Sod Calculator
Find out exactly how many square feet, rolls, or pallets of sod you need for your lawn — plus a cost estimate and complete sod type guide.
How to use this sod calculator
Select your lawn shape — rectangle, circle, triangle, or use “Multiple areas” to add several lawn sections at once (e.g. a front yard and back yard).
Enter your dimensions in feet or meters. For irregular lawns, break them into rough rectangles, calculate each one using the Multiple areas tab, and the calculator adds them together.
Use the Subtract areas option to remove zones that don’t need sod — like a garden bed, driveway, or sidewalk inside your measured area. This prevents over-ordering.
Select your grass type and how sod is sold in your area — pallets, rolls, or individual pieces. Pallet sizes vary by supplier (most are 400–500 sq ft).
Add a price to get an instant total cost estimate, then click Calculate to see square footage, pallets or rolls, and total cost.
How much sod do I need — the formula
Sod is sold by the square foot in the US, typically packaged in pallets (400–500 sq ft each) or individual rolls (about 9 sq ft per roll). The basic calculation is simple: measure your lawn area in square feet, add a waste factor for cutting and edges, then divide by your pallet or roll size.
Most suppliers round up to the nearest whole pallet, so it’s worth calculating precisely to avoid paying for a full extra pallet you don’t need. The subtract areas feature in this calculator is particularly useful — a 20×30 ft lawn with a 6×10 ft garden bed in the middle only needs 540 sq ft of sod, not 600.
How many pallets of sod for common lawn sizes?
Based on 450 sq ft pallets, 10% waste factor.
20×20 ft
20×40 ft
30×40 ft
40×50 ft
Sod grass types — which is right for your lawn?
| Grass type | Best climate | Sun needs | Avg. pallet price | Drought tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bermuda grass | South, transition zone | Full sun | $150–$300 | High |
| Zoysia grass | South, transition zone | Full sun / part shade | $200–$400 | Medium–High |
| St. Augustine | Gulf Coast, South FL | Full sun / light shade | $160–$320 | Medium |
| Kentucky bluegrass | North, cool climates | Full sun | $250–$450 | Low–Medium |
| Tall fescue | Transition, cool | Part shade / full sun | $200–$380 | Medium |
| Centipede grass | Southeast US | Full sun / light shade | $150–$280 | Medium |
| Buffalo grass | Plains, low rainfall | Full sun | $180–$320 | Very high |
Prices vary widely by region and supplier. Always get a local quote before ordering.
Sod vs. grass seed — which should you choose?
Sod gives you an instant lawn — ready to use within 2–4 weeks of installation. Seed is significantly cheaper (typically 5–10× less per square foot) but takes 6–12 weeks to establish and requires more precise timing and watering.
Choose sod when: you need results quickly, you have erosion-prone slopes, your project is under 5,000 sq ft, or you’re replacing a dead lawn mid-summer. Choose seed when: you have a large area (5,000+ sq ft), you can wait 2–3 months, your budget is limited, or you want a specific grass variety not available as sod in your area.