How to calculate how much sod you need
- Measure the length and width of the lawn in feet and multiply them for square feet. Add up separate areas.
- Subtract anything that won't be sodded: patios, beds, the driveway.
- Add 5 to 10 percent for trimming around edges and curves.
- Divide by the square feet per pallet your farm sells, and round up.
Worked example. A 50 × 40 ft back yard is 2,000 ft². With no extra that is 750 slabs of 16 × 24 inches, or 4.44 pallets of 450 ft², so order 5 pallets. With 5 percent extra (2,100 ft²) you still need 5 pallets.
Sod sizes and pallets
| Piece | Covers | Common pallets | Pieces on a 450 ft² pallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slab, 16 × 24 in | 2.67 ft² | 400, 450 or 500 ft² | About 170 |
| Mini roll, 18 × 40 in | 5 ft² | 400, 450 or 500 ft² | 90 |
| Large roll, 24 × 60 in or 18 × 80 in | 10 ft² | 500, 600 or 700 ft² | 45 |
Slabs are more common in the South, rolls in the North. Sod Solutions notes that pallets labeled 400, 450 and 500 ft² actually hold 399, 452 and 503 ft² of slabs.
Before the sod arrives
Sod roots best into loose, level soil. Penn State Extension recommends 4 to 6 inches of topsoil for a new lawn; work out how much to bring in with the topsoil calculator, and use the fill dirt calculator if low spots need raising first. Lay the sod the day it is delivered and water it straight away.
Edging the new lawn with a stone border or a gravel path? The river rock calculator and pea gravel calculator work out those materials.
Questions about ordering sod
How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
Most pallets hold 400 to 700 ft². Pallets of 16 × 24 inch slabs are usually sold as 400, 450 or 500 ft²; large rolls come in 500 to 700 ft² pallets. Ask your farm for its pallet size.
How many pieces of sod are on a pallet?
A 450 ft² pallet holds about 170 slabs of 16 × 24 inches or 90 rolls of 18 × 40 inches.
How much extra sod should I order?
Order 5 to 10 percent more than you measured. Use 10 percent for curved beds and odd shapes, where more pieces get trimmed.
How do I measure an odd-shaped yard?
Split it into rectangles and circles, work out each area, and add them. Subtract patios, beds and the house footprint.
Sources
- Piece sizes (16 × 24 in slabs, 18 × 40 in rolls, 10 ft² large rolls) and pallets of about 400 to 700 ft²: Sod Solutions, How Many Square Feet Are in a Pallet of Sod?
- Order 5 to 10 percent extra: Sod Solutions, How Many Square Feet Are in a Pallet of Sod?
- Topsoil depth for a new lawn, 4 to 6 inches: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment
Last reviewed November 9, 2026. Found a wrong figure? Tell us.