How this calculator works
It measures the lawn area, adds a small allowance for cutting around edges and beds, then fills whole pallets first and tops up with loose pieces (rolls in metric) for the rest.
Piece and pallet sizes vary by sod farm and region, so both are editable. The defaults are a 16″ × 24″ slab (2.67 sq ft) and a 450 sq ft pallet, or 1 m² rolls and a 50 m² pallet in metric. Check them with your supplier before ordering.
area = length × width
need = area × (1 + cutting allowance)
pallets = whole pallets in need
pieces = (need − pallets × pallet coverage) ÷ piece sizeWorked example
A 30′ × 20′ lawn is 600 sq ft. With 5% for cuts you need 630 sq ft. One 450 sq ft pallet covers most of it; the other 180 sq ft is 180 ÷ 2.67 = 67.4, so 68 loose pieces.
Tips before you buy
- Order sod for delivery on the day you lay it. It heats up and yellows on the pallet within a day or two in warm weather.
- Prepare and level the soil first; sod follows every bump underneath it.
- Lay pieces in a staggered brick pattern with tight seams and no overlaps.
- Water within half an hour of laying each section, then keep it moist until the roots take hold.
Questions
- How many square feet is a pallet of sod?
- It depends on the farm: pallets commonly cover somewhere between about 400 and 500 square feet. Ask your supplier for their figure and enter it under Coverage and waste.
- How much extra sod should I order?
- Five percent is enough for a simple rectangle. Add 10% or more for curved beds, many trees or narrow strips, where more pieces are cut and trimmed.
- Should I buy pallets or loose pieces?
- Pallets are usually cheaper per square foot and come delivered, while loose pieces suit patches and small areas. For a mid-sized lawn, the list buys whole pallets and tops up with loose pieces so nothing is left to waste.