Sod Calculator

This sod calculator works out how much sod you need to cover a lawn, then turns that area into pieces and pallets so you know what to order. Measure a rectangle or circle, or type in the total area if you already know it, and add a waste allowance for trimming around edges, beds and curves.

Sod farms cut slabs and rolls in different sizes and stack different amounts on a pallet, so both figures are editable. The defaults are a 16 x 24 inch slab, which covers 2.67 square feet, and 450 square feet per pallet, a common figure at the low end of the usual range.

How to Use the Sod Calculator

1
Choose units and lawn shape
Select US (feet) or Metric (meters), then choose Rectangle or square, Circle, or I know the area.
2
Enter the measurements
Type the length and width, the diameter, or the total lawn area.
3
Set the waste allowance
Keep 5% for simple shapes or raise it to 10% or more for a lawn with curves and planting beds.
4
Match your supplier
Tap a piece size preset or type the square feet one piece covers, and enter the square feet per pallet your supplier quotes. The results update as you type.

How the sod calculator works

The lawn area is found in square feet: length times width, or pi times the radius squared for a circle. Metric measurements are converted at 3.28084 feet per meter, or 10.7639 square feet per square meter. The waste allowance is added to give the square feet to order.

Pieces are the order area divided by the area of one piece, rounded up to a whole piece. Pallets are the order area divided by the coverage of one pallet. The calculator shows the exact figure and the number rounded up to whole pallets.

Order area = lawn area × (1 + waste % ÷ 100)
Pieces = order area ÷ area per piece, rounded up
Pallets = order area ÷ sq ft per pallet
16 × 24 in slab = 384 sq in ÷ 144 = 2.67 sq ft

Worked example: a 40 x 25 ft back yard

For a round lawn 20 ft across, the area is 314.2 sq ft. With 10% waste that is 346 sq ft, 130 slabs, or 0.77 of a pallet. At 450 sq ft per pallet with 2.67 sq ft slabs, one pallet holds about 168 pieces.

Lawn area: 40 × 25 = 1,000 sq ft.
Add 5% waste: 1,000 × 1.05 = 1,050 sq ft to order.
Pieces: 1,050 ÷ 2.67 = 393.3, rounded up to 394 slabs.
Pallets: 1,050 ÷ 450 = 2.33 pallets, so 3 if your supplier only sells full pallets.
With 10% waste instead, the order is 1,100 sq ft, 412 slabs or 2.44 pallets.

Sod needed by lawn size

These figures use a 5% waste allowance, 2.67 sq ft slabs and 450 sq ft per pallet, the calculator defaults.

Lawn area	Order (with 5%)	16 × 24 in pieces	Pallets (exact)	Full pallets
100 sq ft	105 sq ft	40	0.23	1
250 sq ft	263 sq ft	99	0.58	1
500 sq ft	525 sq ft	197	1.17	2
1,000 sq ft	1,050 sq ft	394	2.33	3
2,500 sq ft	2,625 sq ft	984	5.83	6
5,000 sq ft	5,250 sq ft	1,967	11.67	12

Tips for ordering and laying sod

Ask your supplier for the exact piece size and pallet coverage. Some farms cut 18 x 24 inch slabs (3 sq ft) or 2 x 5 ft rolls (10 sq ft), and pallets are commonly 450 to 500 sq ft.
Many suppliers sell partial pallets or single pieces. If yours does, you can order the exact number of pieces instead of rounding up to a full pallet.
Sod is perishable. Schedule delivery for the day you will lay it, keep it shaded and damp, and lay it as soon as you can.
Prepare the soil first: remove old turf and debris, loosen and level the top few inches, and water the day before so the surface is moist but not muddy.
Lay pieces in a staggered, brick-like pattern with tight seams, and water deeply right after installation.

Common measuring mistakes

Forgetting to subtract patios, sheds and planting beds. Measure only the area that will be grass.
Using too little waste on an irregular lawn. Curves and many edges create offcuts, so 10% or more is safer there.
Mixing units. If you measure in meters, switch to Metric before entering numbers rather than converting by hand.
Splitting an odd shape badly. Break an L-shaped or irregular lawn into rectangles and circles, add their areas, and use the I know the area option.

Features

Rectangle, circle or known total area, in feet or meters
Waste allowance you can adjust (default 5%)
Pieces based on an editable slab or roll size (16 × 24 in = 2.67 sq ft)
Pallets based on editable coverage (default 450 sq ft)
Results in square feet and square meters

Frequently Asked Questions

How much sod do I need?

Measure the lawn area in square feet, then add a waste allowance of about 5% for simple shapes or 10% for irregular ones. A 1,000 sq ft lawn with 5% waste needs 1,050 sq ft of sod. With 16 x 24 inch slabs that is 394 pieces, or 2.33 pallets at 450 sq ft per pallet.

How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?

Pallet coverage depends on the sod farm, the grass and the piece size, but pallets commonly hold about 450 to 500 square feet. This calculator defaults to 450 sq ft, the lower figure, so it will not underestimate the number of pallets. Enter your supplier figure in the Coverage per pallet field for an exact count.

How many pieces of sod are on a pallet?

Divide the pallet coverage by the area of one piece. With 16 x 24 inch slabs, which cover 2.67 sq ft each, a 450 sq ft pallet holds about 168 pieces and a 500 sq ft pallet about 187. Larger 2 x 5 ft rolls cover 10 sq ft each, so a 450 sq ft pallet holds 45 of them.

How much sod do I need for 500 square feet?

With a 5% waste allowance, a 500 sq ft lawn needs 525 sq ft of sod. That is 197 pieces of 16 x 24 inch slabs, or 1.17 pallets at 450 sq ft per pallet. If your supplier sells partial pallets or single pieces, order 197 pieces; otherwise you would need 2 full pallets.

How much sod do I need for an acre?

An acre is 43,560 square feet. With 5% waste you would order 45,738 sq ft of sod, which is 17,131 pieces of 16 x 24 inch slabs or about 101.64 pallets at 450 sq ft each, so 102 full pallets. At this size, big rolls laid by machine are common, so ask your supplier how they cut and sell sod.

How big is a piece of sod?

A common slab size is 16 by 24 inches, which is 384 square inches or 2.67 square feet. Some farms cut 18 by 24 inch slabs that cover 3 sq ft, and rolls of 2 by 5 feet that cover 10 sq ft. Large commercial rolls are much bigger. Sizes vary by supplier, so check before you order.

Last reviewed September 21, 2026