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How much sod to order: square feet with waste, slabs or rolls, pallets, and the topsoil to spread first.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Sod to order | 1,050 sq ft |
| Slabs needed | 394 slabs |
| Pallets | 2 full + 57 loose, or 3 pallets |
| Weight of the pallets | about 4,500–9,000 lb |
| Lawn area | 1,000 sq ft |
| Waste allowance | 5% |
| Each piece covers | 2.67 sq ft |
| Pallet covers | 450 sq ft |
| Pieces per pallet | about 169 |
Pallet sizes differ between farms and regions, so confirm the square footage per pallet before you order. Lay sod the day it arrives: it heats up and yellows on the pallet within a day or two in warm weather. A pallet weighs roughly 1,500–3,000 lb and more when wet — too much for a pickup bed.
Sod is sold by the square foot but delivered as slabs or rolls stacked on pallets, and pallet sizes vary by farm. Enter the lawn area, the piece your supplier sells and its pallet size for the square feet to order with a waste allowance, the number of pieces, full pallets and loose pieces, and — if you are regrading — the cubic yards of topsoil to spread first.
Measure the lawn in square feet, add 5% for a simple shape or 10% for curves and beds, then divide by the size of the piece. A 1,000 sq ft lawn with 5% extra needs 1,050 sq ft — 394 slabs of 16 × 24 inches, or 2 pallets of 450 sq ft plus 57 loose slabs.
It depends on the farm. Sod Solutions puts most pallets between 400 and 700 sq ft: slab pallets in the South are usually sold as 400, 450 or 500 sq ft, and large-roll pallets in the North as 500, 600 or 700 sq ft. Ask your supplier and pick the matching size above.
The common southern slab is 16 × 24 inches, which is 2.67 sq ft (16 × 24 ÷ 144). Mini hand rolls are 40 × 18 inches, or 5 sq ft, and large rolls cover about 10 sq ft each.
Order 5–10% more than the measured area. Straight rectangles waste little; curved beds, paths and trees mean more offcuts. The extra also covers measuring errors — a second small delivery usually costs more than a few spare slabs.
Roughly 1,500 to 3,000 lb depending on grass type, soil and pallet size, and up to half as much again when it is wet. That is more than most half-ton pickups can carry, so plan on delivery.
Only if the ground is compacted, rocky or low. Spread and rake the topsoil level before the sod goes down; enter the depth above for the cubic yards. The topsoil calculator also prices it by the yard or bag.
Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.