The word “pallet” sounds like a standard unit, and it is not. Two farms can both sell you a pallet of sod and send you different amounts of grass.
What the producers say
Sod Solutions, a sod producer, says pallets generally run between about 400 and 700 sq ft, and that coverage depends on the farm and how the sod is cut: slabs, mini rolls or big rolls. Its slab examples come to 399, 452 or 503 sq ft. There is no single number to put in an estimate, which is why the planner asks you for it.
One lawn, four pallet sizes
A 40 × 25 ft lawn with the planner’s 5% allowance needs 1,050 sq ft of sod. The pallet count depends on what each pallet covers:
| Pallet coverage | Calculated | Pallets to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 399 sq ft | 2.63 pallets | 3 |
| 452 sq ft | 2.32 pallets | 3 |
| 503 sq ft | 2.09 pallets | 3 |
| 600 sq ft | 1.75 pallets | 2 |
About these coverages
- They illustrate the spread of published figures. Replace them with the figure your supplier gives you.
At the lowest coverage the order is 3 pallets and at the highest it is 2. That is a whole pallet of difference for the same lawn.
Rolls
If your supplier sells rolls, give the planner the area one roll covers. Some large rolls cover about 10 sq ft, while smaller hand rolls cover less. At 10 sq ft per roll the planner shows 105 rolls for this lawn at that coverage. Use your supplier’s roll size.
What changes the estimate?
- The pallet or roll coverage from your supplier
- Whether they sell slabs, mini rolls or big rolls
- The allowance for trimming at edges and curves
- Whether your supplier delivers a whole pallet or splits one
Ask before you order
The question to ask is simple: how many square feet are on a pallet? Put the answer into the planner and compare it with the area you measured. If you only know the area, enter that and the planner returns the square feet to order.