Sod Calculator
Enter the size of your lawn, subtract any beds or paths, add a waste allowance and the coverage of one roll or slab, and the calculator returns the area to buy, the number of rolls or slabs and the number of pallets, in square feet and square meters.
Last updated November 4, 2026
Beds, paths, patios; 0 for none
Typical allowance for cuts and curves
Example default; check your supplier
Varies by supplier; example default
Result
58 rolls or slabs, 2 pallets
To cover 577.5 sq ft (53.652 sq m) including waste.
| Area | Sq ft | Sq m |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn area | 600 | 55.742 |
| After exclusions | 550 | 51.097 |
| With waste (5%) | 577.5 | 53.652 |
Roll and pallet coverage vary by supplier; the defaults are examples, so enter the figures from your supplier. Waste is a typical allowance for cuts and curves, not a rule.
Show the work
Formula: net = lawn area - excluded; to buy = net x (1 + waste / 100); rolls = to buy / roll coverage, rounded up; pallets = to buy / pallet coverage, rounded up
- Lawn area: 20 ft x 30 ft = 600 sq ft.
- Less excluded: 600 - 50 = 550 sq ft.
- With waste: 550 x (1 + 5%) = 577.5 sq ft (53.652 sq m, 577.5 sq ft).
- Rolls or slabs: 577.5 / 10 = 57.75, rounded up to 58.
- Pallets: 577.5 / 450 = 1.283, rounded up to 2.
Result: 58 rolls or slabs, 2 pallets
How the amount of sod is worked out
net = lawn area − excluded area
to buy = net × (1 + waste ÷ 100)
rolls = to buy ÷ roll coverage, rounded up
Sod is sold by area, so the job starts with the area of the lawn. A rectangle is length times width, a circle is pi times the radius squared, and a triangle is half the base times the height. Pick the shape that matches your lawn.
Next, subtract anything that will not be turfed, such as a flower bed, a path or a patio edge. What is left is the net area. A 20 ft by 30 ft lawn is 600 square feet, and taking out a 50 square foot bed leaves 550 square feet.
A waste allowance covers cuts, curves and the odd damaged piece. The default here is 5 percent, a typical allowance for a simple lawn that you can change. At 5 percent, 550 square feet becomes 550 × 1.05 = 577.5 square feet to buy.
Finally, divide by the coverage of one roll or slab and round up, because a partial piece still has to be bought. With 10 square foot rolls, 577.5 ÷ 10 = 57.75, so 58 rolls. The same area on pallets that cover 450 square feet is 577.5 ÷ 450 = 1.28, which rounds up to 2 pallets.
See how we calculate for the formulas, sources and review schedule behind every calculator.
Also useful alongside this calculator: Square Footage Calculator.
Roll, slab and pallet coverage
Coverage is an input, not a built-in figure, because it changes with the grower, the type of sod and how it is cut. The defaults of 10 square feet per roll and 450 square feet per pallet are examples only. Pallet coverage in particular varies by supplier, so ask for the exact figure on the quote or product page and type it in.
If a supplier quotes in square meters, switch the units to metric and enter the coverage in square meters. For example, a lawn of 82.5 square meters to buy with 0.9 square meter rolls needs 82.5 ÷ 0.9 = 91.67, so 92 rolls, and 2 pallets if each covers 60 square meters.
Beds, paths and awkward shapes
Use the exclusion field for areas inside the lawn that will not get turf. Add their areas together first and enter the total.
Most lawns are not one clean shape. This calculator handles one shape at a time and rounds up the rolls for that shape, so adding the counts from several runs can order slightly more than one combined run. For several shapes, the Square Footage Calculator adds their areas, and you can enter the total as one rectangle to round up once.
Choosing a waste allowance
Five percent is a typical starting point for a plain rectangle, and curved or heavily cut lawns often need more. The percentage is an allowance you control, not a standard, so ask your supplier if unsure. On 550 square feet, 10 percent gives 605 square feet and 61 rolls, compared with 58 rolls at 5 percent.
For the soil or gravel under the turf, see the Gravel Calculator.
How to use the Sod Calculator
- Choose imperial (feet) or metric (meters), then pick the lawn shape.
- Enter the dimensions and the total area of beds or paths to exclude.
- Set the waste allowance, 5 percent by default.
- Enter the coverage of one roll or slab and of one pallet from your supplier.
- Read the rolls and pallets, then use Copy, Print or Share.
Worked example
A 20 ft by 30 ft lawn with a 50 square foot bed is 600 − 50 = 550 square feet. With 5 percent waste that is 577.5 square feet, or 53.65 square meters. At 10 square feet per roll that is 58 rolls, and at 450 square feet per pallet it is 2 pallets.
| Lawn | Area to buy (sq ft) | Rolls | Pallets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft × 20 ft | 210 | 21 | 1 |
| 20 ft × 30 ft | 630 | 63 | 2 |
| 30 ft × 40 ft | 1,260 | 126 | 3 |
| 40 ft × 50 ft | 2,100 | 210 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
How much sod do I need for a 20 by 30 foot lawn?
The lawn is 600 square feet. With 5 percent waste you buy 630 square feet, which is 63 rolls of 10 square feet.
How many square feet are on a pallet of sod?
It depends on the supplier and the sod type, so enter the figure from your quote. The 450 square feet default is only an example.
How much extra sod should I order?
Five percent is a typical allowance for a simple lawn, and curved edges need more. Change the waste field to match your plan.
Does the calculator handle circles and triangles?
Yes. Choose circle or triangle and enter its dimensions, or split an irregular lawn into sections and add the results.
Why are rolls always rounded up?
Sod cannot be bought in fractions of a roll, so any partial piece needs a whole roll or slab to cover it.