Sod Calculator

Sod formula

Lawn area = Length (ft) x Width (ft) + Extra area
Sod to order = Lawn area x (1 + waste %)
Pieces = Sod to order / piece size  (10 sq ft roll, 2.67 sq ft slab)
Pallets = Sod to order / pallet coverage  (usually 400 to 500 sq ft)

Worked example

A 40 x 30 ft back yard plus a 200 sq ft side strip, laid with slabs and 10% waste for the curved beds: 40 x 30 = 1,200 sq ft, plus 200 = 1,400 sq ft. 1,400 x 1.1 = 1,540 sq ft of sod.

At 2.67 sq ft per slab that is 1,540 / 2.67 = 577 slabs. With 450 sq ft per pallet, 1,540 / 450 = 3.4, so order 4 pallets. At $350 per pallet the sod costs $1,400 before delivery.

Quick reference

How to calculate sod

Measure the length and width of each lawn section in feet and multiply for square feet. Break odd shapes into rectangles and add them together, or enter the extra pieces separately. Then add 5 percent for a simple rectangle or 10 percent when there are curves, trees and walkways to cut around.

Sod is sold by the roll, slab or pallet. Suppliers usually prefer to sell whole pallets, and the pallet size varies by farm, so confirm the coverage before you order. A 450 sq ft pallet is common, but 400 and 500 sq ft pallets are also sold.

Laying sod

Prepare the soil first: remove old grass, grade the area, spread 4 to 6 inches of topsoil if the existing soil is poor, and rake it smooth about 1 inch below walkways so the sod sits flush. Have the sod delivered the day you plan to lay it.

Start along the longest straight edge and stagger the joints like brickwork. Butt edges tightly without overlapping, use a sharp knife for cuts, and water thoroughly within 30 minutes of laying. Keep it moist for two weeks and avoid heavy foot traffic until it has rooted.

Key facts

• A standard sod roll is 2 x 5 ft and covers 10 sq ft; a pallet holds 45 to 50 rolls (450 to 500 sq ft).
• A pallet of sod weighs 1,500 to 3,000 lb depending on soil moisture, so it cannot be moved by hand.
• Sod should be laid within 24 hours of harvest; it starts to yellow after a day on the pallet in warm weather.
• New sod needs watering every day for the first 2 weeks and roots into the soil in 2 to 3 weeks.
• Sod costs several times more than seed for the same area but gives a usable lawn in weeks instead of months.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and references

• •Sod Installation and Maintenance (Publication 2951) (Mississippi State University Extension)
• •Lawn Establishment (Penn State Extension)
• •Seeding and sodding home lawns (University of Minnesota Extension)