How much sod do I need?

Sod is sold by the roll and delivered by the pallet, and the two numbers do not divide neatly: a standard pallet is about 450 sq ft, which is 45 rolls of ten square feet. This calculator gives both, plus the area being covered so you can sanity-check the delivery against your own measurements.

Lawn length (ft)

Lawn width (ft)

Roll size 10 sq ft roll (standard)5 sq ft roll (small / big roll cut)

Pallet coverage 450 sq ft per pallet500 sq ft per pallet

Trim allowance (%)

Rolls of sod

105rolls

Pallets 2.4 palletsLawn area 1,000 sq ft

Assumes a rectangular lawn and standard roll sizes. Curved beds, slopes and suppliers who sell by the square yard need a different calculation; several sod farms now price per square foot delivered.

The trim allowance is small because sod is laid tight, edge to edge, with seams staggered like brickwork — unlike tile or paint there is no cutting waste to speak of on a rectangle. Five percent covers the trims at curves, around beds and at the ends of runs where a partial roll is needed.

Sod has a hard deadline attached to it that no calculator can express: it needs to be laid within about 24 hours of harvest, and watered immediately. Ordering 105 rolls when you can lay 60 in a day is worse than ordering half now and half later, because sod that sits overnight on a pallet heats up and fails.

How the calculation works

Area = length x width. Rolls = ceil(area x (1 + trim / 100) / roll size). Pallets = area x (1 + trim / 100) / pallet coverage, rounded up to the next tenth of a pallet.

• The lawn is a rectangle; curved beds and irregular shapes should be measured as an average width, which slightly over-estimates and is the safe direction.
• A standard roll covers 10 sq ft and a standard pallet 450 sq ft; both vary by supplier, so the pallet figure is selectable.
• No allowance is made for soil preparation, which must be finished before delivery — sod laid on uneven ground fails at the low spots.
• Rolls are laid tight with no overlap; sod shrinks slightly as it knits, so a butt joint is the correct fit.

Sources: Standard sod roll: 10 sq ft; standard pallet: 450-500 sq ft (supplier figures); Sod should be installed within 24 hours of harvest (extension-service guidance)

Worked examples

Questions

How many rolls of sod are on a pallet?

About 45 of the standard 10 sq ft rolls, for roughly 450 sq ft. Big-roll sod is delivered differently and covers far more per roll.

How many square feet does a pallet of sod cover?

450 to 500 sq ft depending on the supplier and the cut. Confirm the figure when ordering, because delivery charges are often per pallet.

How much extra sod should I buy?

Five percent for a rectangular lawn and ten for one with curves, beds or corners. Unlike tile, sod is laid tight, so the allowance is only for trims.

How long can sod sit before it is laid?

About 24 hours in cool weather and much less in heat. Pallets stacked in the sun generate heat in the middle and the sod dies from the inside.

When is the best time to lay sod?

Spring and early autumn, when rain is reliable and temperatures are moderate. Mid-summer planting works but needs watering twice a day for two weeks.

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Written and maintained by Sam Winters. Last updated 2026-11-04. Every figure is computed in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere. Found an error? Tell me — accuracy reports get fixed first.