Sod Calculator
Pallets, weight and installed cost for a new lawn — or the same lawn in seed.
Pallets to order
12
- Area with 5% waste
- 5,250 sq ft
- Pallets (exact)
- 11.67
- Pallets to order
- 12 pallets
- Delivered weight
- 30,000 lb
- In tons
- 15.00 tons
- Sod
- $3,600.00
- Installation
- $2,750.00
- Old lawn removal
- $0.00
- Grading and fertilizer
- $1,000.00
- Delivery
- $95.00
- Total
- $7,445.00
- Cost per sq ft
- $1.49/sq ft
Pallets round up — farms do not split them, and sod cannot wait for a second order.
Need to bring the grade up first? Use the topsoil calculator →
How this is calculated
order area = lawn area × (1 + waste%) pallets = ceil(order area ÷ pallet coverage) weight = pallets × pallet weight seed lb = (lawn area ÷ 1000) × lb per 1,000 sq ft total = material + (area × $/sq ft for install, removal, prep) + delivery
Pallets round up because farms sell whole pallets, and sod is perishable — ordering short means a second delivery days later, by which time the first batch has already begun to yellow at the edges.
Pallets by lawn size
At 450 sq ft per pallet, 2,500 lb per pallet and 5 percent waste. Same function as the calculator above.
| Lawn size | With waste | Pallets | Delivered weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,050 sq ft | 3 | 7,500 lb |
| 2,500 sq ft | 2,625 sq ft | 6 | 15,000 lb |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,250 sq ft | 12 | 30,000 lb |
| 7,500 sq ft | 7,875 sq ft | 18 | 45,000 lb |
| 10,890 sq ft (¼ acre) | 11,435 sq ft | 26 | 65,000 lb |
| 21,780 sq ft (½ acre) | 22,869 sq ft | 51 | 127,500 lb |
Seeding rates by grass type
New lawn rates. Overseeding an existing lawn uses about half. Costs shown for a 5,000 sq ft lawn, seed only.
| Grass | New lawn rate | Seed for 5,000 sq ft | At $5.50/lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue | 8 lb/1,000 sq ft | 40 lb | $220.00 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 3 lb/1,000 sq ft | 15 lb | $82.50 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 7 lb/1,000 sq ft | 35 lb | $192.50 |
| Bermuda (hulled) | 2 lb/1,000 sq ft | 10 lb | $55.00 |
| Zoysia | 2 lb/1,000 sq ft | 10 lb | $55.00 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pallet of sod cover?
Most farms sell a pallet covering 450 to 500 square feet, though 400 and 600 both exist. Slab size varies too — 16 by 24 inches is common in the north, while southern farms often cut wider rolls. Always confirm coverage with your supplier before ordering, since a 10 percent difference in pallet size changes the count on a big lawn.
How much does a pallet of sod weigh?
Between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds, with 2,500 a fair planning figure. The spread is almost entirely water: sod cut and loaded after irrigation or rain can weigh nearly double the same pallet cut dry. That matters for delivery access, for what your truck or trailer can legally carry, and for whether a forklift can reach the drop point.
How much does sod cost per square foot?
Material alone runs about $0.35 to $1.00 per square foot, averaging near $0.60, depending on grass type and region. A pallet ranges from $150 to $450 and averages about $300. Professional installation including grading, starter fertilizer and cleanup typically brings the finished figure to $1.00 to $2.00 per square foot, and removing an old lawn first adds roughly $0.50 to $1.50.
Is sod or seed cheaper?
Seed costs a small fraction of sod — often five to ten times less for the same area — but you trade money for time and risk. Sod is a lawn the day it is laid; seed needs weeks of consistent watering, is vulnerable to washout on slopes and to birds, and frequently needs overseeding the following season.
How much grass seed do I need?
It depends entirely on species. Tall fescue is sown at about 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet for a new lawn, while Kentucky bluegrass needs only 3 and bermuda about 2, because their seeds are far smaller and they spread on their own. Overseeding an existing lawn uses roughly half the new-lawn rate.
How much extra sod should I order?
Five percent covers the trimming waste on a rectangular lawn. Go to 10 percent for curved beds, tree rings or an irregular boundary, where every curve leaves an offcut. Order all of it at once and from one batch — sod is a living product, and a second delivery weeks later can differ visibly in color.
Sod is a living product. Coverage, weight and price all vary by farm, grass type and how recently it was watered. Confirm pallet size with your supplier before ordering, and lay sod within 24 hours of delivery.