ProjectFigure Exact material estimates for every home & DIY project.

Sod Calculator

A sod calculator works out how much turf you need for a new lawn — in square feet, rolls and pallets — with a little extra for trimming around curves, beds and paths. Measure the area and it tells you how much to order.

Your measurements

Result

Sod is perishable: it should go down within a day of delivery and be watered immediately, so ordering the right amount (plus a small buffer) matters.

How it is calculated

Sod needed = lawn area × (1 + waste). We then convert to rolls (about 10 sq ft each) and pallets (about 450 sq ft each). Roll and pallet coverage vary by supplier — confirm before ordering.

Steps

Measure the lawn length and width, or enter the total area.
Keep about 5% waste for trimming and odd shapes.
Read the square feet, rolls and pallets to order.
Prep and level the soil before delivery.
Lay it fresh and water it in straight away.

Worked example

A 25 × 20 ft lawn (500 sq ft) with 5% waste needs about 525 sq ft of sod — roughly 53 rolls, or 2 pallets.

Common questions

How much sod do I need?

Your lawn area plus about 5% for trimming. The calculator converts that to rolls and pallets.

How big is a pallet of sod?

Usually about 450 sq ft, though it ranges roughly 400-500 sq ft by region and supplier.

How soon must I lay sod?

Within a day of delivery — it's living grass and degrades fast on the pallet, especially in heat.

Sod or seed?

Sod is an instant lawn at higher cost; seed is cheaper but slow. Use the grass seed calculator if you're seeding instead.