Instant lawn
Sod & turf calculator
Measure the lawn, pick the slab or roll size your supplier cuts, and get the pieces and pallets to order with a sensible allowance for trimming.
Sod for 1,000 sq ft of lawn plus 10% for cutting and waste = 1,100 sq ft.
Sod to orderSchedule
- Sod to order1,100sq ft122.2 sq yd · 102.2 m²
- Slabs413slabsSlab 16 × 24 in, 2.67 sq ft each
- Pallets2.462 full + 77 slabs; 168 slabs a pallet
1,000 sq ft of lawn plus 10% for cutting and waste = 1,100 sq ft.
| Piece | Covers | Pieces | Pallets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slab 16 × 24 in | 2.67 sq ft | 413 | 2.46 |
| Slab 18 × 24 in | 3 sq ft | 367 | 2.45 |
| Roll 18 in × 6 ft | 9 sq ft | 123 | 2.46 |
| Roll 24 in × 5 ft | 10 sq ft | 110 | 2.44 |
| # | Shape | Size | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rectangle | 40 ft × 25 ft | 1,000 sq ft |
| Net area | 1,000 sq ft | ||
- First watering: ¼ to ½ inch within 30 minutes of laying (UGA Extension), about 156 US gallons to 312 US gallons for 1,000 sq ft.
- Lay sod within 24 hours of delivery, starting along a straight edge and staggering the joints like brickwork (Purdue, NC State, RHS).
- Pallet sizes vary by farm and grass, so ask how many square feet or square metres a pallet covers and type it in.
How to use the sod calculator
- Measure the lawn as shapes and subtract beds and paths that will not be turfed.
- Pick the piece size your supplier cuts. The slabs and rolls listed are sizes named by Purdue Extension and Sod Solutions; UK turf usually comes in 1 m² rolls. For anything else choose Custom size and type the width and length.
- Waste covers trimming at edges, curves and beds. Purdue suggests ordering about 10% more; Sod Solutions says 5–10%. Use the low end for a plain rectangle and more for curvy borders.
- Pallet coverage varies by farm, grass and piece size. Purdue puts a pallet at about 50 square yards (450 sq ft) and Sod Solutions at 400–700 sq ft, so ask your supplier and type their figure.
Laying it
Lay sod within 24 hours of delivery (NC State, RHS) or of harvest (Purdue), starting along a straight edge and staggering the joints like brickwork. UGA Extension suggests ¼ to ½ inch of water within 30 minutes of laying; the result shows how many gallons or litres that is for your lawn.
Worked example
A 40 × 25 ft lawn is 1,000 sq ft; with 10% waste, order 1,100 sq ft. Slabs of 16 × 24 in cover 2.67 sq ft each, so you need 413 slabs. At 450 sq ft a pallet holds 168 slabs: 2.46 pallets, or 2 full pallets and 77 slabs. The first soak of ¼ to ½ inch is about 156 to 312 gallons.
Sources
- Purdue University Extension, AY-28-W Establishing lawns from sod (PDF): slabs 18 × 24 in, rolls 18 in × 6 ft or 24 in × 5 ft; a pallet holds about 50 square yards (450 sq ft); order about 10% more; install within 24 hours of harvest; stagger joints like bricks.
- Sod Solutions, Square feet per pallet: 16 × 24 in slabs covering 2.66 sq ft, 400–700 sq ft per pallet, 5–10% extra.
- NC State Extension, Carolina lawns: install sod within 24 hours of delivery.
- University of Georgia Extension, B1533-2 Lawns in Georgia: establishment: 0.25 to 0.5 inch of water within 30 minutes of installation.
- Royal Horticultural Society, How to lay turf: lay within 24 hours of delivery if possible.
- Wickes, Rolawn Medallion turf: 1 m² rolls of 610 × 1640 mm.
Sod questions
How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
It varies by farm, grass and piece size. Purdue Extension puts a typical pallet at about 50 square yards (450 sq ft), and Sod Solutions quotes 400 to 700 sq ft. Ask your supplier and type their figure into the calculator.
How many slabs of sod do I need for 1,000 sq ft?
With 16 × 24 in slabs of 2.67 sq ft, 375 slabs cover 1,000 sq ft exactly, or 413 with 10% extra. With 18 × 24 in slabs of 3 sq ft it is 334, or 367 with 10% extra.
How much extra sod should I order?
Purdue suggests about 10% more than the measured area, and Sod Solutions 5 to 10%. A plain rectangle needs the least; curved beds, trees and narrow strips need more.
How big is a roll of turf in the UK?
UK turf is usually sold by the square metre in 1 m² rolls; Rolawn's, for example, measure 610 × 1640 mm. Count one roll per square metre of lawn, plus your waste allowance.
How soon do I have to lay sod?
Within a day. NC State and the RHS say to lay turf within 24 hours of delivery, and Purdue within 24 hours of harvest, so plan the soil preparation before the sod arrives.