The short version
One pallet of sod covers 450 square feet. Measure the lawn area you actually want grass on, subtract beds, driveways, and pools, divide by 450, and round up to the next whole pallet. We don’t break pallets for delivery.
The math
Sod arrives stacked on a wooden pallet, usually 165 to 180 pieces of 16 by 24 inch cut sod. Total coverage is 450 square feet, the standard for DFW sod yards.
Worked example. A 60 by 75 foot front and side yard is 4,500 square feet. Subtract a 20 by 60 driveway (1,200), a walkway (100), and front beds (200). That leaves 3,000 square feet to sod.
3,000 ÷ 450 = 6.67 pallets, so order 7 pallets.
Don’t try to stretch pallets. A pallet doesn’t get bigger when you cut it tighter; you end up with thin strips that die in week two. The 450 number assumes normal seams. Add 5% for trimming around curves and beds.
The shortcut
Hand-measuring a curved lawn is a hassle. Our satellite measuring tool pulls up your house on aerial imagery. Click the corners of the lawn, subtract the driveway and beds, and it returns square footage, pallets, and topsoil. Most homeowners land within 5% of a tape measurement in under two minutes.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the topsoil base. New sod laid on bare DFW clay struggles. Spread an inch or two of topsoil and rake smooth before the pallets arrive. Sod on prepped soil roots in 10 to 14 days; sod on clay can take a month.
- Ordering before you have a watering plan. New sod needs water every day for the first week. If the sprinklers aren’t ready, push the install date.
- Measuring the lot, not the lawn. Subtract every bed, walkway, AC pad, and pool deck. People over-order by 20% by forgetting the back bed.
- Pickup versus delivery. A wet pallet weighs 2,500 to 3,000 pounds. A half-ton truck handles one. Past two pallets, take delivery.
What to do next
Open the measuring tool, trace the lawn, and send us the number. Or read up on which grass your yard wants first.
Questions people ask
How many pallets is a typical DFW front yard?
Two to four. A 60 by 75 foot front and side yard, minus the driveway, walk, and beds, is about 3,000 square feet, which is seven pallets for the whole thing or three for the front alone.
What if I order too much sod?
A spare half pallet is cheap insurance against thin strips and bad cuts, but a whole extra pallet is wasted money. Add 5 percent, round up once, and stop.
How much does one pallet of sod weigh?
About 2,500 to 3,000 pounds when the sod is wet from the farm. A half-ton pickup carries one pallet safely. Past two pallets, take delivery.
This guide is part of The complete guide to sod in Dallas-Fort Worth.
