Sod Calculator
Find how much sod a lawn needs for rectangles, circles, triangles or several areas: square feet with waste, rolls, slabs or mini rolls, full pallets plus loose pieces, cost by the square foot, piece or pallet, weight and topsoil.
How it works
area = length × width (circle π × d² ÷ 4, triangle base × height ÷ 2, or the sum of several areas) · order = area × (1 + waste%) · pieces = ⌈order ÷ coverage per piece⌉ (roll 10 sq ft, mini roll 5, slab 2.67) · pallets = ⌈order ÷ coverage per pallet⌉ · cost = order × price per sq ft, pieces × price per piece, or pallets × price per pallet · weight ≈ sod area × 3–6 lb per sq ft
Sod is priced by the square foot but delivered as rolls or slabs stacked on pallets. Work out the lawn area from its shape: length times width for a rectangle, π times the diameter squared over four for a circle, half the base times the height for a triangle, or add up several areas and take out patios and beds. A waste allowance covers the trimming around curves and edges: about 5% for straight edges and 10–15% for curved beds. Large rolls usually cover 10 sq ft, mini rolls 5 sq ft and southern slabs (16 × 24 in) 2.67 sq ft. Pallets hold roughly 400–500 sq ft, or up to 700 sq ft of large rolls, so the calculator gives both the exact pallet count and an order of full pallets plus loose pieces. The cost can follow any of the three ways farms price sod. Fresh sod weighs about 4 lb per sq ft, so a pallet weighs close to a ton, which matters for a pickup truck or a wheelbarrow route.
Worked example
A 40 × 30 ft lawn is 1,200 sq ft. With 5% waste that is 1,260 sq ft: 126 rolls at 10 sq ft each. A 450 sq ft pallet holds about 45 rolls, so the order is 2 pallets plus 36 rolls, or 3 pallets if the farm sells only whole pallets. At $0.50 per sq ft the sod costs $630, and it weighs about 5,040 lb (2.5 tons) at 4 lb per sq ft.
Sources: Sod Solutions — square feet per pallet, slab and roll sizes, pallet weight · Inch Calculator — sod rolls, slabs and pallets
Frequently asked questions
How soon do I have to lay sod?
As soon as possible: ideally within 24 hours of delivery, sooner in hot weather. Stacked sod heats up and yellows on the pallet within a day or two, so schedule delivery for when the ground is prepped and you have hands ready to lay it.
How do I prepare the ground for sod?
Strip weeds, grade smooth, add 2–4 in of quality topsoil and lightly compact, then lay sod on moist (not muddy) soil. Turn on the topsoil option to get the cubic yards for your area. Stagger the seams like brickwork with edges butted tight, roll it, and keep it watered daily for the first two weeks while it roots.
How many rolls of sod are on a pallet?
It depends on the farm. A 450 sq ft pallet holds about 45 large rolls of 10 sq ft, 90 mini rolls of 5 sq ft or about 170 slabs of 16 × 24 in. Enter your farm's pallet coverage, and the calculator shows the pieces per pallet for each format.
How do I measure an odd-shaped yard?
Split it into rectangles, circles and triangles, measure each one, and enter them as a list, one per line. Start a line with a minus sign to subtract a patio, shed or flower bed. Add 10–15% waste for curved edges.
How much does a pallet of sod weigh?
Usually 1,500–3,000 lb, depending on moisture, soil thickness and grass type. At about 4 lb per sq ft, a 450 sq ft pallet weighs around 1,800 lb, more than most pickup trucks should carry in one load.
Related calculators
Estimate for planning. Add a waste margin and confirm against your supplier specs and local building codes.