Are you in search of an “instant” lawn/turf? Perhaps you wish to build a new lawn; in that case, you should consider sod pallets.
While utilizing sod is one thing, knowing the square feet of the pallet of sod you need to purchase to cover your lawn without stress is quite another. This is because different firms make different sizes of sod with varying moisture content, grass kind, and sod shape.
This article provides in-depth details to the question of “how many square feet is a pallet of sod?” as well as tips to guide you when purchasing one.
How Many Square Feet Is a Pallet of Sod? (Quick Answer)
In brief, here are the different square feet size options for the various pallets of sod options available based on shape:
- Slab: 399, 452, and 503 square feet.
- Mini Hand Roll: 400, 450, and 500 square feet.
- Large Roll: 500, 600, and 700 square feet.
We’ll go into more details on these sizes later; before then, we need to go over the basics to enable you to understand the different terminologies you’ll encounter in this article. This will also help you navigate the sod market more appropriately.
A General Overview of Sod Pallets and Terminologies You Need to Know
Here, we discuss what sod pallets are as well as other beneficial information that will enable you to understand their square feet measurements better.
What Are Sod Pallets?
Sod pallets, also known as turf grass, are commonly used to plant grass on a new lawn. Grasses are commonly planted using grass seed or grass plugs; however, sod can be put in to provide an “instant” even-lushed grass. They appear in various forms, which we’ll describe further in the following sections.
These various forms have a small quantity of earth beneath them that holds the grasses together and acts as a root system. They’re frequently cultivated on sod farms, where they’re collected and distributed to their ultimate and permanent location. If you’re new to the world of sod pallets, you may learn more about it here.
The Size of Sod Pallets
Sod pallets are manufactured in sizes ranging from 400 to 500 square feet. While some businesses produce as large as 700 square feet, the most frequent dimensions are 400, 450, and 500 square feet.
The Weight of Sod Pallets
The weight of sod pallets varies depending on the moisture level in most circumstances — when wet, the weight might rise by 50%. Sod pallets typically weigh between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds (lbs). This is critical to consider if you want to pick up your sod pallets with your vehicle rather than having them transported by your distributor.
Types of Sod Pallets
Buying a sod pallet might be intimidating, especially if you’re doing it for the first time.
You should start by considering the kind of grass most suited to your environment. Also, are you in the warm, transition, or cool season?
On the one hand, if you live in a warm climate, consider sod grass varieties such as Zoysia grass, St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, Centipede grass, and Bahia grass. On the other hand, Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue are your best bet if you live in a cool season zone.
The suitable grass kind also depends on whether your yard is in full sun or shade. Assuming it’s a shady region, Zoysia and St. Augustine are good choices for sod pallets. Overall, we recommend selecting a grass variety that’s permitted in your area. You should consider checking this resource for more information about grass types.
The Different Sod Shapes
Sods pallets come in different shapes, including the slab shape, mini hand rolls shape, and the large rolls shape. Let’s examine each one in more detail below.
1. Slab
Sod slabs are frequently utilized in the Southern parts of the United States. Depending on the manufacturer, sod slabs are rectangular or square in shape. These sod pallets are also available in a variety of square-foot sizes.
Slab sods come in 400 square feet, 450 square feet, and 500 square feet sizes, which are the most popular sizes of sod pallets. However, this sod shape still exists in irregular square feet. For example, the 399, 452, and 503 square feet sizes are still marketed at 400, 450, and 500 square feet, respectively.
A rectangular sod slab has dimensions of 24 inches long and 16 inches in width. As a result, sod slabs might cover a grass area measuring approximately 2.66 square feet. If you want a sod slab, you should consider quoting per square foot of sod, which means you must already know the whole area of your lawn (we’ll get back to this in a bit!).
2. Mini Hand Roll
Mini hand roll sod pallets, as the name suggests, are “hand-rolled” in shape. They’re available in various square foot sizes, including 400, 450, and 500 square feet.
They measure around 40 inches in length and 18 inches in width. This can cover approximately five square feet of lawn, slightly larger than the sod slabs. This means if you have a 500-square-foot lawn, you’ll only need 100 mini hand rolls. Quite interesting, isn’t it?
The mini-hand roll is most frequently used in the Northern region of the United States. Most mini hand rolls include cool-season grasses, including Bermuda grass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescue grass, which are simple to install on your lawn.
3. Large Roll
Large rolls, also referred to as big rolls, are installed by experts using a machine. They’re frequently utilized on larger lawns, such as those with a size of 500, 600, or 700 square feet.
Large rolls come in several sizes, but the most popular are 60 inches long by 24 inches wide and 80 inches long by 80 inches wide. A pallet may contain 50 to 70 rolls, and a single roll may cover an area of 10 square feet. One big roll could weigh as much as 3,000 pounds (lbs).
Moreover, this sod shape is abundant in Northern areas of the United States, where common grass types such as tall fescue grass and Kentucky bluegrass can be found.
Price of Sod Pallet
It’s crucial to understand the cost of sod pallets per square foot rather than per pallet. This is crucial since sod prices are quoted per pallet. If you don’t consider each pallet’s square feet, calculating its cost may prove difficult.
The cost of delivery, as well as the type of grass utilized, affect prices. Hence, discussing this with your vendor before placing your order is generally advised.
How Many Square Feet Is a Pallet of Sod? (Explained in Detail)
We’ve defined the various terms you need to understand when referring to sod. Without further ado, let’s address in detail how many square feet a pallet of sod has.
The number of square feet (sq ft) included in a pallet of sod is mostly determined by the shape of the pallets, which can be either a single slab sod, a single mini hand roll, or a single large roll.
A sod slab, small hand roll, and large roll have a square feet measurement of 2.66, 5, and 10, respectively, according to our previously established terminologies. Additionally, these shapes are available in conventional pallet sizes ranging from slab sod at 150, 170, and 180 slabs to mini hand roll at 80, 90, and 100 rolls and large roll at 50, 60, and 70 rolls.
The square footage per pallet is calculated by multiplying the square footage of a sod shape by the commonly available sizes. To learn more about this, check out this video.
The following table summarizes the square feet of a sod pallet based on the shapes and sizes sold:
| Sod Pallet Shape | Square Feet | Sizes Sold | Square Feet per Pallet |
| Single Slab Sod | 2.66 square feet (16 × 24 inches) | 150, 170, 180 slabs per a single pallet | 399, 452, 503 square feet |
| Single Mini Hand Roll | 5 square feet ( 40 × 18 inches) | 80, 90, 100 rolls per a single pallet | 400, 450, 500 square feet |
| Single Large Roll | 10 square feet (60 × 24 or 80 × 80 inches) | 50, 60, 70 rolls per pallet | 500, 600, 700 square feet |
Tips to Help You Select the Appropriate Pallet of Sod Square Feet Size
Knowing the square feet for each sod pallet will allow you to make an informed decision when ordering different types of sod and selecting the best sod for your yard.
Still, consider the following tips while making a purchase:
Tip #1: Research and select a grass kind.
As previously stated, the variety of grass you select is determined by the following:
- Your location (whether it’s in a warm or cool zone).
- The sort of lawn you have (whether it’s full sun or shady, damaged, or in good shape with no pests or fungi).
Tip #2: Measure your lawn to determine the size and shape of your sod pallet.
Once you’ve determined the type of grass, you’ll need to calculate/measure the size of your yard. You must first measure this to know how much sod is required to cover your lawn.
If you’re a novice, you can hire a professional to measure the area for you, or you can do it yourself by measuring the lawn’s length and width and multiplying it together. This gives you the total area of your lawn.
After determining the measurement, place an order for 10% more sod to accommodate measurement errors and wastage.
Tip #3: Determine the exact weight of the sod.
You must know the exact weight of the sod you intend to purchase. This will help you understand which shipping option to go for — whether to rent a truck or move it yourself.
Conclusion
Determining the square feet of a sod pallet is quite useful when replacing your lawn or ordering an instant turf for the first time. Knowing the dimensions of pallet sizes can help you make the proper purchase. However, before you submit your orders, ensure you’re familiar with the various terms discussed in this article.
If you have any further questions, please leave them in the comments section, and we’ll get back to you. And thank you for taking the time to read this!