Sod Calculator

Rolls, pallets, and square footage for a new lawn — laid out on a scaled yard plan.

Your estimate

You'll need 495 sod pieces — 3 pallets, about $8,580.

1200 sq ft of lawn · 2.67 sq ft per piece · 440 sq ft per pallet

Lawn size

ft
ft

Sod details

in
in

Ask your supplier — often 150–180

Subtract beds, patios & driveways

No openings yet. Add each door or window and its area comes out of the total.

Waste & cost

%

10% is standard

$
Sod layout plan30' 0"40' 0"495 pieces · staggered joints

Your lawn drawn to scale with sod laid in a staggered running bond — the pattern that knits together fastest.

The breakdown

Sod pieces to buy
495
Pallets
3
Total area
1200 sq ft
Areas subtracted
−0 sq ft
Net lawn area
1200 sq ft
Waste overage (10%)
120 sq ft
Coverage per piece
2.67 sq ft
Coverage per pallet
440 sq ft
Estimated cost
$8,580

Where to buy

Hand-picked search links for the materials on your list. As an Amazon Associate, ProjectMath earns from qualifying purchases.

Prices and availability are set by the retailer and change often. Always confirm the exact product size matches what this calculator assumed.

How this is calculated

Sod is sold by the piece and delivered by the pallet, so the calculation rounds twice — once to whole pieces, once to whole pallets.

  • area with waste = lawn area × (1 + waste)
  • pieces = ceil(area with waste ÷ area per piece)
  • pallets = ceil(area with waste ÷ coverage per pallet)
  • cost = pieces × price per piece

Curved beds and tree rings push waste toward 10% because nearly every edge piece gets trimmed.

  1. 1Measure the surfaceMeasure the width and height (or length) of the area in feet, inches, or meters and enter them in the calculator.
  2. 2Subtract beds and hardscapeAdd planting beds, patios, and driveways as openings so their area comes out of the total.
  3. 3Choose roll sizeStandard slabs cover about 10 square feet each, and a pallet typically holds 450 to 500 square feet.
  4. 4Read the shopping listThe calculator rounds up to whole units to buy and multiplies by your price per unit for an estimated total. Copy or print the plan and take it to the store.

Common questions

How much sod do I need?

Measure the lawn area in square feet, subtract beds and hardscape, then add 5 to 10% for cuts around curves and edges.

How many square feet is a pallet of sod?

Usually 450 to 500 square feet, though it varies by farm. Check with your supplier and enter their number.

How much waste should I add for sod?

5% for a rectangular yard, 10% or more for curved beds and irregular shapes where you trim every piece.

How soon should sod be installed?

Within 24 hours of delivery, and water it immediately. Sod on a pallet in summer heat can fail in a day.

Keep planning