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Sod Calculator: Square Feet, Pallets and Cost
Measure your yard and find out how much sod to order: total square feet with waste, the number of slabs or rolls, pallets, weight and cost.
How to measure for sod
Break the lawn into simple shapes, measure each, and add them up. For a curved bed or an odd corner, measure it as a rectangle; the overage becomes your waste allowance. Our square footage calculator handles rectangles, triangles and circles together.
Add 5% for a simple rectangular yard and 10% for yards with curves, trees and beds to cut around.
Worked example
A 50 × 30 ft backyard is 1,500 sq ft, or 1,575 sq ft with 5% waste. In standard 16 × 24 in slabs that is 591 pieces. At 450 sq ft per pallet you need 4 pallets (3.5 rounded up). At $250 a pallet, that is $1,000, plus delivery. Expect around 8,000 lb of fresh sod, so plan for help and a wheelbarrow.
Sod pallet sizes
| Format | Piece size | Typical pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Small slabs | 16 × 24 in (2.67 sq ft) | 150 to 170 slabs, 400 to 450 sq ft |
| Rolls | 2 × 5 ft (10 sq ft) | 45 to 50 rolls, 450 to 500 sq ft |
| Big rolls (machine laid) | about 42 in × 90 ft | 1 roll, about 315 sq ft |
Pallet sizes vary by farm and region. Ask your supplier how many square feet are on one of their pallets and enter it above.
Laying sod the right way
- Prepare the soil first: remove old grass, loosen the top 4 to 6 in, rake level and roll lightly. Sod should sit about 1 in below paths and driveways.
- Lay the first row along a straight edge, then stagger the joints like brickwork. Butt edges tight without stretching.
- Water within 30 minutes so the soil under the sod is wet 3 to 4 in deep, then keep it moist daily for two weeks.
- Stay off it for about two weeks, and mow when the roots have knitted (tug test: it won't lift).
Seeding is cheaper but slower. Compare with the grass seed calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
Most pallets hold 400 to 500 sq ft, commonly 450 sq ft of 16 × 24 in slabs or 2 × 5 ft rolls. Ask your supplier.
How much sod do I need for a 1,000 sq ft yard?
About 1,050 sq ft with 5% waste: 394 slabs of 16 × 24 in, or about 2.3 pallets of 450 sq ft, so order 3.
How much does sod cost?
Typically $0.35 to $0.85 per sq ft for the sod alone, or $1 to $2 per sq ft installed with soil prep, depending on grass type and region.