Quick answer: sod is sold by area, usually in rolls or pieces of about 10 square feet each. Rolls needed = lawn area ÷ roll size, plus about 5% for cuts and waste. Confirm the piece size with your supplier.
Example: a 30 ft by 40 ft lawn
- Area: 30 × 40 = 1,200 sq ft
- Rolls of 10 sq ft: 1,200 ÷ 10 = 120
- Add 5% waste: 120 × 1.05 = 126 rolls
Irregular shapes
Split the lawn into rectangles, find each area and add them. For a circle, area = 3.14 × radius × radius. A flower bed in the middle is measured and subtracted.
Sod or seed?
Sod gives an instant lawn but costs more. Seed is cheaper but needs weeks of care, see how much grass seed you need. For the soil layer under new turf, see how much topsoil for a new lawn.
Tips
- Lay sod soon after delivery, as rolls dry out and heat up in a stack.
- Stagger the joints like bricks and keep the edges tight.
- Water well straight after laying.
How much sod is on a pallet?
Suppliers often sell sod by the pallet as well as by the roll. A pallet commonly holds somewhere between about 400 and 500 square feet, but this varies by farm and grass type, so always ask. To work out pallets, divide your total area (including waste) by the pallet coverage and round up. For the 1,200 sq ft example above with 5% waste, 1,260 sq ft ÷ 450 sq ft per pallet = 2.8, so you would order 3 pallets and may have a few spare pieces for patching.
Outside the US, turf is usually sold by the square meter. In the UK and Australia, a standard roll or slab is often about 1 m². Divide your area in square meters by the roll size and add 5%.
Prepare the ground before you order
Good preparation matters more than the sod itself. Plan these steps so the turf can go down the day it arrives:
- Remove the old grass and weeds, or kill them off and rake them away.
- Loosen the top few inches of soil and remove stones and roots.
- Add topsoil or compost if your soil is poor. Many landscapers aim for around 4 to 6 inches of good soil.
- Grade the surface so water drains away from the house, and set it slightly below paths and edging so the new sod sits level.
- Roll the area lightly and water it the day before laying so the soil is damp, not muddy.
Aftercare for new sod
- Watering: water deeply right after laying, then keep the sod and the soil beneath it moist, often daily for the first one to two weeks depending on the weather.
- Rooting check: after about two weeks, gently lift a corner. If it resists, roots are taking hold and you can start watering less often but more deeply.
- Foot traffic: keep off the lawn as much as possible for the first few weeks.
- First mow: wait until the grass has rooted and is a little taller than your normal mowing height, then remove no more than one third of the blade.
Common questions
How many rolls of sod do I need for 1,000 square feet?
With 10 sq ft rolls, you need 100 rolls, or about 105 with 5% extra for cuts.
Can I lay sod in summer?
Yes, but it needs much more water in hot weather. Spring and early fall are usually easier because temperatures are milder.
Should I order extra sod?
Yes. Around 5% extra covers cuts along curves and edges. Complicated shapes may need closer to 10%.
Estimates only. Always confirm roll and pallet sizes with your supplier.
Related: the DIY Project Budget & Materials Planner turns your measurements into quantities, costs and a shopping list.
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