SOD
How many square feet in a pallet of sod?
A pallet of sod typically covers 450 to 500 square feet. That is the range given by Mississippi State University Extension in its sod installation publication, which notes that pallet size varies. Individual growers state their own figure for their own product, and it can sit outside that range, so the number that matters is the one printed by the supplier you are buying from.
Two stated figures, from two different kinds of source
| Source | What it states |
|---|---|
| Mississippi State University Extension, Publication P2951, Sod Installation and Maintenance | A pallet "may range in size but typically contains 450 to 500 square feet" |
| Sims Sod Farm (Chattanooga area grower), published FAQ | A full pallet of Fescue or Bermuda covers 504 sq ft; a full pallet of Zoysia covers 450 sq ft; each piece is 16 in × 24 in, roughly 2.6 sq ft |
The two do not contradict each other — one gives a working range across the industry, the other gives the exact figures for two varieties from one farm. That is the pattern to expect: the extension service tells you what a pallet roughly is, the grower tells you what your pallet is.
Turning it into a pallet count
pallets = ceiling(order square feet ÷ square feet per pallet)
For a 1,000 sq ft lawn, before any waste allowance:
- At 504 sq ft per pallet: 1,000 ÷ 504 = 1.98, so 2 pallets
- At 500 sq ft per pallet: 1,000 ÷ 500 = 2.00, so 2 pallets
- At 450 sq ft per pallet: 1,000 ÷ 450 = 2.22, so 3 pallets
The same lawn is two pallets or three, decided entirely by which figure applies to the variety you are buying. That is a whole extra pallet, which is why it is worth asking rather than assuming 500.
Add the waste allowance before you divide
Mississippi State Extension advises buying approximately 5 percent more sod than you think you will need, because sod is cut and laid in pieces and edges must be trimmed. Apply it to the measured area first, then divide:
A 1,000 sq ft lawn with 5 percent added is 1,050 sq ft. At 450 sq ft per pallet that is 1,050 ÷ 450 = 2.33, so 3 pallets — the same answer as without the allowance in this case, because the rounding absorbs it. On a 900 sq ft lawn it does not: 900 ÷ 450 = 2 exactly, and 945 ÷ 450 = 2.1, which is still 3 pallets. Run both numbers rather than assuming the allowance is free.
Other numbers on the same pallet
Weight and footprint matter for delivery, and they are stated by the grower rather than by the extension service. One published example: a full pallet of sod weighs roughly 2,000 lb and occupies a pallet 4 ft by 4 ft (Sims Sod Farm FAQ). Two thousand pounds is the practical limit of what many half-ton pickups should carry, and a 4 ft by 4 ft footprint per pallet is what has to fit on your driveway and be reachable by the delivery truck.
Answers to the related questions
How many pieces of sod are on a pallet?
It depends on the piece size. At the 16 in × 24 in piece above, roughly 2.6 sq ft each, a 504 sq ft pallet is about 194 pieces and a 450 sq ft pallet about 173. If your supplier quotes pieces rather than square feet, get the piece size and multiply before comparing.
How many square yards is a pallet?
One square yard is 9 square feet, so 450 to 500 sq ft is 50 to 55.6 square yards. Sod is sometimes sold by the square yard, and that conversion is the one to make before comparing prices quoted in different units.
Is it cheaper to buy by the pallet?
Not something this page can answer — it depends on the grower, the variety and the delivery minimum. Convert both quotes to price per square foot and compare, and remember the delivery minimum: one grower's published terms include a three-pallet minimum for delivery, which can matter more than the unit price on a small lawn.
Related
Sod calculator for the area-and-waste arithmetic · How much grass seed do I need if you are sowing instead of laying turf · Topsoil calculator if you are top-dressing before laying.
Sources: Mississippi State University Extension Service, Publication 2951 Sod Installation and Maintenance (pallet range and the 5 percent allowance); Sims Sod Farm published FAQ, retrieved 2026-09-21 (504 sq ft Fescue/Bermuda, 450 sq ft Zoysia, 16 in × 24 in pieces, 2,000 lb pallet, 4 ft × 4 ft footprint, three-pallet delivery minimum). Both pages were opened and read directly.