Artificial Turf Calculator
Calculate how much artificial turf to order from a 15, 12 or 13 ft roll, plus seam tape, infill, crushed rock base and turf nails for a synthetic lawn or putting green.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Turf to order
- 44 ft of 15 ft wide roll
- 660 sq ft of turf for a 600 sq ft area: 2 runs of 20 ft plus 10% waste
- Seam tape
- 20 ft
- 1 seam of 20 ft; 12 in seam tape plus about 1 gal of two-part urethane adhesive at roughly 50 ft of seam per gallon
- Infill
- 900 lb
- 18 bags of 50 lb at 1.5 lb per sq ft
- Base gravel
- 5.56 cu yd
- 3 in of crushed rock over 600 sq ft, about 7.8 tons; order 15 to 20% extra for compaction
- Turf nails
- 200 nails
- One every 6 in around the 100 ft perimeter, plus one every 12 in along seams; use 5 in or 6 in galvanized turf nails
Artificial Turf formula
Runs = Area width / roll width, rounded up (also try Area length / roll width)
Roll length = Runs x run length x (1 + waste %), using the orientation with less turf
Infill (lb) = Area (sq ft) x lb per sq ft; Base (cu yd) = Area x depth (in) / 12 / 27
Seam tape = (Runs - 1) x run length; Nails = Perimeter (ft) x 2Worked example
An 18 x 35 ft side yard on a 15 ft roll: runs along the 18 ft side need 3 runs of 18 ft = 54 ft, while runs along the 35 ft side need 2 runs of 35 ft = 70 ft. Take 54 ft, add 10% for 59.4 ft, and round up to 60 ft of roll. 60 x 15 = 900 sq ft of turf for a 630 sq ft yard, with 2 seams of 18 ft, so 36 ft of seam tape.
Infill at 1.5 lb per sq ft: 630 x 1.5 = 945 lb, or 19 bags of 50 lb. Base at 3 in: 630 x 0.25 = 157.5 cubic feet, or 5.83 cubic yards of crushed rock. Nails: the perimeter is 2 x (18 + 35) = 106 ft, and one nail every 6 in is 212 nails.
Quick reference
| Area | Roll length | Turf | Infill | Base rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft | 11 ft | 165 sq ft | 150 lb | 0.93 cu yd |
| 15 x 20 ft | 22 ft | 330 sq ft | 450 lb | 2.78 cu yd |
| 20 x 20 ft | 44 ft | 660 sq ft | 600 lb | 3.70 cu yd |
| 20 x 30 ft | 44 ft | 660 sq ft | 900 lb | 5.56 cu yd |
| 25 x 40 ft | 83 ft | 1,245 sq ft | 1,500 lb | 9.26 cu yd |
| 30 x 50 ft | 110 ft | 1,650 sq ft | 2,250 lb | 13.89 cu yd |
| 40 x 60 ft | 176 ft | 2,640 sq ft | 3,600 lb | 22.22 cu yd |
How to measure for artificial turf
Synthetic turf comes off a roll, almost always 15 feet wide, so you buy a length of roll rather than the exact square footage. Divide the narrow side of the area by 15, round up to get the number of runs, and multiply by the long side for the length of roll. A 12 by 25 foot strip fits in one 25 foot run. A 20 by 30 foot lawn needs two runs either way, and two 20 foot runs (40 feet) beat two 30 foot runs (60 feet).
Add 10 percent for trimming and squaring the ends, or 15 percent if the shape has curves, a patio cut into it, or a putting green cup layout. Every run has to face the same direction because the blades lean, so you cannot flip a leftover piece to fill a gap. Order all the turf at once from the same dye lot; a second lot is a slightly different green.
Base, infill and seams
Strip 3 to 4 inches of sod and soil. Spread crusher run or 3/4 minus (class II road base in California, 21A or ABC in the East) in 2 inch lifts. Wet each lift and run a plate compactor over it until it stops moving. Finish with 1/2 inch of decomposed granite or stone dust screeded flat and pitched 1 to 2 percent. The turf backing passes 30 inches of rain an hour, so the base has to drain too; over clay, put 4 inches of 3/4 clean stone under the fines. Compaction is what keeps turf flat for its 15 to 20 year life, so order 15 to 20 percent more rock than the loose volume.
Seams are joined from below with 12 inch seam tape and two-part urethane adhesive, never nailed alone. Trim the selvage off both factory edges, butt the pieces with the stitch rows spaced as inside the roll, and glue only above 50 F on dry tape. Once the turf is stretched and nailed around the perimeter every 6 inches, spread infill with a drop spreader and brush it in with a power broom. Sand holds the blades upright, protects the backing from UV and keeps the turf from wrinkling in heat. Use rounded silica sand for a lawn, zeolite or antimicrobial coated sand where dogs go, and a shock pad under play areas (ASTM F1292).
What this calculator leaves out
The result is turf, tape, infill, base rock and nails. Not included: edging or bender board, weed fabric, gopher wire, a shock pad, or drain rock over clay. Stripped sod and soil from a 600 sq ft lawn is about 5.5 cubic yards, roughly 4 tons to haul. Add the compactor and power broom rental, freight and liftgate fees, and check the HOA; some ban turf, while some western water districts pay rebates for it.
Mistakes that cost money
- Base dumped 4 in deep and hit once: it settles under foot traffic. Compact in 2 in lifts, wetted, to 90 percent or better.
- Runs laid with the grain opposed: the seam shows as a light and dark stripe forever. Every run faces one way, from one dye lot.
- Seam adhesive spread below 50 F or on damp tape: two-part urethane never cures and the seam lets go the first summer.
- Reflected sun off a Low-E window melts turf fibers in a strip; screen the glass or expect a burned patch there.
- Plain sand infill on pet turf: urine sits in the sand and stinks by July. Use zeolite or antimicrobial coated infill.
- A 15 x 50 ft roll weighs about 400 lb and freight drops it at the curb; plan three people or a machine.
Key facts
- Most artificial turf is sold from 15 ft wide rolls cut to the length you need; 12 ft and 13 ft (4 m) widths exist for some products.
- Landscape turf takes 1 to 2 lb of silica sand infill per square foot, so a 50 lb bag covers 25 to 50 sq ft.
- The base is 3 to 4 in of compacted crushed rock, and loose crushed rock compacts about 15 to 20 percent, so order extra.
- Turf nails go every 6 in around the perimeter and every 12 in along seams; 5 and 6 in galvanized nails are standard.
- Every run must be laid with the pile grain facing the same direction, or the seams show as a shade change in the light.
- Polyethylene turf reaches 140 to 170 F in full summer sun, and sunlight reflected off Low-E windows can melt it in a strip.
Frequently asked questions
How much artificial turf do I need for a 20x30 area?
Two 20 ft runs of 15 ft wide roll, or 44 ft with 10% waste. That is 660 sq ft of turf for a 600 sq ft lawn, with one 20 ft seam.
How much infill does artificial grass need?
1 to 2 lb of silica sand per square foot, or about 1.5 lb for a typical landscape turf. A 600 sq ft lawn takes about 900 lb, which is 18 bags of 50 lb.
How much base rock goes under artificial turf?
3 to 4 in of compacted crushed rock. At 3 in, 600 sq ft needs 150 cubic feet, or 5.56 cubic yards, plus 15 to 20% extra because the rock compacts.
Is artificial turf OK for dogs?
Yes, if the base drains and the infill is right. Put 4 in of 3/4 clean stone under the fines over clay and use a turf with a fully permeable backing. Fill with zeolite or antimicrobial coated sand instead of plain silica. Rinse with a hose weekly and an enzyme cleaner monthly; plain sand infill holds urine and smells by midsummer.
Sources and references
- Considerations When Buying Synthetic Grass for Landscape Use (infill and drainage guidelines) (Synthetic Turf Council)
- Synthetic Turf Council technical guidelines (landscape installation, base systems, infill) (Synthetic Turf Council)
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Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.