How to use the sod calculator
- Enter the lawn length and width, or the total area. Split odd shapes into rectangles and add the areas.
- Add 5–10% extra for cutting around beds, paths and curves.
- Choose your piece size — slabs, small rolls, big rolls or metric turf rolls.
- Check the pallet coverage with your sod farm and add a price to see the cost.
Sod formula
Area to order = Length × Width × (1 + extra %) Pieces = Area to order ÷ area of one piece → round up Pallets = Area to order ÷ pallet coverage → round up One 16 × 24 in slab = 2.67 ft² · 1 m² = 10.76 ft²
Worked example
A 30 × 20 ft back yard with 5% extra, using 16 × 24 in slabs and 450 ft² pallets:
- Area = 600 ft² → with 5% = 630 ft²
- Slabs = 630 ÷ 2.67 = 236.3 → 237 pieces
- Pallets = 630 ÷ 450 = 1.4 → 2 pallets (or 1 pallet plus 180 ft² of loose pieces)
Sod piece and pallet sizes
| Format | Coverage each | Typical pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Slab 16 × 24 in | 2.67 ft² | 400–500 ft² (150–190 slabs) |
| Roll 2 × 5 ft | 10 ft² | 450–500 ft² |
| Big roll 42 in × 100 ft | 350 ft² | Laid by machine |
| UK / EU turf roll | 1 m² (10.8 ft²) | 40–60 m² |
How to lay sod
- Kill and remove old grass and weeds, then loosen the top 4–6 in of soil.
- Add topsoil or compost if the soil is poor, and rake it level about 1 in below paths and edges.
- Water the soil lightly the day before so it is moist but not muddy.
- Start along a straight edge such as a driveway, and stagger the joints like bricks.
- Butt pieces tightly without overlapping or stretching, and cut with a sharp knife.
- Roll the lawn to press the roots into the soil, then water deeply within 30 minutes.
- Keep it moist daily for about two weeks, until the sod is rooted and won’t lift at the corners.
When to lay sod
Lay cool-season sod (fescue, bluegrass) in spring or early fall, and warm-season sod (bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine) from late spring to midsummer when it is actively growing. Avoid the hottest, driest weeks unless you can water every day. Order the sod for the day you will lay it, and plan the delivery spot so the pallets are close to the lawn.
Sod or seed?
Sod gives an instant lawn, controls erosion on slopes straight away and can be used in a few weeks, but it costs several times more than seed. Seed is cheaper and offers more grass varieties, but takes a couple of months to fill in. If you choose seed, use our Grass Seed Calculator.