Sod Calculator
Enter your lawn's dimensions to find how much sod you need in square feet and pallets.
To calculate sod, multiply the length by the width of the area to get square feet, then add 5–10% for waste around curves and cuts. Divide the total square feet by the coverage of one pallet — commonly about 450 square feet — to find how many pallets to order.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter the length and width of the area you are sodding in feet. For an irregular lawn, break it into rectangles, calculate each and add them together. The calculator returns the area in square feet and square yards, plus the number of pallets to order.
Add a waste margin for the pieces trimmed to fit around curves, garden beds and edges — 5% for a simple rectangle, up to 10% for a shape with lots of curves. The pallet-coverage field defaults to 450 square feet, a common figure, but confirm it with your sod farm because it varies.
How the Calculation Works
Sod covers a flat area, so the base calculation is simply length times width in feet. Dividing by 9 converts square feet to square yards, since a square yard is 3 feet by 3 feet.
Sod is sold by the pallet, and each pallet covers a set area — often around 450 square feet, though this differs between suppliers. Dividing your total square footage, including waste, by the pallet coverage gives the number of pallets, rounded up to whole pallets.
sq ft = L × W; pallets = (sq ft × (1 + waste)) ÷ coverage
Worked Example
For a lawn 30 feet by 20 feet, the area is 30 × 20 = 600 square feet, or about 67 square yards. Adding a 5% waste margin gives 600 × 1.05 = 630 square feet.
At 450 square feet per pallet, that is 630 ÷ 450 = 1.4 pallets, which rounds up to 2 pallets. Sod is perishable, so order close to the day you will lay it.
Assumptions and Limitations
- Pallet coverage varies by farm — the 450 sq ft default is a common figure, not universal
- Add more waste for curved or complex lawn shapes
- Measure irregular lawns in sections and add them together
- Sod is perishable — order to lay within a day or two of delivery
Who Uses a Sod Calculator
Landscapers and homeowners laying a new lawn use this to find the square footage, then the pallets and rolls of sod to order. Enter your area before scheduling delivery so the fresh-cut sod arrives in the right amount and can be laid the same day for the best rooting. A good estimate avoids both a shortfall that leaves bare patches and extra pallets that dry out before you can install them.
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Open calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How many square feet does a pallet of sod cover?
It varies by supplier, but a common figure is about 450 square feet per pallet. Some pallets cover 400 or 500 square feet, so confirm the coverage with your sod farm before ordering.
How much extra sod should I order?
Add 5% for a simple rectangular lawn and up to 10% for a lawn with curves, beds and tight edges, since those pieces are trimmed and produce offcuts.
How do I measure an irregular lawn for sod?
Divide it into rectangles and, where needed, triangles. Calculate the area of each piece, add them together, then apply your waste margin to the total.
How many square feet are in a square yard of sod?
Nine. A square yard is 3 feet by 3 feet, so to convert square feet to square yards you divide by 9.
When should I order sod?
Order it to arrive the day you plan to lay it, or the day before. Sod is living grass and deteriorates quickly on the pallet, especially in warm weather.
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