Sod and Grass Seed Calculator
Enter the lawn area, then choose sod or seed. Use the pallet size and seeding rate from your supplier or seed bag if they differ from the defaults.
How it works
Sod to order = lawn area × (1 + allowance). Square yards = square feet ÷ 9. Pallets = sod to order ÷ sq ft per pallet, rounded up; pieces = sod to order ÷ piece size. Seed (lb) = lawn area ÷ 1,000 × seeding rate (lb per 1,000 sq ft). 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg (NIST).
Worked example: Sod: a 50 × 20 ft lawn is 1,000 sq ft; + 10% = 1,100 sq ft = 122.2 sq yd, or 3 pallets of 450 sq ft. Seed: 5,000 sq ft of tall fescue at 6-9 lb per 1,000 sq ft needs 30 to 45 lb.
Assumptions
- Sod defaults are from the University of Arkansas: a pallet holds about 50 sq yd (450 sq ft), pieces are typically 18 × 24 in, and order about 10% more. Mississippi State Extension suggests about 5% extra and says pallets typically hold 450 to 500 sq ft. Ask your sod farm for its pallet size.
- Seeding rates are the University of Illinois Extension's suggested rates for new cool-season lawns; Purdue's table is similar (for example 1.5-2 lb for 100% Kentucky bluegrass, 6-9 lb for tall fescue). Overseeding, warm-season grasses and other mixes use different rates: follow the rate on your seed bag.
- Illinois Extension warns that exceeding the rates may result in weak, spindly seedlings and disease, so the seed result has no extra allowance.
- Soil preparation, fertilizer and lime are not included; a soil test is the usual starting point (University of Arkansas, Mississippi State).
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets of sod do I need?
Divide the area to sod (plus extra) by the sq ft per pallet. With the University of Arkansas figures, 1,000 sq ft + 10% = 1,100 sq ft ÷ 450 = 2.4, so 3 pallets.
How much grass seed do I need per 1,000 square feet?
University of Illinois Extension suggests 1-3 lb for Kentucky bluegrass, 3-4 lb for an 80:20 bluegrass and ryegrass mix, 3-5 lb for bluegrass and fine fescue, and 6-9 lb for tall fescue.
How many square feet are in a square yard of sod?
Nine. The University of Arkansas notes sod is typically sold by the square yard.
Related calculators
Sources
Formulas and reference values are from these sources. Page content last updated 2026-10-19.
- University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension FSA2042: Establishing a lawn from sod (pallets, pieces, topsoil)
- Mississippi State University Extension Publication 2951: Sod installation and maintenance
- University of Illinois Extension: Planting a new lawn (suggested seeding rates)
- Purdue Extension AY-3-W: Establishing turfgrass areas from seed (seeding rates, Table 2)
- NIST Guide to the SI (SP 811), Appendix B.9: conversion factors (foot = 0.3048 m, ton, pound)