Lawn Calculator
Estimate how much sod (or grass seed) you need for your lawn, with waste factor and cost breakdown.
How the Lawn Calculator Works
Both sod and seed start from the same number: total lawn area = length × width. From there, sod is priced by area unit ($0.30-$0.80 per square foot is typical), while seed is priced by weight with a recommended application rate of about 4 pounds per 1000 square feet (or 2 kg per 100 sqm).
Sod (rolls of mature grass) gives you an instant lawn — install it Friday, walk on it Monday. It costs 5-10x more than seed and you need to install it within hours of delivery, but it works on slopes (where seed washes away) and looks professional immediately. Use a 5% waste factor for cutting around edges and irregular shapes.
Seed is much cheaper and lets you choose a blend optimized for your climate and shade conditions. The trade-off is patience: 2-4 weeks to germinate, 6-12 weeks before you can mow normally, and you can't walk on it during establishment. Use a 10% waste factor to account for uneven distribution, birds eating seed, and a typical 80-85% germination rate.
Practical tip: many homeowners use a hybrid approach — sod in highly visible front yards and seed in back yards or large areas. Plant grass in early fall (cool-season grasses) or late spring (warm-season grasses) for best establishment. Need to grade the soil first? Our mulch calculator handles the topsoil math.