Sod Calculator
Sod is sold by the square foot but delivered as slabs or rolls stacked on pallets, and pallet sizes vary by farm. Enter the lawn area, the piece your supplier sells and its pallet size for the square feet to order with a waste allowance, the number of pieces, full pallets and loose pieces, and — if you are regrading — the cubic yards of topsoil to spread first.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Rapitest Soil Test Kit for Gardens, Vegetables, Flowers and Lawns. USA designed and assembled soil tester completely, quickly and accurately measures/analyzes soil pH acidity and garden nutrients.
$15.99
Check price on Amazon
Best Choice Products Dual-Wheel Home Utility Yard Wheelbarrow Garden Cart w/Built-in Stand for Lawn, Gardening, Construction - Green
Save 17%
$99.99List Price:: $119.99
VNIMTI Heavy Duty Gardening Shovel, 56 Inch Round Blade with Fiberglass Handle (Orange)
Save 5%
$31.34List Price:: $32.99
Professional Lawn Leveling Rake 30x10 Heavy Duty - Oversized Leveling Tool with 80" Stainless Steel Handle, Foldable Landscape Grading Rake for Soil Sand Topdressing & Seeding
Limited time dealSave 40%
$29.91List Price:: $49.99
Prices and savings as of Sep 30, 2026, 4:34 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Worked example: 1,000 sq ft lawn
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Add 5% for cuts | 1,000 × 1.05 | 1,050 sq ft to order |
| Slabs of 16 × 24 in | 1,050 ÷ 2.67 | 394 slabs |
| 450 sq ft pallets | 1,050 ÷ 450 | 2 full pallets + 150 sq ft (57 slabs) |
| Or round up | 3 × 450 | 3 pallets, 300 sq ft spare |
| Topsoil at 4 in (optional) | 1,000 × 4 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 | 12.35 yd³ |
Pallets are not a standard size
Sod Solutions' Sod University guide puts pallets anywhere from 400 to 700 sq ft. In the South, warm-season grasses such as bermuda, zoysia and St. Augustine usually come as 16 × 24 inch slabs on pallets sold as 400, 450 or 500 sq ft; northern farms more often ship 40 × 18 inch mini rolls (5 sq ft) or large rolls of about 10 sq ft on 500–700 sq ft pallets. Ask the farm what its pallet covers — ordering by the wrong pallet size is the most common way to end up short.
Getting the ground ready
- Kill or strip the old turf and weeds, then loosen compacted soil.
- Fill low spots and grade away from the house. The topsoil calculator prices any soil you bring in.
- Rake level and lightly firm the surface so the sod sits just below paths and edging.
- Lay the slabs in a staggered brick pattern the day they arrive, and water them straight away.
Building beds around the new lawn? The raised bed soil calculator fills them, and the mulch calculator tops them off.
Measure the lawn on your phone
Our free Android app, Smart Sod Calculator, works out sod rolls, pallets and coverage on site.
Get the Gravel & Stone Calculator app for Android
Estimate gravel, stone, sand, and mulch on the job site, save projects, and share quantities with your supplier.
Building something else? Try our sister calculators
Smart Roofing Calculator
Free roof replacement cost estimates by material and pitch.
Smart Decking Calculator
Deck cost, boards, joists, and stair estimates.
Smart Fencing Calculator
Fence cost by material and linear footage.
Smart Tile Calculator
Tile quantity, grout, and thinset estimates.
Smart Insulation Calculator
R-value, batt count, and blown-in coverage.
Smart Decking Calculator
Android app — deck cost, boards, and framing on site.
Smart Drywall Calculator
Android app — drywall sheets, mud, and tape estimates.
Smart Sod Calculator
Android app — sod rolls, pallets, and coverage.
Smart Insulation Calculator
Android app — R-value and batt coverage.
Smart Tile Calculator
Android app — tile, grout, and thinset quantities.
Smart Fencing Calculator
Android app — fence cost estimates on the go.
Frequently asked questions
- How much sod do I need?
- Measure the lawn in square feet, add 5% for a simple shape or 10% for curves and beds, then divide by the size of the piece. A 1,000 sq ft lawn with 5% extra needs 1,050 sq ft — 394 slabs of 16 × 24 inches, or 2 pallets of 450 sq ft plus 57 loose slabs.
- How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
- It depends on the farm. Sod Solutions puts most pallets between 400 and 700 sq ft: slab pallets in the South are usually sold as 400, 450 or 500 sq ft, and large-roll pallets in the North as 500, 600 or 700 sq ft. Ask your supplier and pick the matching size above.
- How big is a slab of sod?
- The common southern slab is 16 × 24 inches, which is 2.67 sq ft (16 × 24 ÷ 144). Mini hand rolls are 40 × 18 inches, or 5 sq ft, and large rolls cover about 10 sq ft each.
- How much extra sod should I order?
- Order 5–10% more than the measured area. Straight rectangles waste little; curved beds, paths and trees mean more offcuts. The extra also covers measuring errors — a second small delivery usually costs more than a few spare slabs.
- How much does a pallet of sod weigh?
- Roughly 1,500 to 3,000 lb depending on grass type, soil and pallet size, and up to half as much again when it is wet. That is more than most half-ton pickups can carry, so plan on delivery.
- Do I need topsoil under sod?
- Only if the ground is compacted, rocky or low. Spread and rake the topsoil level before the sod goes down; enter the depth above for the cubic yards. The topsoil calculator also prices it by the yard or bag.
Related calculators
All calculators →
Raised Bed Soil Calculator
Soil to fill one or more raised garden beds: cubic feet, cubic yards, bags, and a compost / peat / vermiculite mix.
Open calculator →
Mulch Calculator
How much mulch you need in cubic yards and 2 or 3 cu ft bags, with bulk versus bagged cost.
Open calculator →Topsoil Calculator
Cubic yards, tons, and bags of topsoil for new lawns, garden beds, and raised beds.
Open calculator →