Sod & turf calculator
This free sod calculator turns your lawn's measurements into everything you need to order turf: how many pallets and slabs (or rolls) to buy, the total delivery weight, and an estimated cost. Measure each patch — front lawn, back lawn, a side strip — add it as a zone, and the calculator rolls them into one order. It works in imperial or metric and runs entirely in your browser.
Every number the tool uses — pallet coverage, slab size, per-pallet weight, waste allowance — is a sourced typical you can edit for your own supplier and grass. Sod coverage and weight genuinely vary by species, moisture and how the grower cuts it, so treat the defaults as a sensible starting point, then adjust to the figures on your quote.
How to use the sod calculator
Enter each lawn zone's shape and dimensions. The calculator adds a waste allowance, converts the total area into pallets and slabs, works out the delivery weight and — if you add prices — compares buying by the pallet against buying by the area.
How to calculate how much sod you need
- Choose your unitsSwitch between imperial and metric. Imperial defaults to a 16 × 24 in slab; metric defaults to a 1 m² roll. Everything recalculates instantly.
- Add each lawn zonePick a shape — rectangle, L-shape, circle, triangle or a direct area — and type its dimensions. Add a zone for every separate patch; the calculator draws each to scale and totals them.
- Set a waste allowanceChoose 5% for a simple rectangle, 10% for curves and beds, or 15% for a complex layout. Extra sod covers cutting and fitting.
- Add prices (optional)Enter a price per pallet, a price per area, or both, plus any delivery fee, to estimate the cost and see which basis is cheaper.
- Read your orderSee pallets, slabs or rolls, total delivery weight, truckloads and cost. Open order settings to tune the pallet coverage, slab size and per-pallet weight to match your supplier.
Worked example — how much sod for a 40 × 30 ft lawn
A rectangular back lawn 40 ft long and 30 ft wide is 1,200 ft². Adding a 5% waste allowance for cuts and offcuts brings the order area to 1,260 ft². At a typical 450 ft² per pallet and a 16 × 24 in (2.67 ft²) slab, that rounds up to 3 pallets and 473 slabs. The figure below is drawn to scale from those typical numbers.
1,200 ft² + 5% waste → 3 pallets · 473 slabs (typical)
Pallets, slabs and rolls explained
US sod is cut into slabs — most commonly 16 × 24 in, about 2.67 ft² each — and stacked on pallets that typically cover 400–500 ft² (around 450 ft², ≈ 41.8 m²). In the UK and Europe, turf is sold by the roll, usually sized to cover exactly 1 m². The calculator derives how many slabs fit on a pallet from the two coverages, so the pallet, slab and piece counts always agree.
Because coverage varies by grower, both the pallet coverage and the piece size are editable — set them to whatever your supplier quotes and every downstream number updates.
A single slab next to the area one pallet covers — both drawn to scale from typical figures.
At these typical sizes a pallet holds about 169 slabs (450 ÷ 2.67). Edit both to match your supplier.
How much does a pallet of sod weigh?
A pallet of fresh-cut sod typically weighs 1,500–3,000 lb (about 700–1,360 kg), with 2,500 lb a common middle-of-the-road figure. Weight is driven mostly by moisture and how much soil is left on the roots, so a pallet can be much heavier after rain. The calculator multiplies your per-pallet weight by the pallet count for a total delivery weight, and — because sod trucks are limited by pallet slots rather than payload — estimates how many truckloads that is.
≈ 2,500 lb per pallet · ≈ 7,500 lb for 3 pallets
How much does sod cost?
Sod is priced either by the pallet (roughly $150–$450, often around $300) or by the area ($0.35–$1.00 per ft², about $0.60 typical), plus a flat delivery fee in many markets. Enter whichever your supplier quotes — or both — and the calculator totals the order and tells you which basis is cheaper for your job.
| Pricing basis | Typical rate | Order total |
|---|---|---|
| Per pallet | $300 / pallet × 3 | $900 |
| Per square foot | $0.60 / ft² × 1,260 | $756 |
Per-area is cheaper here — about $144 less (typical prices, before delivery).
Prices vary by grass species, region and supplier — enter your own quote to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about ordering sod and turf by the pallet.
How much sod do I need?
Measure the length and width of each lawn area and add them as zones. The calculator multiplies them into square feet (or metres), adds a waste allowance for cutting, and converts the total into pallets and slabs or rolls. For a 40 × 30 ft lawn (1,200 ft²) at 5% waste that's about 3 pallets or 473 slabs.
How many pallets of sod do I need?
Divide your total area (including waste) by the pallet coverage and round up. A pallet typically covers 400–500 ft² — about 450 ft² — so a 1,260 ft² order rounds up to 3 pallets. Edit the pallet coverage in order settings if your supplier quotes a different figure.
How much does a pallet of sod weigh?
A pallet of fresh-cut sod typically weighs 1,500–3,000 lb (about 700–1,360 kg), with 2,500 lb a common average. The weight depends mostly on moisture and how much soil is on the roots, so a pallet is noticeably heavier after rain. The calculator uses your per-pallet weight to total the delivery.
How many slabs are on a pallet of sod?
It's the pallet coverage divided by the slab size. At a typical 450 ft² pallet and a 16 × 24 in (2.67 ft²) slab, that's about 169 slabs per pallet. The calculator derives this for you so the pallet, slab and piece counts always agree.
How much area does a pallet of sod cover?
Most pallets cover 400–500 ft² (about 450 ft², or ≈ 41.8 m²), though large cool-season rolls in the north can reach 500–700 ft². Coverage is a supplier and species convention rather than a fixed standard, so it's fully editable in the tool.
How much does sod cost?
Sod is priced by the pallet (roughly $150–$450, often around $300) or by the square foot ($0.35–$1.00, about $0.60 typical), plus a flat delivery fee in many areas. Enter a per-pallet price, a per-area price, or both, and the calculator totals the order and flags which basis is cheaper.
How do I measure my yard for sod or turf?
Break the lawn into simple shapes — rectangles, an L-shape, a circle or a triangle — measure each, and add it as a zone. The calculator draws every zone to scale and sums the areas, so odd-shaped yards are just a few zones added together.
Does it work in metric?
Yes. Switch to metric and the tool works in square metres, defaults to a 1 m² turf roll (the UK and European convention), and shows weight in kilograms and tonnes. Switch back to imperial for slabs, square feet, pounds and short tons — nothing is lost in the toggle.
Is this calculator private?
Yes. Everything is calculated on your device — nothing you type is uploaded or stored on a server. You can use it offline once the page has loaded.