# Sod Calculator

Area to rolls, pallets and square yards.

- Page: https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/sod-quantity
- Category: Earthwork (https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/c/earthwork)
- Chinese version: https://jianzhujisuan.com/zh/sod-quantity.md
- Data checked: 2026-10-25

## Quick result

With the default inputs (Lawn area 1000 ft², Sod size Large roll 10 ft² (2.5×4 ft), Area per pallet 500 ft², Waste 5%): **Sod required 105 rolls**

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Default | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn area | number | 1000 | ft² |  |
| Sod size | select | Large roll 10 ft² (2.5×4 ft) | — |  |
| Area per pallet | number | 500 | ft² |  |
| Waste | number | 5 | % |  |

## Formula

- **Area with waste = area × (1 + waste)**: 
- **Pieces = area ÷ piece size**: round up
- **Pallets = area ÷ area per pallet**: 
- **Square yards = area ÷ 9**: 

## Worked example

1000 ft² of lawn in large rolls with 5% waste: 1050 ft² = 117 square yards, 105 rolls, about 2.1 tons wet. At 500 ft² per pallet that is two full pallets plus 50 ft², but farms usually sell by the pallet, so three pallets - and the third is only 10% used. Order two and top up with loose rolls instead of watching the third bake in the sun.

## Questions

### How many square feet is a pallet of sod?

Commonly 450-500 ft², but farms vary from about 400 ft² in small rolls up to 600. Ask for both the square feet and the roll count per pallet and check the two agree before paying. The trap with rolls is that large and small rolls are both called rolls while differing twofold in area.

### When is the best time to lay sod?

Spring and autumn: 60-77°F, moderate evaporation and quick root recovery. Midsummer laying needs watering morning and evening and avoiding the middle of the day. Below about 50°F soil temperature roots do not grow, so the sod just sits and establishment is poor, especially for warm-season grasses. Lay the day it is delivered, never overnight.

### Should I fertilise and till before laying?

Loosen 4-6 in and work in compost, but do not use a high-nitrogen fertiliser - there are no roots yet and it burns them. Use a starter fertiliser with phosphorus such as 10-20-10 at label rate on the levelled surface before laying; phosphorus drives rooting and does far more than nitrogen here. Firm the graded surface lightly so the sod does not sink into loose soil.

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