Sod Calculator
Enter your lawn area in square feet and pick the sod size your supplier sells. You'll get the square footage to order with extra for cutting, the number of pieces, and pallets.
- Tested formulas
- Feet or metric
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2 What to buy
Updates as you type| Lawn area | 1,000 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Order (with extra) | 1,050 sq ft |
| Pieces | 394 (slab, 16 × 24 in) |
| Pieces per pallet | about 169 |
| First watering (¼ to ½ inch) | 156 to 312 gallons |
Pallet sizes run from about 400 to 700 sq ft depending on the farm and the grass. Ask your supplier how many square feet are on theirs and enter it above.
Have the soil ready before the sod arrives and lay it the same day if you can. Rolled and stacked sod heats up and dries out quickly, especially in warm weather.
Quick answer
Order your lawn area plus 5 to 10% for cuts. A 1,000 sq ft lawn needs 1,050 sq ft of sod: 394 slabs of 16 × 24 inches, or 3 pallets at 450 sq ft each.
Sod for common lawn sizes
| Lawn | Order | Slabs | Pallets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 sq ft | 263 sq ft | 99 | 1 |
| 500 sq ft | 525 sq ft | 197 | 2 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,050 sq ft | 394 | 3 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,575 sq ft | 591 | 4 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,100 sq ft | 788 | 5 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 3,150 sq ft | 1,182 | 7 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,250 sq ft | 1,969 | 12 |
With 5% extra. Slabs are 16 × 24 in; pallets at 450 sq ft. Use the calculator above for your exact size.
How much sod to order
Measure the lawn area, add 5 to 10% for cutting around beds, curves and edges, and divide by the size of one piece. Sod Solutions recommends that 5–10% extra. Sod is sold by the square foot, by the piece, or by the pallet, so it helps to know all three.
Worked example: a 1,000 sq ft lawn
- 1,000 sq ft + 5% = 1,050 sq ft to order.
- A 16 × 24 inch slab covers 2.67 sq ft, so that's 394 slabs.
- At 450 sq ft per pallet, you need 3 pallets, about 169 slabs each.
- The first soaking of ¼ to ½ inch of water takes about 156 to 312 gallons.
Some sellers count a 16 × 24 inch slab as 2.75 sq ft; the exact figure is 2.67. Count 2.67 so you don't come up short. Many suppliers also sell part pallets or single pieces, so you don't have to round up to a full pallet.
Getting the ground ready
- Kill or strip the old lawn and weeds first, and rake out the debris.
- Loosen the soil 4 to 6 inches deep. Nebraska Extension says to till to that depth, and Clemson, Georgia and Missouri work lime and fertilizer into the same 4 to 6 inches. Roots need loose soil to knit in.
- Grade it smooth, sloping away from the house, and roll it lightly so footprints don't sink. Leave the soil a little below paths and edging so the sod sits flush.
Laying and watering
- Stagger the joints like brickwork and butt the edges tight without stretching the pieces.
- Georgia Extension says to water with ¼ to ½ inch within 30 minutes of laying, then daily for about two weeks. Clemson suggests soaking until the soil below is wet 4 inches down.
- Stay off it until the roots take hold. Lift a corner after a week or two; if it resists, the roots are going down.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
Usually 400 to 700 sq ft, depending on the farm, the grass and the piece size. Many suppliers sell 450 or 500 sq ft pallets. Ask yours before you order.
How big is a piece of sod?
Slabs are commonly 16 × 24 inches (2.67 sq ft). Small rolls are about 18 × 40 inches (5 sq ft) and large rolls 24 × 60 inches (10 sq ft).
How much extra sod should I order?
Plan on 5 to 10% more than the measured area. Use the high end for lots of curves, beds and trees to cut around.
How soon should I water new sod?
Right away. Georgia Extension says to put down ¼ to ½ inch within 30 minutes of laying, then water daily for about two weeks while the roots grow in.
Last reviewed 2026-10-23. See how we calculate for our sources and assumptions.