (ft). Total to order = area x (1 + waste %). Roll count assumes the common 2 x 5 ft roll covering 10 sq ft; pallet count assumes 450 sq ft per pallet. Both vary by farm, so confirm sizes when you order.
Measure the length and width of the area you want to sod in feet, and this calculator returns the total square footage to order plus the equivalent number of standard rolls and pallets. For an irregular lawn, break it into rough rectangles, run each one, and add the results, or measure the overall rectangle and let the waste factor absorb the curves.
Sod is perishable: it is cut to order and needs to be laid the day it arrives. That makes ordering the right amount more important than with most materials, since topping up next weekend means a second cutting that may not match the first. 5% waste covers a simple rectangular lawn; use 10% when you have curved beds, slopes, or lots of edges to trim around.
Sod for common lawn sizes
Rows include 5% waste and assume 10 sq ft rolls and 450 sq ft pallets. Confirm roll and pallet coverage with your sod farm.
| Lawn size | Sq ft to order | Rolls | Pallets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 20 ft (200 sq ft) | 210 sq ft | 21 rolls | 0.5 pallets |
| 20 x 25 ft (500 sq ft) | 525 sq ft | 53 rolls | 1.2 pallets |
| 25 x 40 ft (1,000 sq ft) | 1,050 sq ft | 105 rolls | 2.3 pallets |
| 40 x 50 ft (2,000 sq ft) | 2,100 sq ft | 210 rolls | 4.7 pallets |
| 50 x 100 ft (5,000 sq ft) | 5,250 sq ft | 525 rolls | 11.7 pallets |
Choosing a grass type
Sod is grown regionally because grass is regional, so the practical choice is usually between the two or three varieties your local farms actually grow. Cool-season grasses, fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass, dominate the northern half of the country and stay green through spring and fall while slowing in summer heat. Warm-season grasses, Bermuda, zoysia, St Augustine, and centipede, run the southern half and go dormant and brown after the first hard cold.
Within those, the trade-offs are sun tolerance, traffic tolerance, and water demand. Tall fescue handles shade and drought better than bluegrass but does not self-repair, since it grows in clumps rather than spreading. Bluegrass spreads and heals divots but wants more water. Zoysia forms a dense mat that resists weeds and traffic, and it takes noticeably longer to establish. Match the variety to how much sun the area actually receives, measured over a day rather than guessed.
Pallets, freshness, and delivery timing
Sod is cut into rolls or slabs and stacked on pallets that typically cover somewhere between 400 and 500 square feet, though this varies by farm and by whether the pieces are small hand rolls or large machine rolls. Confirm the coverage for the specific pallet you are buying rather than assuming, because a 50 square foot difference across several pallets changes the order.
Sod is a live, harvested product with a short shelf life. It is cut within a day or so of delivery and starts to heat inside the pallet immediately, particularly in summer, when it can be unusable in as little as 24 hours. Have the ground fully prepared before it arrives, take delivery in the morning, and plan to lay all of it the same day. Ordering sod before the site is ready is the most common way a lawn project wastes money.
Laying and the first three weeks
Lay the first row against a straight edge, a driveway or walk, then stagger the joints in following rows like brickwork so the seams do not line up. Butt the edges tightly without overlapping or stretching, since gaps dry out and become permanent brown lines. On a slope, run the rows across the grade rather than up and down it, and peg the pieces if it is steep enough that they might slide.
Water is the entire job after that. Soak thoroughly right after laying so moisture reaches the soil beneath the sod, not just the roll, and keep the top inch consistently damp for the first two weeks. Stay off it as much as possible. After about two to three weeks, tug a corner: if it resists, the roots have knitted in and you can begin cutting back to deeper, less frequent watering and take the first mow at a high setting.
Common questions
How big is a roll of sod?
The most common roll is 2 ft x 5 ft, covering 10 square feet, and weighs roughly 30 to 40 lb depending on moisture. Some farms cut 16 x 24 inch slabs or big rolls for machine installation instead, so confirm the format and coverage before converting your order.
How much does a pallet of sod cover?
Most pallets cover 450 to 500 square feet, but farms range anywhere from 400 to 700. A full pallet weighs 1,500 to 3,000 lb, so plan for delivery placement: the truck needs to drop it close to the work area, and a pallet is not something you can slide across a driveway by hand.
How much extra sod should I order?
Add 5% for a simple rectangular lawn and 10% when the edges curve, the ground slopes, or the area wraps around beds and walkways. Every cut edge produces scrap, and unlike lumber, sod scraps dry out and die before you can reuse them elsewhere.
How quickly does sod need to be installed?
The same day it is delivered, ideally within a few hours. Rolled sod heats up and the grass begins to yellow within 24 hours in warm weather. Prepare the soil completely before delivery day, keep the pallet in shade, and water each section as soon as it is laid.