To figure out how much sod you need, measure the lawn area in square feet, add 5 to 10 percent for trimming, and divide by the coverage of one pallet. With the sod calculator's defaults, a 1,500 sq ft lawn plus 5 percent comes to 1,575 sq ft: 4 pallets at 450 sq ft each, or 590 pieces if you buy 16 × 24 in slabs. Pallet coverage varies by farm, commonly 400 to 500 sq ft for slabs, so confirm the number with your supplier before you order.
Enter your lawn size, your supplier's pallet and piece coverage, and your waste allowance below.
How to measure your lawn for sod
- Sketch the area. Draw the yard and mark the house, driveway, walks, patio, and planting beds. Only the spaces that will get grass count.
- Split it into shapes. Measure rectangles as length × width. For a triangle, multiply the two sides that meet at the square corner and divide by 2. For a circle, use 3.14 × radius × radius.
- Subtract what you won't cover. Tri-Turf Sod Farms lists forgetting to subtract hardscape and beds among the most common measuring mistakes, and it leads to ordering too much.
- Measure slopes along the ground. On a bank, run the tape along the surface, not across the flat footprint. The surface of a slope is longer than it looks from above.
- Add it up and enter the total. For an irregular lawn you have already totaled, enter the square footage as the length and 1 as the width.
Example: a backyard with a patio and a side strip
Say the main backyard is 50 × 30 ft (1,500 sq ft) with a 12 × 16 ft patio in it (192 sq ft), plus a 40 × 8 ft strip along the side of the house (320 sq ft). The grass area is 1,500 − 192 + 320 = 1,628 sq ft. Enter 1,628 as the length and 1 as the width. With 5 percent extra, the calculator asks for about 1,709 sq ft: 4 pallets at 450 sq ft, or 641 pieces. Forgetting to subtract the patio would have added almost 200 sq ft to the order.
The sod formula
The calculator uses:
- Lawn area = length (ft) × width (ft)
- Sod needed = area × (1 + waste % ÷ 100)
- Pallets = sod needed ÷ square feet per pallet, rounded up
- Pieces = sod needed ÷ square feet per piece, rounded up
Worked example (the calculator's default values)
A lawn area 50 ft long and 30 ft wide, with 5 percent extra, 450 sq ft per pallet, and 2.67 sq ft per piece:
- Lawn area: 50 × 30 = 1,500 sq ft
- With 5 percent extra: 1,500 × 1.05 = 1,575 sq ft
- Pallets: 1,575 ÷ 450 = 3.5, rounded up to 4 pallets
- Pieces: 1,575 ÷ 2.67 = 589.9, rounded up to 590 pieces
The calculator shows: "You need about 1,575 sq ft of sod: 4 pallets. Lawn area 1,500 sq ft plus 5% for cuts, or 590 pieces if you buy by the piece."
Notice the half pallet. Four full pallets give you 1,800 sq ft, about 225 sq ft more than you need. If your supplier sells partial pallets or loose pieces, the piece count lets you order closer to the real number.
Sod sizes and pallet coverage
Sod comes in different formats depending on the grass and the region. These are the typical ranges reported by Sod Solutions:
| Format | Typical piece size | Coverage per piece | Coverage per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slabs (common in the South) | 16 × 24 in | About 2.67 sq ft | 400 to 500 sq ft |
| Mini hand rolls (common in the North) | 40 × 18 in | 5 sq ft | 400 to 500 sq ft |
| Large rolls (common in the North) | 60 × 24 or 80 × 18 in | 10 sq ft | 500 to 700 sq ft |
A 16 × 24 in slab is 384 square inches, and 384 ÷ 144 = 2.67 sq ft. If your farm sells rolls, change the piece coverage in the calculator to 5 or 10 sq ft.
Pallets are heavy. Sod Solutions puts them at roughly 1,500 to 3,000 pounds depending on moisture, so plan where the delivery truck can set them down.
Pallets needed by lawn size
This chart includes 5 percent extra, the calculator's default. Find your lawn size, then read across to your supplier's pallet size.
| Lawn area | Sod with 5% extra | 400 sq ft pallets | 450 sq ft pallets | 500 sq ft pallets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 525 sq ft | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,050 sq ft | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,575 sq ft | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,100 sq ft | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 3,150 sq ft | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,250 sq ft | 14 | 12 | 11 |
How much extra sod to order
Sod farms generally suggest 5 to 10 percent extra. Sod Solutions and CT Sod both use that range. Tri-Turf breaks it down by yard shape:
- Simple rectangle: add 5 percent
- Some curves and planting beds: add 10 percent
- Complex shapes, lots of landscaping, or slopes: add 10 to 15 percent
The calculator starts at 5 percent. Raise it if your lawn has many curves, islands, or narrow strips, where every edge means another trimmed piece.
Prepare the ground before the sod arrives
Sod is perishable, so the soil should be ready before delivery day.
- Topsoil depth: Penn State Extension recommends at least 4 to 6 inches of good topsoil, firmed or settled. Our topsoil calculator sizes that order.
- Grade: slope the soil away from the house at 1 to 4 percent, per Penn State Extension.
- Firm, moist surface: Texas A&M AgriLife advises laying sod on a surface firmed by rolling or settled by rain or irrigation, moist but not wet.
- Soil test: Penn State suggests sampling three to four weeks before you prepare the soil.
Tips for laying sod
- Lay it fast. University of Minnesota Extension says fresh sod should be cut no more than 24 hours before delivery and laid within a day of arriving. Penn State notes it can deteriorate within 24 to 48 hours in warm weather.
- Stagger the joints. Lay pieces in a brick pattern so seams don't line up.
- Stake slopes. On banks, Penn State Extension recommends staking each strip as you lay it so it can't slide.
- Roll it. A light roller presses the sod into the soil and removes air pockets.
- Water deeply at first. Water until it soaks through the sod into the soil below, then keep it moist daily, if needed, until it roots. Penn State says that can take up to 4 weeks.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming every pallet is 450 sq ft. Coverage ranges from about 400 to 700 sq ft depending on the format. Always ask.
- Ordering before the ground is ready. Sod left sitting on the pallet dries out and deteriorates.
- Skipping the waste allowance. Curves and edges eat sod fast.
- Counting the whole lot. Subtract the house footprint, driveway, patio, and beds.
- Coming up short. Bethel Farms notes that running short and scrambling for more can cause delays and uneven growth. Order enough the first time.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
It depends on the farm and the format. Slabs and mini rolls usually come 400 to 500 sq ft per pallet, and large rolls 500 to 700 sq ft, according to Sod Solutions. The calculator defaults to 450 sq ft; change it to match your quote.
How many pieces of sod are on a pallet?
For 16 × 24 in slabs, CT Sod reports about 150 to 170 slabs per warm-season pallet. At 2.67 sq ft each, a 450 sq ft pallet holds about 169 slabs.
How much extra sod should I order?
Plan on 5 to 10 percent for most lawns and up to 15 percent for complicated shapes or slopes. A few spare pieces are easier to deal with than a gap you can't fill.
How long can sod sit before I lay it?
As little time as possible. University of Minnesota Extension recommends laying it within a day of delivery, and Penn State Extension warns it can start to deteriorate within 24 to 48 hours in warm weather.
How much topsoil do I need under sod?
Penn State Extension recommends at least 4 to 6 inches of good topsoil, measured after it is firmed. For 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches, that is about 12.35 cubic yards.
How do I use the piece count?
If you buy from a garden center or your farm sells loose pieces, use the piece count instead of pallets. Make sure the piece size you enter matches what they sell.
Sources
- Sod Solutions: How Many Square Feet Are in a Pallet of Sod?
- CT Sod: How Many Square Feet of Sod Comes on a Pallet?
- Tri-Turf Sod Farms: How Much Sod Do I Need?
- Penn State Extension: Lawn Establishment
- University of Minnesota Extension: Seeding and Sodding Home Lawns
- Texas A&M AgriLife: Specifications for Turfgrass Establishment
- Bethel Farms: How Much Sod Do I Need?