Sod and pallets
Type feet and inches like 12'6" or just 12.5. Add a second area for an L-shaped yard, or tick Subtract for a patio, a shed or a flower bed inside the lawn. Everything is saved on this device.
About the sod calculator
This free sod calculator tells you how much sod you need for a new lawn. Enter the size of the lawn — a rectangle, a circle or any mix of shapes — and pick the size of one piece. You get the square feet to order, the number of pieces and the number of pallets.
Sod farms load different amounts on a pallet, so the pallet size is a box you can change. In the US a pallet often covers 450–500 sq ft. The tool starts at 450 sq ft, so you do not run short.
Features
- Sod to order — the lawn area plus 5–15% for cuts and edges, rounded up
- Pallets — with a pallet size you can change, also shown as full pallets + loose pieces
- Pieces — 16 × 24 in or 18 × 24 in slabs, 2 × 5 ft rolls, 1 m² rolls, or your own size
- Any lawn shape — rectangles, circles, triangles and trapezoids; add areas or subtract a patio or bed
- Cost — by the pallet, by the square foot or by the piece
- Square yards — for suppliers who sell by the square yard
- Feet or metres — m² and 1 m² rolls in metric
- Saved on this device — the list is still there when you call the sod farm
Sod for common lawn sizes
With 5% extra, 16 × 24 in slabs and pallets of 450 sq ft:
| Lawn | Sod to order | Slabs | Pallets | or full pallets + slabs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 525 sq ft | 197 | 2 | 1 + 29 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,050 sq ft | 394 | 3 | 2 + 57 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,575 sq ft | 591 | 4 | 3 + 85 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,100 sq ft | 788 | 5 | 4 + 113 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 3,150 sq ft | 1,182 | 7 | 7 full pallets |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,250 sq ft | 1,969 | 12 | 11 + 113 |
In metric, with 5% extra, rolls of 1 m² and pallets of 40 m²:
| Lawn | Turf to order | Rolls | Pallets | or full pallets + rolls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m² | 52.5 m² | 53 | 2 | 1 + 13 |
| 100 m² | 105 m² | 105 | 3 | 2 + 25 |
| 200 m² | 210 m² | 210 | 6 | 5 + 10 |
| 300 m² | 315 m² | 315 | 8 | 7 + 35 |
| 500 m² | 525 m² | 525 | 14 | 13 + 5 |
Piece sizes and pieces per pallet
| Piece | Covers | Pieces on a 450 sq ft pallet | Pieces on a 500 sq ft pallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slab 16 × 24 in | 2.67 sq ft | about 169 | about 188 |
| Slab 18 × 24 in | 3 sq ft | 150 | about 167 |
| Roll 2 × 5 ft | 10 sq ft | 45 | 50 |
Worked example
The page opens on a 30 × 20 ft lawn with 16 × 24 in slabs:
- Lawn: 30 × 20 = 600 sq ft
- With 5% for cuts: 600 × 1.05 = 630 sq ft to order
- Slabs: 630 ÷ 2.67 → 237 slabs
- Pallets of 450 sq ft: 630 ÷ 450 = 1.4 → 2 pallets, or 1 pallet + 68 slabs if your supplier sells loose pieces
Before the sod comes
- Clear the old grass and weeds, loosen the soil and rake it smooth and level.
- Order for the day you can lay it. Sod rolled up on a pallet heats up and dries out fast.
- Start along a straight edge, like a path or a fence. Stagger the joints like bricks and push the edges tight together.
- Cut around curves and beds with a sharp knife. This is where the extra 5–10% goes.
- Water the new lawn soon after you lay it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pallet of sod cover?
In the US a pallet often covers 450 to 500 sq ft, but it depends on the sod farm. Ask your supplier and type the number in Sod on one pallet.
How many pieces of sod are on a pallet?
About 169 slabs of 16 × 24 in on a 450 sq ft pallet, or about 188 on a 500 sq ft pallet. With 18 × 24 in slabs it is 150 to 167.
How much sod do I need for 1,000 square feet?
Order about 1,050 sq ft (5% extra). That is 394 slabs of 16 × 24 in, or 3 pallets of 450 sq ft — or 2 pallets plus 57 slabs.
How much extra sod should I order?
5% for a simple rectangle and 10% for curves, beds and trees. A lawn with many small beds may need 15%.
How many square yards is my lawn?
Divide the square feet by 9. A 600 sq ft lawn is 66.7 square yards. The tool shows square yards in feet mode.
Can I use square metres?
Yes. Switch to Metres & cm to get m² of turf, 1 m² rolls and pallets in m².
Related tools
- Square Footage Calculator — the area of a yard of any shape
- Mulch, Soil & Gravel Calculator — topsoil to level the ground first
- Fence Calculator — posts and boards around the new lawn
- Paver Calculator — a patio or path next to the grass
- Gravel Calculator — gravel for paths and edges
How to use it
- Choose Feet & inches or Metres & cm
- Enter the length and width of the lawn, or choose another shape. Use Add another area for an L shape, and Subtract for a patio or bed
- Pick the piece size of your sod
- Type how much sod is on one pallet (ask your supplier)
- Pick the extra for cuts and edges
- Add a price per pallet to see the cost, then press Copy the list
