This sod calculator shows how much sod to order for your lawn in square feet, square yards, pallets and rolls.
How the sod calculator works
Area = length × width, plus 5% for cuts. One roll covers about 10 ft² and weighs roughly 20 to 40 lb (University of Maryland Extension). Pallet coverage varies by grower, so enter the size your supplier gives you.
Before you order
- Prepare and grade the soil first. A soil test shows whether it needs lime or compost.
- Order close to installation day. Sod is perishable.
- Water right after laying and keep it moist while roots establish, which the Maryland guide puts at about 2 to 3 weeks.
Read the full guide: How much sod do I need?
How to use the sod calculator
- Pick a rectangle or a circle and enter the size. Break odd-shaped lawns into simpler pieces and add the results.
- Add a little extra for the cuts around beds, trees and curves. A plain rectangle needs almost none.
- Check how many square feet a pallet covers at your supplier — 450 and 500 ft² are both common.
- Enter a price per pallet, per square foot or per square yard to get a cost estimate.
Formulas
Area (ft²) = length (ft) × width (ft) With extra = area × (1 + extra % ÷ 100) Square yards = square feet ÷ 9 Pallets = square feet ÷ pallet coverage, rounded up
Sod is priced by the pallet, by the square foot or by the square yard depending on the supplier, so the calculator shows all three. Pallet coverage varies by region, which is why it is an editable field rather than a fixed number.
Worked example: a 50 × 30 ft lawn
- Area: 50 ft × 30 ft = 1,500 ft².
- Add 5% for cuts: 1,500 × 1.05 = 1,575 ft².
- Square yards: 1,575 ÷ 9 = 175 yd².
- Pallets at 450 ft²: 1,575 ÷ 450 = 3.5, so order 4 pallets.
Ordering and laying
Sod is perishable. Order it to arrive the day you lay it, have the ground graded and watered beforehand, and lay it within 24 hours in cool weather or the same day in heat. Stagger the seams like brickwork and butt the edges tight so they do not dry out.
Quick reference
| Lawn size | Square yards | Pallets at 450 ft² |
|---|---|---|
| 500 ft² | 56 yd² | 2 |
| 1,000 ft² | 111 yd² | 3 |
| 2,500 ft² | 278 yd² | 6 |
| 5,000 ft² | 556 yd² | 12 |
| 1/4 acre (10,890 ft²) | 1,210 yd² | 26 |
Figures include a 5% allowance for cuts.
Based on 450 ft² per pallet with 5% extra. Pallet size varies by grower.
Questions
How many square feet is a pallet of sod?
Usually 450 or 500 ft², though some growers sell 600 ft² pallets. Ask your supplier before you order, because the difference is a whole pallet on a mid-sized lawn.
How much sod do I need for 1,000 square feet?
1,000 ft² of lawn is 111 square yards. With 5% for cuts you need about 1,050 ft², which is 3 pallets at 450 ft² each.
Is sod sold by the pallet or by the square foot?
Both. Growers and landscape yards usually price by the pallet, big-box stores sell individual rolls, and some suppliers quote per square yard. The calculator gives all three so you can compare.
How much extra sod should I order?
About 5% for cuts and waste, more for curved or complex lawns.
How many rolls of sod are in a pallet?
At about 10 ft² per roll, a 450 ft² pallet holds roughly 45 rolls. Confirm with your supplier.
How much sod for a quarter acre?
26 pallets of 450 ft² including 5% extra, before subtracting the house, drive and beds.
Can I lay sod over existing grass?
Prepare the soil first. Ask your local extension office for guidance on your grass type.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch, foot and gallon definitions and the metric conversions. - Starting a New Lawn, University of Maryland Extension.
Used for: Sod roll size, pallet coverage and establishment watering.