Sod Calculator
Work out how many rolls or pallets of sod you need, plus the cost, for any lawn shape.
What you need
22
Rolls needed — Rounded up, waste allowance included.
- Area to cover
- 200.0 sq ft
- Area including waste allowance
- 220.0 sq ft
Estimates for planning. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering — see the assumptions below for the figures used.
How to use the sod calculator
Sod is sold by the roll, the slab or the pallet, and the sizes differ by region and grower. Enter your lawn dimensions and the piece size your supplier uses to get an exact count — plus a waste allowance, because you will be trimming curves.
What this calculator assumes
Every estimate depends on figures that vary by supplier and conditions. These are the ones used here, so you can sanity-check the result against your own quote.
- Coverage per roll is taken from your entry above — always check the actual packaging, because it varies by product.
- A 10% waste allowance is applied by default. Increase it for diagonal layouts, busy patterns or rooms with lots of corners.
- Rolls are rounded up to whole units.
- A pallet is commonly 450 to 500 square feet, but ranges from 400 to 700 depending on the grower — always confirm before ordering.
- Sod is perishable. It should be laid within 24 hours of harvest in warm weather, so order to arrive on the day you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are on a pallet of sod?
Usually 450 to 500 square feet, though some growers ship 400 and others up to 700. A pallet weighs 2,000 to 3,000 pounds depending on soil moisture, so check that whatever is delivering it can reach where you need it.
How much extra sod should I order?
Ten percent for a rectangular lawn, 15% if you have curves, islands or lots of trimming. Offcuts are not reusable a week later, so err slightly high rather than stopping the job to reorder.
Do I need topsoil before laying sod?
Sod needs 4 to 6 inches of decent soil to root into. If you are laying over compacted builder's subsoil, add and grade topsoil first — sod laid on hardpan will yellow and lift within a month. Use the topsoil calculator to size that layer.
How much extra should I buy?
The default here is 10%. Buying a little extra from the same batch is cheap insurance — colours and lots shift between production runs, so a mid-project top-up rarely matches. Keep the offcuts for future repairs.
How do I handle an L-shaped or irregular room?
Split it into rectangles, work out each one separately and add the results. Measure at the widest point of each section and ignore small alcoves unless you are covering them too.
Related calculators
Topsoil Calculator
Find how many cubic yards, tons or bags of topsoil you need to fill, level or top-dress an area.
Grass Seed Calculator
Calculate pounds of grass seed for a new lawn or an overseed, by grass type and area.
Fertilizer Calculator
Work out how much lawn fertilizer you need to hit a target nitrogen rate, by area and product.
Mulch Calculator
Work out exactly how many cubic yards or bags of mulch you need for any bed, at any depth.
Bark Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, bags and weight of bark chips or bark nuggets for beds, borders and play areas.
Compost Calculator
Calculate how much compost you need to amend beds, top-dress a lawn or fill a planter.