Cutting to fit curves and edges. 5% for a simple rectangle, 10-15% for a shaped lawn.
Quantity estimate for planning and buying. Rates vary by variety, region and product — check the label on what you actually buy.
Sod comes in different sizes
This is the detail that makes sod ordering go wrong. A "piece" of sod is not a standard quantity, and the same lawn can be 60 pieces or 7 depending on the supplier:
| Sold as | Area per piece | Pieces per 1,000 ft² | Pieces per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern slab (16 x 24 in) | 2.67 ft² | 375 | 168 |
| Northern roll (2 x 5 ft) | 10 ft² | 100 | 45 |
| Large roll (2 x 45 ft) | 90 ft² | 12 | 5 |
| Big roll (4 x 105 ft) | 420 ft² | 3 | 1 |
Pallets and how sod is actually delivered
Bulk sod arrives on pallets. A pallet typically covers 400-700 ft², with 450 ft² a common figure — but this genuinely varies by farm, so confirm before ordering. A full pallet weighs 2,000-3,000 lb, which is why sod is delivered rather than collected.
Two consequences worth planning around. First, you usually pay by the pallet or part-pallet, so a lawn needing 1.1 pallets costs nearly the same as one needing 2. Second, sod has a shelf life measured in hours, not days. It starts to heat and die on the pallet within 24 hours in warm weather. Order it to arrive on the day you will lay it, with the ground already prepared.
Waste allowance
Five per cent covers a simple rectangle. Go to 10% for a lawn with curved borders, and 15% if you are working around beds, trees and paths — every curve means cutting a piece and discarding the offcut.
Ground preparation is where the real work is. You want 4-6 inches of loose, graded topsoil, raked level and rolled lightly, sitting about one inch below any hard edges so the finished sod comes up flush with the path. Sod laid on unprepared or uneven ground will show every dip for years.
Common questions
How much sod do I need for 1,000 square feet?
In 10 ft² northern rolls, 100 rolls plus waste, so 105 at a 5% allowance. In 2.67 ft² southern slabs, 375 slabs plus waste. That is about 2.2 pallets either way.
How many square feet is a pallet of sod?
Typically 400-700 ft², with 450 ft² common. It varies by farm, so ask your supplier for their figure before you order.
How long does sod last on the pallet?
Under 24 hours in warm weather. It begins heating and dying almost immediately. Prepare the ground first and lay it the day it arrives.
Is sod or seed better?
Sod gives an instant lawn, works on slopes where seed washes away, and can be laid in most of the growing season. Seed costs roughly a tenth as much, offers far more variety choice, and produces a better-rooted lawn long term. The trade is money against time.