Sod Calculator
Turn your lawn size into pallets, rolls, and pieces of sod with a 10% waste allowance. Estimate material and professional install cost by region, and see how sod compares to seeding.
Tool inputs
2 minutesSod coverage, cost, and timing
A standard pallet covers about 450 sq ft, made up of roughly 170 slabs at 16 by 24 inches each. A full pallet weighs 1,500 to 3,000 lbs depending on moisture, so plan where the delivery truck can set it down.
| Lawn size | Order (with 10% waste) | Pallets | Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 550 sq ft | 2 | 207 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,100 sq ft | 3 | 412 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,200 sq ft | 5 | 824 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,500 sq ft | 13 | 2,060 |
| 10,000 sq ft | 11,000 sq ft | 25 | 4,120 |
| 20,000 sq ft | 22,000 sq ft | 49 | 8,240 |
Every row includes the standard 10% cutting allowance for edges, curves, and offcuts. Enter your exact size above for a number priced to your region.
Sod material costs 4 to 8 times more than seed for the same area, and pays you back in time: an instant lawn you can walk on in 2 to 3 weeks, in any month the ground is not frozen.
Seed wins on price and grass variety, but asks for 6 to 8 weeks of babying and a narrow planting window. Sod wins when you need a finished lawn this season, when the slope would wash seed away, or when you simply missed the seeding window and still want grass this year.
- Sod wins on time. A finished lawn the day it is laid, light use in 2 to 3 weeks. There is no seedling stage for weeds to exploit and no washouts on slopes.
- Seed wins on cost. Seed covers the same area for a fraction of the price and offers far more variety choice. The tradeoff is 6 to 8 weeks of establishment and a strict planting window.
- Sod wins on timing. Seed has a narrow window, but sod can go down almost any month the ground is not frozen. If you missed seeding season, sod is how a lawn still happens this year.
Sod is forgiving on timing, but roots knit fastest in the grass's growing season. Warm-season sod (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede) lays best late spring through summer. Cool-season sod (fescue, bluegrass) prefers early fall, with spring a close second.
Avoid laying any sod onto frozen ground or during a heat wave without irrigation ready on day one. Sod is perishable: it is only good for 24 to 48 hours on the pallet, less in summer heat, so schedule delivery for the day you install and water within 30 minutes of laying.
How much sod do I need for 5,000 sq ft?
Order about 5,500 sq ft after the standard 10% cutting allowance: roughly 13 pallets, or about 2,060 pieces. Curved beds and slopes chew through more offcuts, so round up rather than down. This calculator does the waste math for you when you enter your exact size.
How much does a pallet of sod cost?
Typically $130 to $400 per pallet for the material, which works out to about $0.30 to $0.85 per square foot depending on grass type and region. Bermuda and centipede run cheapest, while Zoysia and St. Augustine sit at the top. Professional installation roughly doubles the all-in cost to a national average near $1.65 per square foot. Enter your ZIP code above for a range priced to your area.
Is sod worth it over seed?
If you need a usable lawn this season, yes. Sod material costs 4 to 8 times more than seed for the same area, and the gap widens once you factor in professional installation, but you skip 6 to 8 weeks of establishment, most weed pressure, and washout risk on slopes. Seed wins for large areas and tight budgets where you can wait out a growing season.
How long until you can walk on new sod?
Light traffic is fine after 2 to 3 weeks, once the sod resists a gentle tug and the roots have knit into the soil. First mow when it needs it, usually week 2 or 3, and hold off on heavy use for about 6 weeks.
Can I lay sod myself?
Yes for small areas, and it is one of the more satisfying landscaping projects. But a pallet weighs 1,500 to 3,000 lbs and covers only about 450 sq ft, so a 5,000 sq ft lawn means moving roughly 14 tons in a day or two while the sod is still fresh. Most homeowners hire out anything past 2 or 3 pallets.
Sod installation quotes
Want help from a local provider? Share the basics and we will review the request before any provider handoff.