Sod calculator
A 40 × 25 ft lawn is 1,000 sq ft. With 5% extra you need 1,050 sq ft of sod: 394 pieces of 16 × 24 in, or 2.3 pallets of 450 sq ft.
Measuring the lawn
Sod is sold by area. Break the lawn into rectangles and circles, work out each one and add them; leave out beds, paths and the footprint of the house. For a curved edge, measure to the outside of the curve and let the extra cover the trimming. Mississippi State University Extension advises buying about 5 percent more sod than you measure, and the calculator adds that unless you change it.
Area: 40 ft × 25 ft = 1,000 sq ft
1,000 sq ft × 1.05 = 1,050 sq ft ÷ 2.67 sq ft per piece = 394 pieces
Pieces and pallets
Mississippi State Extension says a pallet typically holds 450 to 500 sq ft, though it varies by farm. Pieces vary too: 16 × 24 in slabs (2.67 sq ft) are common, and some farms cut larger slabs or rolls. Ask your grower for the size of their pieces and the square feet on a pallet, and set the calculator to match.
| Lawn | Sq ft with 5% | 16 × 24 in pieces | Pallets of 450 sq ft | Pallets of 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 525 | 197 | 2 | 2 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,050 | 394 | 3 | 3 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,575 | 591 | 4 | 4 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,100 | 788 | 5 | 5 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 3,150 | 1,182 | 7 | 7 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,250 | 1,969 | 12 | 11 |
| 10,000 sq ft | 10,500 | 3,938 | 24 | 21 |
Preparing the soil
Sod roots into the soil under it, so prepare the soil before the sod arrives. Mississippi State Extension says amendments only need to be mixed into the top 6 to 10 in where turf roots grow, and suggests adding 1 to 2 in of compost to the top 3 in of soil to make a 4 in root zone. If you need to bring in soil first, Penn State Extension calls for 4 to 6 in of good topsoil, settled depth, to establish turf; the topsoil calculator works out how much.
Sod dries out quickly on the pallet, so plan to lay it the day it arrives.
Sources
- Sod Installation and Maintenance (Publication 2951), Mississippi State University Extension, current publication. A pallet typically holds 450 to 500 sq ft; buy about 5 percent more sod than measured.
- Lawn Establishment, Penn State Extension, updated September 2025. A minimum of 4 to 6 in (settled depth) of good topsoil to establish a lawn.