Yardstickly

Sod guide

How Much Sod Do I Need? Pieces and Turf Rolls by Lawn Area

1,000 sq ft of lawn: about 394 pieces of 16 × 24 in sod.

Reviewed by , Editor. Last reviewed . Figures are calculated with the same formulas as our calculators.

Hands pressing a newly laid strip of turf into the soil
Lay turf the day it arrives, on soil that is already prepared.

Measure the lawn in square feet, add 5% for cutting around edges, and divide by the size of one piece. 1,000 sq ft of lawn takes 394 pieces of 16 × 24 in sod, or 105 rolls of 2 × 5 ft. In the UK and Australia turf is usually sold in 1 m² rolls, so 50 m² of lawn needs 53 rolls.

Laying sod or turf rollsRolls of turf laid in staggered rows like brickwork across a lawn area, with the pieces at the edges trimmed to fit. Stagger the joints like brickwork, so seams don't line up Edges are trimmed: allow 5–10% extra
Count rolls from the lawn area plus 5–10% for trimming at edges and curves.

Sod pieces by lawn area

Pieces of sod for a lawn area, including 5% for cuts
Lawn area16 × 24 in pieces18 × 24 in pieces2 × 5 ft rolls
100 sq ft403511
250 sq ft998827
500 sq ft19717553
1,000 sq ft394350105
2,000 sq ft788700210
5,000 sq ft1,9691,750525
Metric: 1 m² turf rolls for a lawn area, including 5% for cuts
Lawn area1 m² rolls
10 m²11
25 m²27
50 m²53
100 m²105
200 m²210

Worked example: a 40 × 25 ft back yard

  1. Area: 40 × 25 = 1,000 sq ft.
  2. Add 5% for cuts: 1,050 sq ft.
  3. One 16 × 24 in piece covers 2.67 sq ft, so 394 pieces.

Suppliers often sell by the pallet. Pallet sizes vary by farm, so ask how many square feet one pallet covers and divide; the sod calculator does this when you enter the pallet size.

Odd shapes

Split the lawn into rectangles, circles and triangles, work out each and add them up. Curved beds and lots of edges waste more, so allow 10% instead of 5%.

Common mistakes

  • Ordering before the ground is ready. Turf dries out fast. Prepare and level the soil first and lay it the day it arrives.
  • Forgetting topsoil. A few inches of good topsoil under new turf helps it root. Work it out with the topsoil calculator.
  • Measuring the whole yard. Take off patios, paths and beds.