Shattuck Turf Farms 515-331-4900
How Sod Is Measured
If you’re in the market for sod, the first thing you’ll need to know is exactly how much is needed for your project. Too little and you’ll have a dirt patch in the middle of your beautiful lawn. Too much and you’ll have extra with nowhere to put it. So, how do you get it right?
Calculate the amount of sod you need by measuring the length and width of the area to be covered. Perfect square or rectangular areas are the easiest to measure, but not the most common. See the instructions below on how to measure for triangular, circular, and irregular areas, too.
Use the following methods to figure out how many square feet the area is you want to sod. All of Shattuck Turf Farm’s sod is sold by the square foot (sq. ft.), so please measure in feet. When ordering you can give us the square footage or the number of "squares". Squares are the square footage divided by 100. For example, 6000 sq. ft./100 = 60 squares.
*Please note that we cannot take back sod once it has left our farms or been delivered at your house. It is a perishable product that needs installed immediately after delivery. Use this guide to help you measure accurately before placing an order. All you’ll need is measuring tape and a calculator. Here’s how to measure an area for sod square feet (sq. ft.) based on shape:
Square or Rectangle
To figure the area of a square or rectangle, measure the length & width then multiply those two numbers.
Length x Width = Area
12 x 24 = 288 sq. ft.
Right Triangle
A Right Triangle has one 90º corner. To figure the area of a right triangle, multiply the two sides that contact the right angle and divide by 2.
Length x Width / 2 = Area
12 x 24 = 288 ÷ 2 = 144 sq. ft.
Circle
To figure the area of a circle, take the radius times the radius, then multiply by 3.14. The radius is a straight line from the center of the circle to the outside of the circle.
(Radius x Radius) x 3.14 = Area
6 x 6 = 36 x 3.14 = 113 sq. ft.
Irregular Areas
For irregular areas, break them into multiple different shapes. Then, figure out each shape’s square footage. For example, you might be measuring one rectangle, one square, and two triangles. Add up all the areas for total sq. ft. In the example below, the circle is cut in half, therefore, the sq. ft. for the circle is divided in 2.
288 + 144 + 56.5 = 488.5 sq. ft.
Pro Tip: For sloped or bumpy lawns, purchase 5% extra sod to ensure you have enough to fully cover the area. Calculate that 5% by multiplying your total sq. ft. by 0.05, then add this number to the original square footage to get the new total square footage. You can also add 5% to your order if you’re not confident in how you measured the original square footage. It’s better to have a little more than not enough.
If you need help determining how much sod you need, give us a call at 515-331-4900. We’re a locally owned and operated farm and our sod experts will happily assist you!