Sod is pre-grown turfgrass, cultivated on a farm with a dense layer of soil and roots, and harvested for immediate installation. This process allows for the rapid establishment of a mature lawn without the long waiting period required for seeding. Sod is consistently cut into standardized dimensions by specialized harvesting equipment. These uniform sizes ensure efficiency in handling, transportation, and precise fitting during installation.
The Standard Dimensions of a Sod Piece
The most frequently encountered size for residential projects is the small roll, often referred to as a slab. A typical piece of sod measures 18 inches wide. This width is optimized for manual handling and for fitting efficiently onto standard pallets during transport without excessive overhang.
The length of these pieces is typically between 4 and 5 feet, allowing the sod to be tightly rolled into a manageable cylinder. When unrolled, these dimensions result in a coverage area of approximately 6 to 7.5 square feet per single piece. This consistent square footage makes it simple for homeowners to estimate and cover smaller, irregularly shaped areas.
The thickness of the sod piece is also standardized, typically ranging from 0.5 to 1 inch. This measurement ensures the sod mat is robust enough to stay intact when cut and rolled, offering sufficient root mass for quick establishment after planting. Maintaining this specific thickness minimizes the amount of heavy soil transported while preventing the root system from being compromised during harvesting.
Understanding Commercial Sod Variations
While the small, hand-sized pieces are standard for home use, the commercial sod industry utilizes different formats based on the scale of the project. These small sections are ideal for patching existing lawns or covering areas with complex curves and obstacles. They offer flexibility in installation where heavy equipment cannot easily maneuver.
For large-scale landscaping or athletic fields, sod is frequently harvested in “Big Rolls” or “Maxi Rolls.” These rolls are significantly larger, often measuring 2 to 4 feet wide and extending 50 to 100 feet in length. Specialized machinery is required to unroll and place this sod, which drastically reduces the time and labor needed to cover large, open tracts of land.
Residential sod is most often delivered to the consumer on standardized pallets for logistical efficiency. A standard pallet of sod typically covers between 400 and 500 square feet of area. The exact number of individual sod pieces on a pallet depends on the specific square footage of each piece, but a 450-square-foot pallet would contain around 60 to 75 standard rolls.
Calculating Area and Ordering the Right Amount
The first step in ordering sod is to accurately determine the total area that needs to be covered. This involves measuring the length and width of the space and multiplying those two figures together to calculate the total square footage. For irregularly shaped areas, break the space down into smaller squares or rectangles and then sum the individual square footage totals for a precise area measurement.
Once the total square footage is known, determine the quantity needed. If purchasing individual rolls, divide the total area by the 6 to 7.5 square feet covered by one standard piece. For pallet orders, divide the total area by the 400 to 500 square feet covered by a single pallet, which is the more economical purchasing unit for larger residential projects.
Include a buffer in the final order to account for waste from trimming and making cuts around obstacles, such as garden beds or sidewalks. Professionals advise ordering an additional 5 to 10 percent above the calculated square footage. This small overage ensures the project can be completed in one continuous session and maintains seamless transitions between pieces.