How much sod do I need for a 40 × 25 ft lawn?
For the worked example (one 40 × 25 ft lawn, 450 sq ft per pallet, 10 sq ft per roll) the material list is Sod: 3 pallets (calculated 2.33 pallets, based on 5% extra allowance, 450 sq ft per pallet). Quantities to buy are whole units rounded up from the calculated amounts. Enter your own measurements in the calculator above for your exact list.
How to use this calculator
- Measure each rectangular lawn area, or enter the total if you already know it. Use “Add another area” for a lawn that is easier to measure in pieces.
- Keep or change the extra allowance. 5% is a starting value for trimming and irregular edges.
- Ask your supplier how many square feet are on a pallet or in a roll, and enter it under “Using a specific product?”.
- Copy, print or share the material list.
How this is calculated
- Area = sum of (length × width) for each area
- Sod to order = area × (1 + allowance ÷ 100)
- Pallets = round up (sod to order ÷ coverage per pallet)
- Rolls = round up (sod to order ÷ coverage per roll)
Geometry is deterministic. Material coverage, density, installation waste and product yield can vary. We expose those assumptions so you can replace them with the values printed on the products you are actually buying. Treat every result as an estimate. Items on your list are labelled Calculated (straight from your measurements) or Estimated (depends on an assumption), and “Buy” quantities are whole units rounded up.
Sources
No third-party figure is built into this calculator. Quantities come from geometry and from the values you can see and edit under “Assumptions” below, each labelled by where it comes from.
Last reviewed: . See the methodology.
Assumptions
These starting values are used until you change them. They are typical, not universal. Check the label on the product you are buying.
| Assumption | Starting value | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Rolls and pallets | Whole units, rounded up | Mathematical – Sod to order ÷ the coverage you enter, never rounded down |
| Extra allowance | 5% | Common planning default |
| Coverage per pallet (optional) | You enter it | You enter it (product / supplier) |
| Coverage per roll (optional) | You enter it | You enter it (product / supplier) |
Worked example
A 40 × 25 ft lawn with 5% extra, a supplier pallet of 450 sq ft and rolls of 10 sq ft:
- Sod: 3 pallets (1,050 sq ft needed, or 105 rolls depending on how your supplier sells it) · 5% extra allowance, 450 sq ft per pallet
Common questions
How big is a pallet of sod?
It depends on the farm and how the sod is cut, and sources vary widely. Ask your supplier and enter their number. We deliberately do not assume one.
Should I buy extra?
Many people add a little for trimming and irregular edges. The 5% default is editable, not a rule.
My lawn is not rectangular.
Break it into rectangles with “Add another area”, or enter the total area if you know it.
Guides
- How Much Sod Do I Need?Lawn area, allowance and supplier coverage turned into pallets or rolls.
- Sod Rolls vs Pallets: Turn Lawn Area Into an OrderWhy a pallet of sod has no standard size, and what it does to your order.
- How Much Topsoil Do I Need?Area and depth turned into cubic yards or bags of topsoil.
- How Much Topsoil for Lawn Leveling or New Grass?Thin layers over big areas: how small depths add up in cubic yards.
- How Much Grass Seed Do I Need?Lawn area times your label's rate gives seed weight, then whole bags.