Sod Calculator
Sod = lawn area × 1.05. A 1,000 ft² lawn needs 1,050 ft² of sod: 105 rolls of 10 ft², or 3 pallets of 450 ft². Pallets hold 450 to 700 ft² (Virginia Extension): ask the farm, 700 ft² pallets make it 2 instead of 3.
Sod to order
1,050 ft²
1,000 ft² of lawn + 5 %
- Rolls
- 105 rolls of 10 ft²
- Pallets
- 3 pallets of 450 ft²
- Weight of the sod
- 2,333-2,917 lb dry (1,050 ft²)
Have the soil ready before delivery: fresh sod does not keep long on the pallet.
Worked examples
A 1,000 ft² lawn
- 1,000 × 1.05 = 1,050 ft²
- 1,050 ÷ 10 = 105 rolls
- 1,050 ÷ 450 = 2.33, so 3 pallets (1,050 ÷ 700 = 1.5, so 2)
Result: 1,050 ft² of sod: 105 rolls, 3 pallets of 450 ft².
Checked by the automated test “sod — 1,000 ft² lawn → 1,050 ft² to order, 105 rolls, 3 pallets of 450 ft²”.
What a 450 ft² pallet weighs
- 450 ÷ 9 = 50 yd²
- Dry: 50 × 20 to 25 = 1,000 to 1,250 lb
- Wet: 50 × 30 to 40 = 1,500 to 2,000 lb
Result: 1,000 to 1,250 lb dry, 1,500 to 2,000 lb wet.
Checked by the automated test “sod — a 450 ft² pallet weighs 1,000-1,250 lb dry, 1,500-2,000 lb wet”.
How it works
Lawn = Σ areas − beds, paths and patios
Sod to order = lawn × 1.05
Rolls = sod to order ÷ roll size, rounded up
Pallets = sod to order ÷ sod per pallet, rounded up
Weight = sod to order ÷ 9 × 20-25 lb (dry) or 30-40 lb (wet) per yd²
Assumptions
- 5 % extra, as Mississippi State Extension advises (“approximately 5 percent more sod than you think you'll need”).
- Standard rolls are about 10 ft² and a pallet holds 450 to 700 ft² (Virginia Cooperative Extension 418-040); the calculator starts at 450 ft², the low end.
- Weight: 20 to 25 lb per yd² of dry sod and 30 to 40 lb wet (Virginia Extension), not counting the pallet.
Reference table
| Lawn | Sod to order | Pallets of 450 ft² | Pallets of 700 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 ft² | 525 ft² | 2 | 1 |
| 1,000 ft² | 1,050 ft² | 3 | 2 |
| 2,000 ft² | 2,100 ft² | 5 | 3 |
| 5,000 ft² | 5,250 ft² | 12 | 8 |
Pallet sizes from Virginia Cooperative Extension: usually 450 to 700 ft².
Before you buy
- Several areas. Add each part of the lawn as its own area; a round bed to skip goes in the field above.
- Pallet size. Ask how many ft² the farm puts on a pallet and type it in.
- Delivery day. Lay the sod the day it arrives.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the lawn area exactly Mississippi State Extension advises about 5 % more sod than the area: 1,050 ft² for a 1,000 ft² lawn.
- Assuming a standard pallet Virginia Extension gives 450 to 700 ft² per pallet: 1,050 ft² is 3 pallets of 450 ft² but 2 of 700.
- Underestimating the weight Wet sod weighs 30 to 40 lb per yd²: 1,050 ft² (117 yd²) is about 3,500 to 4,667 lb, and Virginia Extension sizes a half-ton pickup for 25 to 50 yd².
- Ordering before the soil is ready Mississippi State Extension warns that fresh sod will not tolerate sitting on a pallet for very long: finish the preparation first.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet in a pallet of sod?
Usually 450 to 700 ft² (50 to 78 yd²), says Virginia Cooperative Extension; Mississippi State Extension gives 450 to 500 ft² as typical. Ask the farm before ordering.
How big is a roll of sod?
A standard roll is about 10 ft² (Virginia Extension), so a 1,000 ft² lawn takes 105 rolls with 5 % extra. Big rolls are 42 to 48 in wide and 80 to 100 ft long.
How many rolls of sod in a pallet?
About 45 to 70 rolls: a pallet holds 450 to 700 ft² and a standard roll is about 10 ft² (Virginia Extension).
How much sod do I need?
Measure the lawn, take off beds, paths and patios, then add 5 % (Mississippi State Extension). A 1,000 ft² lawn needs 1,050 ft² of sod.
How much does one pallet of sod weigh?
Virginia Extension gives 20 to 25 lb per yd² dry and 30 to 40 wet: the sod on a 450 ft² pallet (50 yd²) weighs about 1,000 to 1,250 lb dry, 1,500 to 2,000 lb wet.
Sources
Formula, examples and sources checked on by the Yardstick Math team. How we check our formulas.
- Sod: Source, Selection, and Installation (publication 418-040) — Virginia Cooperative Extension, accessed
- Sod Installation and Maintenance — Mississippi State University Extension, accessed