Count Sod Slabs and Pallets for a New Lawn

Ordering sod for a new lawn? Enter its dimensions to count the slabs and pallets needed, with extra added for cuts and waste.

Inputs
ft ×
ft
Results update as you type — no submit
ResultsLIVE
Sod slabs
237
16 × 24 in pieces
Pallets
2
≈ 450 sq ft each
Pallets2 (≈450 sq ft each)
Area630 sq ft to cover
Formula
area = 30 × 20 = 600 sq ft + 5%
slabs = 630 sq ft ÷ 2.667 = 237
Diagram — sod planNTS
30′ 0″20′ 0″237 SLABS · 2 PALLETSSOD PLAN · STAGGERED SEAMS
MeasureShedmeasureshed.com/calculator/sod-calculator
Sod — material listUNITS: FT · SCALE: NTS
Inputs
Lawn size30 × 20 ft
Waste+5%
Slab size16 × 24 in (2.67 ft²)
Results
Sod slabs237
Pallets (≈450 ft²)2
Area to cover630 sq ft
Sod planNTS
30′ 0″20′ 0″237 SLABS · 2 PALLETSSOD PLAN · STAGGERED SEAMS
Shopping list
☐ 237 × sod slabs (or 2 pallets)
Formula
area = 30 × 20 = 600 sq ft + 5%
slabs = 630 sq ft ÷ 2.667 = 237
Estimates for planning only — verify before purchaseSHEET 1 OF 1

How it works

Sod is sold by the piece and by the pallet, so the count starts from area. The calculator multiplies the lawn length by its width, adds a waste allowance for the cuts you make around curves and edges, then divides by the area of a single piece to get the slab count and by the pallet coverage to get pallets.

A standard sod slab measures sixteen by twenty-four inches — about 2.67 square feet — and a pallet typically covers around 450 square feet, or roughly 165 to 170 slabs. Farms vary, and some quote 500-square-foot pallets or big rolls instead of slabs, so confirm the piece size and pallet coverage with your supplier before ordering.

Both counts round up, because you cannot buy a fraction of a slab or pallet. Order a little extra and lay it the same day it is delivered; sod is a living product and does not keep on the pallet.

Worked example
Lawn 30 ft × 20 ft · +5% for cuts
area = 30 × 20 = 600 sq ft → with 5% = 630 sq ft
slabs = 630 ÷ 2.67 = 237 → 2 pallets (≈ 450 sq ft each)

Questions from the lawn

Measure the lawn in square feet, add about 5% for cuts, and divide by the piece size. A 600 sq ft lawn needs roughly 237 standard slabs, which rounds up to 2 pallets.

SOURCES — University of Tennessee Extension W160-C, "Turfgrass Establishment: Sodding and Plugging" (Samples and Sorochan, October 2007) (source for both hard-coded constants: "One pallet of slab sod usually holds about 50 square yards of sod and weighs 2,000 pounds or more. Individual slabs are often 16 inches wide by 24 or more inches long." The calculator's 16 × 24 in (2.667 ft²) piece is the small end of that range, so the slab count errs high rather than low.) · Purdue Extension AY-28-W, "Establishing a Lawn from Sod" (Patton, May 2013) ("Typically, one pallet of sod contains about 50 square yards (450 square feet) of sod", and, for the +10% option, "Order about 10 percent more sod than you anticipate needing to account for calculation errors and waste that occurs when cutting sod around corners and edges." This publication states a larger piece than the calculator's default: "Slab pieces are typically 18 inches wide and 24 inches long, but vary depending on the particular cutting machine.") · Mississippi State University Extension P2951, "Sod Installation and Maintenance" (McCurdy and Stewart, POD-04-25) (source for the +5% default: "It's always a good idea to buy approximately 5 percent more sod than you think you'll need." Its pallet coverage is a range, not a single figure: "A pallet of sod may range in size but typically contains 450 to 500 square feet", and the calculator takes the 450 ft² low end. It also notes sod "may also be bought as big rolls, but these require special application equipment.") · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service B-6239, "Turfgrass Establishment for Texas" (Chalmers and McAfee, June 2010) (independent confirmation of the pallet figure: "Sod is usually delivered on pallets that contain 50 square yards (450 square feet). There is some waste in installation because of odd shapes and irregular pieces, so order a bit more than you will need, based on the recommendation of the sod producer or landscaper." The PDF carries the agency's former name, Texas AgriLife Extension Service; it is now the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.)
Estimates for planning only — verify before purchase

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