Quick answer: A pallet of sod covers about 450 sq ft and a single piece ~2.7 sq ft. Measure your lawn's square footage and add 5โ10% for cuts around curves and beds.
This sod calculator finds exactly how much sod you need for a new lawn โ total square footage, pieces, and pallets โ plus an estimated cost, with a waste factor for cuts and odd-shaped yards.
Sod is sold by the square foot, and suppliers bundle it into pieces (slabs), rolls, and full pallets. To get an accurate order, break your yard into simple rectangles, measure each in feet, and add the areas together.
A 5โ10% waste factor covers the pieces you cut to fit curves, edges, flower beds, and walkways. For a simple square backyard, 5% is plenty; for a yard with lots of garden beds, trees, or curved borders, use 10%.
A standard pallet of sod covers about 450 sq ft. Sod is sold by the pallet or the square yard (9 sq ft), so measure in square feet and divide. Pallet size varies by supplier — 400 to 500 sq ft is the usual range — so confirm before ordering. Order 5–10% extra for curved edges and trimming.
| Lawn area | Square yards | Pallets needed | Pallets to order (+8%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 55.6 sq yd | 1.1 | 2 |
| 1000 sq ft | 111.1 sq yd | 2.2 | 3 |
| 2500 sq ft | 277.8 sq yd | 5.6 | 6 |
| 5000 sq ft | 555.6 sq yd | 11.1 | 12 |
A standard pallet holds about 165 to 170 pieces of slab sod (16"ร24"), covering roughly 450 square feet. Roll pallets vary, so always confirm the coverage with your supplier.
For 1,000 sq ft with an 8% waste factor you need about 1,080 sq ft of sod โ roughly 405 slab pieces, or about 3 pallets at 450 sq ft each.
Yes. Add 5% for a simple square yard and up to 10% for yards with curves, garden beds, or many obstacles, to cover the pieces you cut to fit.
Sod typically runs $0.30 to $0.80 per square foot installed as material, so a 450 sq ft pallet is often $130 to $360 depending on grass type and region. Enter your local price above for an exact estimate.
Grass seed costs far less up front, but sod gives you an instant, established lawn with no waiting or erosion risk. Use our Grass Seed Calculator to compare the seeding option.
Every constant this calculator uses and where it comes from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Local codes amend the model IRC and adopt different cycles — your building department governs. Manufacturers revise yields; where your product's data sheet disagrees with a default here, use the product's number. See our full methodology.