FitAndFillSod Calculator: Square Feet, Rolls and Pallets
Work out how many square feet, rolls or slabs and pallets of sod you need for a lawn, with an allowance for cuts and waste.
How the calculation works
area = length × width − area without sod sod to buy (sq ft) = area × (1 + extra) square yards = sq ft ÷ 9 pieces = sod to buy ÷ area of one piece, rounded up pallets = sod to buy ÷ sq ft per pallet, rounded up Sod is sold by the pallet, the piece or the square foot depending on the farm, so the tool shows all three.
Worked example
A 50 × 20 ft lawn is 1,000 sq ft. If 100 sq ft is a patio or bed, the area to cover is 900 sq ft. With 5 % extra you buy 945 sq ft (105 sq yd).
In 2 ft × 5 ft rolls (10 sq ft each) that is 95 rolls; in 16 × 24 in slabs it is 355 slabs. With 450 sq ft per pallet it is 3 pallets, rounded up because pallets are sold whole.
Assumptions and limits
- The lawn is a rectangle; subtract patios, paths and beds in "Area without sod", or split an irregular lawn into rectangles and add the results.
- A pallet starts at 450 sq ft, a figure two university extension guides give, but pallets vary by farm and grass (one guide says 450 to 500 sq ft). Enter the coverage your supplier quotes.
- The default extra is 5 %. Lawns with curves, slopes or many cuts usually need more; the list also offers 10 % and 15 %, which are allowances you choose, so ask your supplier.
- Pieces are rounded up to whole rolls or slabs and pallets to whole pallets. Many suppliers also sell loose pieces.
- Soil preparation, topsoil, fertilizer, staples and delivery are not included.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra should I order?
Mississippi State University Extension suggests about 5 % more than you think you need. Lawns with curves, slopes or many cuts around beds usually waste more, so the list also offers 10 % and 15 %; ask your sod supplier.
How many square feet are on a pallet?
It varies by farm and grass. Mississippi State says a pallet typically holds 450 to 500 sq ft, and Texas A&M AgriLife says about 450 sq ft. The tool starts at 450; replace it with the figure your supplier gives you.
What if I only need part of a pallet?
Many farms and garden centers also sell loose rolls or slabs. Compare the cost of the full pallets you would round up to with the cost of fewer pallets plus a few loose pieces.
Can I enter a lawn that is not a rectangle?
Split it into rectangles, calculate each one and add the results. Or take a rectangle that covers the whole lawn and enter the parts without sod in "Area without sod".
How do I convert square yards?
One square yard is 9 square feet. The results show both, because some suppliers quote sod by the square yard.
What is not included?
Soil preparation, topsoil, fertilizer, staples and delivery. Plan to lay sod soon after it arrives: it is a living product and does not keep well on the pallet.
Sources
- Mississippi State University Extension, "Sod Installation and Maintenance" (a pallet typically holds 450 to 500 sq ft; buy about 5 % more sod than you think you need; 1 square yard = 9 square feet)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "How to Select and Install Sod" (a pallet contains about 450 sq ft; 1 square yard = 9 square feet; allow a small percentage of waste)
- Piece sizes in the list are arithmetic: 2 ft × 5 ft = 10 sq ft; 16 in × 24 in = 384 sq in = 2.67 sq ft
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