Sod Calculator: How Much Sod Do You Need?
To work out how much sod you need, measure each area of your lawn in square feet, add 5–10% for cuts and waste, then divide by your supplier’s pallet coverage — commonly 400 to 500 square feet per pallet. The calculator below does this for rectangles, circles, triangles and L-shaped yards, and converts the result into pallets, individual pieces, square yards and square meters.
Sod Calculator
Add each area of your yard, set your supplier’s pallet size, and get the sod quantity you need including a waste allowance.
How to Measure Your Yard for Sod
Accurate measurement is most of the work. The calculator handles the arithmetic; getting the numbers right is on you.
- Break the yard into simple shapes. Almost no lawn is one clean rectangle. Split it into rectangles, triangles and circles you can measure individually, then add each as a separate area above.
- Measure at the widest points and record to the nearest foot. A long tape or a measuring wheel beats pacing it out, though pacing is a reasonable fallback if you know your stride.
- Subtract what you are not sodding. Driveways, patios, sheds, pools and planting beds come out. The L-shape option handles a single rectangular cut-out directly.
- Round curves to the nearest simple shape. A curved bed edge can be approximated as a rectangle or half-circle — then lean toward the higher waste allowance to cover the difference.
How Much Does a Pallet of Sod Cover?
A pallet of sod typically covers 400 to 500 square feet, with 450 square feet being the most common figure. This genuinely varies between farms and regions, which is why the calculator lets you set your supplier’s actual number rather than assuming one.
Always confirm coverage with your specific supplier before ordering. A 50 square foot difference per pallet compounds quickly across a large yard.
How Much Extra Sod Should You Order?
Order 5–10% more sod than your measured area. That allowance covers cuts around edges and obstacles, pieces damaged in handling, and small measurement errors.
Push toward 15% when the yard has significant curves, many obstacles to cut around, or several separate sections — every cut generates an offcut too small to reuse. A simple open rectangle can sit closer to 5%.
Running short is considerably worse than ordering slightly over. Sod is a perishable product harvested to order: a second delivery may take days, and by then the pieces already laid have begun rooting while the gaps sit bare. Colour and batch matching can also drift between harvests.
What Sod Does Not Fix
Sod replaces grass. It does not replace the conditions that killed the last lawn, and laying it over an unresolved problem is the most expensive way to discover that.
- Drainage. If the ground holds standing water, new sod drowns exactly like the old grass did. Grade and drainage come first.
- Deep shade. Below roughly four hours of daily sun, no lawn grass holds. Even shade-tolerant varieties thin out and disappear.
- Compacted soil. Sod laid on an unprepared compacted pan sits on the surface rather than rooting into it, and lifts away months later still in one sheet.
- Active pests or disease. Whatever was feeding on or infecting the old lawn is still in the soil waiting for the new one.
Sod Calculator FAQ
How much sod do I need for my yard?
Measure each section in square feet, add them together, then add 5 to 10 percent for cuts and waste. Divide that total by your supplier’s pallet coverage — usually 400 to 500 square feet — and round up to the next whole pallet.
How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
Most pallets cover 400 to 500 square feet, with 450 square feet the most common. Coverage varies by farm and region, so confirm the figure with your supplier before ordering.
How many pieces of sod are on a pallet?
Typically 150 to 170 pieces. In the southern United States sod is usually cut into slabs of about 16 by 24 inches, roughly 2.67 square feet each.
How much does a pallet of sod weigh?
Between about 1,500 and 3,000 pounds, depending on soil moisture, soil thickness and grass type. Freshly cut and recently watered sod sits at the heavier end, which matters when planning transport.
How do I calculate sod for an irregularly shaped yard?
Break it into simple shapes — rectangles, triangles and circles — measure each separately, and add them as individual areas. Subtract driveways, patios and beds, then use a higher waste allowance to cover the curves you approximated.
Is it better to order too much sod or too little?
Slightly too much. Sod is harvested to order and perishable, so a second delivery can take days while laid pieces root and bare gaps sit exposed. Colour can also vary between harvest batches.
Want the Sod Laid For You?
We install sod across Lafayette Parish, Louisiana — ground preparation, grading and laying included. If you are outside that area, this calculator is yours to use regardless.
See Our Sod Installation Service