The math behind your estimate
The inputs, allowance, and rounding stay visible.
- Area
- Area = Length × Width, summed over every lawn area
- With allowance
- Order area = Area × (1 + allowance %)
- Pieces
- Pieces = Order area ÷ coverage per piece, rounded up
Assumptions
- Coverage per piece is taken from your input, not assumed. Sod is sold as rolls, slabs or pallets and the sizes vary widely between growers and regions — a US roll is commonly 10 ft², a slab about 2.67 ft², and pallets range from roughly 400 to 700 ft².
- The allowance covers cuts around curves, beds, paths and tree rings. Offcuts from a curved edge are rarely reusable, which is why curved lawns need more than rectangular ones.
- Sod is perishable. Order so that it is delivered on the day you plan to lay it — buying generously against a possible shortfall is less useful here than with dry materials.
- Soil preparation is a separate job. If you are topping up or levelling before laying turf, size that separately with the soil calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- How much sod do I need for a 30 × 20 ft lawn?
- 600 ft² plus a 5% allowance is 630 ft². At 10 ft² per roll that is 63 rolls, or about 1.5 pallets if your supplier sells 450 ft² pallets.
- How do I measure an irregular lawn?
- Split it into rectangles and add each one as a named area, or measure the pieces in the Square Footage Calculator and enter the total in the known-area mode here. For curved edges, measure to the widest point and let the allowance cover the cuts.
- How big is a pallet of sod?
- It depends entirely on the grower — commonly 400 to 700 ft², with 450 ft² a frequent figure. Because there is no universal size, this calculator asks for the coverage rather than assuming it; confirm the number with your supplier before ordering.
- Should I order extra sod?
- A small allowance, yes — 5% for a rectangular lawn and 10–15% where there are curved beds or tree rings. Do not over-order by much: sod is a living product that needs laying within a day or so of delivery, so surplus is genuinely wasted rather than stored.
Sources
- Common turf roll, slab and pallet formats (regional grower conventions)