Sod is sold by area, but it arrives in pieces stacked on pallets. A slab is 16 × 24 in and covers 2.66 sq ft; a mini roll (40 × 18 in) covers 5 sq ft; a large roll (60 × 24 or 80 × 18 in) covers 10 sq ft. Pallets usually hold 400 to 500 sq ft of slabs or mini rolls and 500 to 700 sq ft of large rolls. Measure your lawn, add 5 to 10%, and divide by the pallet size.
The sod calculator does this for each piece and pallet size.
Sod sizes
| Form | Piece size | Covers | Pieces per 450 sq ft pallet | Common pallet sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slab | 16 × 24 in | 2.66 sq ft | about 170 | 400, 450, 500 sq ft |
| Mini roll | 40 × 18 in | 5 sq ft | 90 | 400, 450, 500 sq ft |
| Large roll | 60 × 24 or 80 × 18 in | 10 sq ft | 45 (on a 450 sq ft pallet) | 500, 600, 700 sq ft |
Slabs are most common in the South, where warm-season grasses are cut in small pieces; rolls are more common in cool-season markets. Slab pallets are often a little over or under their nominal size (for example 452 sq ft sold as 450).
Worked example
A back lawn is 50 × 20 ft: 1,000 sq ft. With 5% extra you need 1,050 sq ft. In slabs that is 1,050 ÷ 2.66 = 395 slabs, or 1,050 ÷ 450 = 2.3, so 3 pallets of 450 sq ft. If your farm sells 500 sq ft pallets of large rolls, it is 105 rolls on 3 pallets, with about 450 sq ft to spare, so ask whether you can buy a partial pallet.
Weight and delivery
- A pallet of sod weighs about 1,500 to 3,000 lb, and up to 50% more when wet. Plan where the truck can drop it.
- Order for delivery on the day you will lay it; sod heats up and spoils when it sits stacked.
- Prepare the soil before delivery: grade, loosen and level it so the sod sits flush with paths and edges.
How much extra?
Sod Solutions advises ordering 5 to 10% extra for waste and measuring errors. Use the low end for a simple rectangle and the high end for curved beds, many trees or narrow strips that need lots of cutting.
Sod costs more than seed; to compare, see grass seed rates for new lawns and overseeding.
Sod for common lawn sizes
| Lawn | To order (5% extra) | Slabs (2.66 sq ft) | Large rolls (10 sq ft) | 450 sq ft pallets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 525 sq ft | 198 | 53 | 2 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,050 sq ft | 395 | 105 | 3 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,100 sq ft | 790 | 210 | 5 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 3,150 sq ft | 1185 | 315 | 7 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,250 sq ft | 1974 | 525 | 12 |
Square meters
A 16 × 24 in slab covers about 0.25 m², a mini roll about 0.46 m² and a large roll about 0.93 m². A 450 sq ft pallet covers about 42 m².
Frequently asked questions
How many rolls are on a pallet?
Divide the pallet area by the roll area: a 450 sq ft pallet holds about 170 slabs or 90 mini rolls, and a 500 sq ft pallet holds 50 large rolls.
Can I buy part of a pallet?
Many farms and garden centers sell single rolls or partial pallets for patching. For a whole lawn, ordering full pallets is usually simpler.
How soon do I need to water new sod?
Right after laying, so the soil underneath is wet. Keep it moist until the roots knit into the soil and the pieces no longer lift at the corners.
Sources
- Sod Solutions: How Many Square Feet Are in a Pallet of Sod? (slab and roll sizes, pallet coverage and weight)
