How much does a pallet of sod cover?
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.
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| 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 or seed: the honest tradeoff
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.
When to lay sod
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.