Artificial Turf Calculator
How much artificial grass to buy: strips from 2 m, 12 ft, 4 m or 15 ft rolls laid the cheaper way, seam length, offcut waste, infill sand bags, nails and total cost.
How it works
strips = ⌈side ÷ roll width⌉ (both directions tried) · turf = strips × roll width × (run + 15 cm trim) · seams = (strips − 1) × run · infill = lawn area × kg/m² · nails every 15 cm on perimeter and seams
Artificial grass comes in rolls of fixed width — 2 m and 4 m in most of the world, 12 ft and 15 ft in the US — so you buy whole strips, not square metres. The calculator lays the strips both ways across the lawn and keeps the layout that wastes the least turf, adding about 15 cm (6″) per strip for trimming at the edges. All strips must run the same way so the pile leans in one direction. Installers typically add silica sand infill at 1.5–3 lb per sq ft (7–15 kg/m²) to hold the blades upright and weigh the turf down, and secure the edges and seams with nails or staples about every 15 cm (6″).
Worked example
An 8 × 5 m lawn (40.0 m²) with 4 m wide rolls: laying the strips along the 5 m width takes ⌈8 ÷ 4⌉ = 2 strips of 4.00 m × 5.15 m (5 m plus 15 cm trim), so you buy 2 × 4 × 5.15 = 41.2 m² of turf with one 5.0 m seam and 2.9% offcut. Standard infill at 2 lb/sq ft (9.76 kg/m²) is 391 kg — 16 bags of 25 kg — and about 207 nails fix the 26 m perimeter and the seam. At $20 per m² the turf costs $824.00.
Sources: Synthetic Turf Council — installation guidelines · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Synthetic turf
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure for artificial grass?
Measure the longest length and widest width of the area, add a little for trimming, and compare the width with the roll widths sold (2 m, 4 m, 12 ft or 15 ft). Choosing the roll width that matches one side of the lawn keeps seams and offcuts to a minimum.
How much infill do I need for artificial turf?
For a typical landscape lawn about 2 lb of silica sand per sq ft (about 10 kg/m²). Short-pile turf needs less (1–1.5 lb), while pet areas and tall pile take 2.5–3 lb. Spread it in thin layers and brush it in.
Should artificial grass strips run the same direction?
Yes. The blades lean one way, so every strip must point in the same direction or the seams show as a colour change. Ideally the pile faces the house or the main viewing point.
How much extra turf should I order?
Order whole strips plus 10–15 cm (4–6″) at each run for trimming. Irregular shapes, curves and borders can add 10–20% more offcut, so measure the bounding rectangle.
Related calculators
This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.