Sod is sold by the pallet or the roll, so the order starts from an accurate lawn area and a coverage figure you get from the farm. A small trimming allowance is the only extra the planner starts with.
Lawn area = length × width (add the pieces if the lawn is irregular)
Sod to order = area × (1 + allowance)
Pallets = sod to order ÷ coverage per pallet, rounded up
A 40 × 25 ft lawn
The lawn is 1,000 sq ft. The planner starts from a 5% allowance for trimming at edges and curves, which brings the sod to order to 1,050 sq ft. That allowance is an editable planning default.
This example assumes
- 5% extra for edges and trimming
- 450 sq ft per pallet, a figure you replace with your supplier’s
Worked example 40 × 25 ft lawn, 450 sq ft per pallet
| Material | Calculated | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Sod5% extra allowance, 450 sq ft per pallet | 2.33 pallets | 3 pallets |
The calculation is 2.33 pallets, so the list says 3 pallets.
Reading the rounded result
A pallet is a whole unit, so the list rounds up: 2.33 pallets becomes 3 pallets. The spare is part of the last pallet, not extra you chose. If the calculated figure lands just over a whole pallet, ask your supplier whether a partial pallet or a few extra rolls is available, since many farms load by the pallet and some sell loose pieces. The planner cannot know which, so it shows the whole-pallet order and leaves that conversation to you.
Irregular lawns
Break the lawn into rectangles and measure each. The planner takes several areas: a 30 × 20 ft main lawn plus a 15 × 10 ft side strip adds up to 750 sq ft. A curved border is best measured as a rectangle with the curve rounded out, and the allowance covers the difference.
Before you order
What changes the estimate?
- Coverage per pallet or roll, which comes from your sod farm
- The allowance for trimming, which you can raise for a curvy outline
- Whether the supplier delivers on pallets or sells rolls
- Whether you are covering existing soil that still needs preparing
Pallet size is not standard, which is why rolls versus pallets gets its own page. If you do not know the coverage yet, enter only the area and the planner gives you the square feet to order.