How the calculation works

The calculator adds up your lawn, takes off any cut-outs, adds a cutting allowance, then divides by the size of one piece and one pallet.

Area: rectangle = length × width; circle = π × (diameter ÷ 2)²; triangle = base × height ÷ 2, where the height is measured at a right angle to the base. If you already know the area, type it in.
Cut-outs: Penn State Extension reminds you to work out the area taken up by the house, driveway and other structures and subtract it. Add beds, patios and sheds inside the lawn as cut-outs.
Extra for cutting: pieces are trimmed to fit edges and curves. Mississippi State University Extension suggests buying about 5% more than you measure, and Sod Solutions and Rolawn suggest 5 to 10%.
Pieces: area with the extra ÷ the area of one piece, rounded up to a whole piece.
Pallets: area with the extra ÷ what one pallet covers, rounded up. The calculator also shows how many full pallets you need and how much would come from a part pallet.

Worked example

A 40 × 25 ft back yard is 1,000 square feet. With 5% extra you need 1,050 square feet, which is 394 slabs of 16 × 24 in, or 105 rolls of 2 × 5 ft. On 450 sq ft pallets that is 3 pallets, but really 2 full pallets plus 150 square feet (57 slabs or 15 rolls) from a third. Three whole pallets would leave 300 square feet spare, so ask whether your supplier sells part pallets or single pieces.

In metric, a 10 × 5 m lawn is 50 m². With 5% extra you need 52.5 m², which is 53 rolls of 1 m², or 63 square-yard rolls. That matches Rolawn's own example, which says a 50 m² lawn needs about 52 to 53 m² of turf.

Piece and pallet sizes

US slabs and rolls: Sod Solutions describes slabs of 16 × 24 inches, mini hand rolls of 40 × 18 inches (5 sq ft) and large rolls of 60 × 24 or 80 × 18 inches (10 sq ft). A 16 × 24 in slab works out at 2.67 sq ft. Sizes vary, so check your supplier's.
Pallets: Mississippi State University Extension says a pallet typically holds 450 to 500 square feet, and Sod Solutions says pallets range from 400 to 700 square feet depending on shipping. The calculator starts at 450; change it to your supplier's figure. Pallets are heavy: Mississippi State says a 450 sq ft pallet can weigh as much as a ton, and Sod Solutions says pallets usually weigh 1,500 to 3,000 lb and can weigh 50% more when wet, so check your vehicle or trailer before collecting one.
UK turf rolls: Rolawn's Medallion turf comes in rolls covering about 1 m², 610 mm wide and 1,640 mm long when harvested. Rolawn notes that 1 m² rolls cover around 20% more ground than square-yard rolls, so check which size a supplier is quoting. Rolawn says UK turf is typically sold by the square metre. The pallet figure above comes from US sources, so ask your supplier how much turf they put on a pallet.

Laying sod so it takes

Prepare the soil first. Penn State Extension says to prepare the soil for sod exactly as you would for seed, leaving it smooth and firm but not compacted, and never to lay sod on wet soil. Mississippi State suggests a soil test and finishing all site preparation, with water available on site, before the sod is delivered. Rolawn recommends at least 100 mm (4 in) of topsoil, with 150 mm (6 in) preferred.
Lay it the day it arrives. Penn State says sod deteriorates rapidly in warm weather, within 24 to 48 hours. If you cannot lay it at once, unroll it grass side up somewhere cool and shady and keep it watered. The RHS says to lay turf within 24 hours of delivery if possible, and Rolawn says to lay it immediately in spring and summer and within 24 hours in autumn and winter.
Stagger the seams like bricks. Penn State, Mississippi State and the RHS all describe laying pieces in a staggered pattern, like bricks in a wall. Start along a straight edge such as a path or driveway, push each piece tight against the last without stretching or overlapping it, and fill any small gaps with soil. On slopes, Penn State suggests staking each strip, and Rolawn says to lay turf across the slope rather than down it.
Water straight away, and keep it moist. Mississippi State says that in summer you should not wait: someone should be watering newly laid sod while others are still laying it. Penn State says to water until the water soaks through the sod into the soil below, then daily if needed until the sod has rooted, which can take up to 4 weeks. Keep off the new lawn until it has rooted; the RHS suggests working from boards while you lay it.

Common questions

How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?: It depends on the farm. Mississippi State University Extension says a pallet typically holds 450 to 500 square feet, and Sod Solutions gives a wider range of 400 to 700 square feet. A 450 sq ft pallet is about 169 slabs of 16 × 24 in, 45 rolls of 2 × 5 ft or 90 mini rolls of 18 × 40 in. Ask your supplier and enter their figure.
How much extra sod should I order?: Mississippi State University Extension suggests buying about 5% more than you measure, and Sod Solutions and Rolawn suggest 5 to 10%. A 1,000 sq ft lawn needs 1,050 sq ft with 5% extra, or 1,100 sq ft with 10%. Rolawn notes that professional landscapers often allow slightly more for complex layouts, so lean towards 10% if your lawn has lots of curves or beds.
How many rolls of turf do I need for 50 m²?: With 5% extra you need 52.5 m², so 53 rolls of 1 m², or 63 rolls if your supplier sells square-yard rolls. Rolawn gives the same answer: a 50 m² lawn needs about 52 to 53 m² of turf.
How do I measure an odd-shaped lawn?: Split it into rectangles, circles and triangles and add each one as its own area, then add beds, patios or a shed as cut-outs so they are taken off. For example, a 40 × 25 ft rectangle plus a triangle with a 20 ft base and 15 ft height (150 sq ft), minus a round bed 8 ft across (50.3 sq ft), comes to 1,099.7 sq ft. With 10% extra that is 1,209.7 sq ft: 454 slabs, 121 rolls of 2 × 5 ft, or 3 pallets of 450 sq ft.
How soon do I need to lay sod after it arrives?: As soon as you can, ideally the same day. Penn State Extension says sod deteriorates rapidly, within 24 to 48 hours, in warm weather. The RHS says to lay turf within 24 hours of delivery if possible, and Rolawn says to lay it straight away in spring and summer. Have the soil ready before the sod is delivered.

Sources

Last checked and updated: November 1, 2026.