Year-round
Updated 4 min readGrass DFW team
The short answer
Measure the area to be sodded in square feet, add 5% to 10% for cuts and divide by 450, the coverage of one pallet, then round up. For example, a 1,000 sq ft lawn with a 10% margin needs 1,100 sq ft: 3 whole pallets, or 2 pallets plus a half pallet.
All you need is a tape measure or a measuring wheel, a pencil and some paper. Mississippi State University Extension (opens in a new tab) adds that smartphone apps can help with the measuring.
| Shape | Area formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | length × width | 30 ft × 20 ft = 600 sq ft |
| Triangle | ½ × base × height | ½ × 20 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft |
| Circle | 3.14 × radius × radius | 3.14 × 4 ft × 4 ft = about 50 sq ft |
If a quote is in square yards, remember that one square yard is 9 square feet, so 450 sq ft is 50 square yards (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (opens in a new tab)).
450 sq ft, for every variety we sell. That matches the “about 450 square feet” that Texas A&M AgriLife Extension gives for a pallet. Pallets from other suppliers can differ, so always ask what a quote’s pallet covers. A half pallet covers 225 sq ft and a quarter pallet 112.5. For more on the pallet itself, see what comes on a pallet of sod.
Cutting around curves, beds, trees and edges leaves offcuts, so you order more than you measure. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension tells buyers to allow for a small percentage of waste, and Mississippi State suggests buying about 5 percent more than you think you need.
Our rule of thumb is 5% for a simple lawn with straight edges and up to 10% for curves, beds and trees. The calculator on our sod pages starts at 10%, because running short costs more than having a little left over: a few missing feet can mean a second delivery.
The formula is the same every time: the area to sod, plus the margin, divided by 450 and rounded up. Here it is applied to four lawns. The last column is the smallest order that covers each lawn; the calculator also compares prices, so the cheapest combination can differ.
| Lawn | Area to sod | With cutting margin | Smallest order that covers it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front lawn, 30 × 20 ft | 600 sq ft | +5% = 630 sq ft | 1 pallet + a half pallet (675 sq ft) |
| Backyard, 45 × 30 ft minus a 12 × 15 ft patio | 1,170 sq ft | +10% = 1,287 sq ft | 3 pallets (1,350 sq ft) |
| Corner lot, front and side yards | 2,600 sq ft | +10% = 2,860 sq ft | 6 pallets + a half pallet (2,925 sq ft) |
| Large lawn | 4,800 sq ft | +10% = 5,280 sq ft | 12 pallets (5,400 sq ft) |
After the whole pallets, look at what is left over. If it is 112.5 sq ft or less, a quarter pallet covers it; up to 225 sq ft, a half pallet; beyond that, one more whole pallet. In the first example the lawn needs 630 sq ft: one whole pallet plus 180 sq ft, which a half pallet covers.
Price matters too. The sod calculator does the comparison for you: it adds a half or quarter pallet only when that costs less than one more whole pallet. We sell half and quarter pallets for small patches, and for anything smaller than a quarter pallet you can call or text (214) 702-0622.
Yes. Request a free on-site estimate. We measure the yard with an app instead of a wheel, recommend a variety and put the quantity and the price in writing, with no obligation.
Prefer to try the numbers yourself? Slide to your lawn size in the calculator and watch the pallets add up.
Open the sod calculator
Year-round
A Grass DFW pallet of sod covers 450 sq ft, the same for all four varieties, and a pallet of that size may weigh as much as a ton. Sod is perishable, so plan to lay it the day it arrives. To pick one up at our Pilot Point yard, bring a vehicle or trailer rated for the weight.
Year-round
Sod is sold by the pallet, and a pallet covers 450 sq ft, so the price per square foot is the pallet price divided by 450. The live table below shows today’s price per pallet and per square foot for each variety. That price is for the sod only: delivery, optional installation and sales tax are separate lines.
Year-round
In DFW you can buy sod from a sod supplier by the pallet, delivered or picked up, from a nursery for a small patch, or from a landscaper who supplies and lays it. At Grass DFW you choose delivery or pickup at our Pilot Point yard and book at least 48 hours ahead. Enter your ZIP at checkout: if it is outside our service area, we tell you before anything is charged.
We deliver sod across Dallas–Fort Worth and can lay it with our own crew. Call or text and we will give you a free, written estimate.
