Sod calculator
Square footage, rolls and pallets. For L-shaped lawns, split the yard into rectangles and add the results.
- Area
- — ft²
- Pallets (500 ft²)
- —
- Estimated cost
- —
How the calculation works
area = length × width
Add waste, divide by the roll size, round up. A pallet is normally 500 ft² — 50 rolls of 10 ft² — which is the unit most suppliers quote.
Worked example
40 × 30 ft = 1,200 ft². With 5% waste, 1,260 ft². In 10 ft² rolls: 126 rolls, or about 2.4 pallets.
What the calculator cannot tell you
Sod fails for reasons that have nothing to do with quantity: dry soil under the roll, no contact between sod and ground, and irrigation that starts too late. The prep matters more than the count.
| Step | Target |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.0 for most cool-season grasses |
| Organic matter | 3–5% tilled into the top 4 in |
| Grade | 2% slope away from the foundation |
| Water | Soak the soil 24 h before laying, then daily for 2 weeks |
Frequently asked
How fast do I have to lay it?
Within 24–48 hours of delivery. Stacked sod heats up and the middle of the pallet dies first.
Do I need topsoil under the sod?
You need loose, amended soil to a depth of 4–6 inches. Sod roots into what is there, not into what you wish was there.
How much extra should I order?
Five percent for a rectangle, ten for a lawn with curves, beds cut into it, or a lot of tree wells.