Call a local sod farm — big-box stores run higher per roll.
Order this much
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As pallets + rolls
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Sod cost (material)
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Same area seeded instead
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Sod is perishable — install the day it arrives (24–36 hours max on the pallet, less in heat). Prep the soil BEFORE the truck comes.
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The sod math
order = area × waste factor · pallets = order ÷ 450 (pallet sizes vary 400–500 sq ft — confirm with your farm)
Sod selling by the pallet-plus-rolls means the order rarely matches your area exactly — the calculator rounds to whole rolls and shows the true delivered quantity. The waste factor isn't padding for bad measuring; it's the strips lost to every curved edge and tree ring even with perfect cuts.
A worked example
2,000 sq ft with 10% waste: order 2,200 sq ft — four 450 sq ft pallets plus 40 sq ft in rolls, about $1,210 at $0.55. Seeding the same area with tall fescue runs roughly $100–150 in seed. That ~$1,100 gap is the price of skipping a season of establishment — worth it on the front yard, rarely on the back forty.
Install-day rules
Soil raked smooth and moistened before delivery, stagger the seams brick-style, butt edges tight without stretching, roll or tamp for soil contact, and water immediately — then daily for two weeks. First mow when it resists a gentle tug (10–14 days). Starter fertilizer at install helps rooting; thefertilizer calculatordoses it, and the seed calculator prices the patient alternative.
Frequently asked questions
How much does sod cost?
Typically $0.35–0.85 per square foot for the sod itself (variety and region move it), so a 2,000 sq ft yard runs $700–1,700 in material. Professional installation roughly doubles it. Seed covers the same area for a tenth the money — sod's premium buys you an instant lawn and erosion control.
How big is a pallet of sod?
Usually 450–500 sq ft, weighing 1,500–3,000 lbs depending on moisture. Most farms sell by the pallet plus individual rolls (usually 10 sq ft each) — the calculator breaks your order into exactly that.
How much extra sod should I order?
5–10% over your measured area for cutting waste around curves, trees, and edges. Under-ordering is the expensive mistake: a second delivery fee for three rolls, and the new batch may not color-match the first (different harvest day, different field).
Sod or seed — which should I do?
Sod: instant, weed-free at day one, works on slopes, plantable almost any time the ground isn't frozen — at 10× the material cost. Seed: cheap and more grass variety choice, but a season of babying and a narrow planting window. The honest rule: small high-visibility areas and erosion spots favor sod; big areas and patient owners favor seed.