Sod Calculator: How Much Sod Do I Need?
Enter your lawn size for an instant estimate of how much sod to buy — total square footage, individual pieces, and pallets — with waste for trimming built in. No sign-up, no guesswork.
Sod Calculator
Enter your lawn size and the calculator tells you how much sod to buy — total square footage, individual pieces, and pallets.
How to use this sod calculator
Enter the length and width of the area in feet. For an irregular yard, split it into rectangles and add the extra square footage under Advanced, where you can also adjust the waste margin. The calculator returns the total square footage plus piece and pallet counts.
How sod is sold: pieces vs. pallets
Sod comes as individual pieces — commonly a 16×24 inch slab covering about 2.67 sq ft — and as pallets holding roughly 450 sq ft. Small patches and repairs are bought by the piece; a full lawn is far cheaper by the pallet. Sizes vary a little between sod farms, so treat the counts as close estimates and confirm when ordering.
How much extra to order
A 5–10% waste margin covers the trimming you'll do along curved beds, trees, walkways, and edges, where offcuts rarely fit anywhere else. Bigger, more irregular yards lean toward the higher end. It's better to have a few spare pieces than to come up short and have to chase a matching batch.
Prep and install tips
Lay sod over loose, raked topsoil — if you're bringing soil in, the gravel & aggregate calculator sizes topsoil by the yard. Sod is perishable: install it within about a day of delivery and water immediately. In hot weather, lay it the morning it arrives so it never bakes on the pallet.
Frequently asked questions
How much sod do I need for a 50×30 lawn?
A 50 ft × 30 ft lawn is 1,500 sq ft. With 5% waste for trimming that is about 1,575 sq ft — roughly 591 individual pieces, or about 4 pallets at 450 sq ft each.
How is sod sold?
Two ways: as individual pieces (commonly a 16×24 inch slab covering about 2.67 sq ft) and as pallets that hold around 450 sq ft. Small yards are bought by the piece; larger lawns by the pallet. The calculator gives you both counts.
How much extra sod should I order?
Add about 5–10%. You trim pieces along curved beds, walkways, and edges, and those offcuts usually can not be reused. A bigger or more irregular yard justifies the higher end of that range.
How many pieces are in a pallet of sod?
A typical pallet covers about 450 sq ft, which is roughly 165–170 of the standard 2.67 sq ft pieces. Exact counts vary by sod farm and slab size, so confirm with your supplier when you order.
How do I measure an irregular lawn?
Break the yard into rectangles, calculate each (length × width), and add them up — then enter the total, using the Advanced "extra area" box for the additional sections. Round generously around curves and flower beds.
Do I have to lay sod right away?
Yes — sod is perishable. Install it within about a day of delivery (sooner in hot weather) and water it thoroughly right after laying. Sitting on the pallet too long, especially in heat, can yellow or kill it.
Related calculators
Bringing in topsoil first? Size it with the gravel & aggregate calculator. Mulching the beds? Use the mulch calculator. See all material calculators ›