YardHow to use the sod calculator
Calculate sod
A standard sod roll is 2 ft × 5 ft and covers 10 sq ft. A pallet usually holds about 50 rolls (500 sq ft) and weighs 1.5 to 2 tons. Estimates only - confirm sizes with your supplier.
- Choose the shape of the area: rectangle, circle or triangle.
- Enter the length and width (or diameter) in feet.
- Keep the waste allowance at 10 percent for most lawns, or raise it for curved edges and slopes.
- Read off the sod to order in square feet, rolls and pallets. For several separate areas, run the calculator for each and add the results.
How to measure your lawn
Break the yard into simple shapes and measure each one. Rectangles are length × width. For a circle, measure across the middle for the diameter. For an odd shape, split it into two or three rough rectangles and triangles, work each out in the calculator and add the totals. Always measure in feet and round up to the next whole foot. Guessing low is the most common reason people run short with ten feet of lawn still bare.
Measure twice if the ground is not flat. A slope has more surface than the same patch measured on a map, so add a little extra waste allowance for hills and banks.
How much extra sod should you order?
| Yard shape | Extra to add |
|---|---|
| Simple rectangle | 5% |
| Typical lawn with beds and paths | 10% |
| Curved edges, slopes or many cuts | 15% |
Extra sod is not wasted money. Offcuts fill gaps along edges, and a few spare rolls let you replace a damaged patch while the colour still matches the rest of the lawn.
Rolls, pallets and pieces: how sod is sold
| Unit | Typical size | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Standard roll | 2 ft × 5 ft | 10 sq ft |
| Small pieces / slabs | 16 in × 24 in | About 2.7 sq ft each |
| Pallet | About 50 rolls | About 500 sq ft |
A pallet of sod weighs roughly 1.5 to 2 tons depending on how wet the soil is, so it needs a truck or delivery, never a car boot. Most suppliers deliver pallets to the kerb or driveway. Ask what their pallet covers before you order, because pallet sizes vary from 450 to 600 sq ft between farms.
Laying and first care
Lay sod the day it arrives if you can. Sod stacked on a pallet heats up and can start to yellow within a day in warm weather. Water the ground lightly, lay rolls tight together with staggered joints like brickwork, then water deeply straight away. Keep the new lawn damp every day for the first two weeks while the roots take, and wait until it reaches about 4 inches before the first mow, cutting it back to 3 inches.
Tips before you order
- Order for a morning delivery in hot weather so rolls spend less time stacked.
- Prepare the ground first: clear, level and rake before the truck arrives, not after.
- Confirm the grass type suits your shade and climate, and that every pallet comes from the same harvest batch for an even colour.
- Keep a few spare rolls in shade and water any you cannot lay the same day.