Measure Your Lawn
Measuring Your Lawn
With a tape measure, measure the various areas of your planned lawn. Include these measurements on a sketch of the areas, with the length, width, and any irregular features. Using the formulas illustrated here, determine the square footage of sod needed.
Mark any areas that require special attention, such as steep area (erosion control), high traffic areas and heavily shaded areas.
Once you have this information, contact Graff’s Turf and we will answer your questions and help you complete the sod order.
Use our Sod Area Calculator or see how to make various measurements yourself below.
Measuring square footage of regular areas:
To make the calculation simple, often this total can be reduced to a series of squares and rectangles. Using the following formula makes the task easy and gives you an accurate count of square feet needed:
1. Square or Rectangle
Formula: Area = L x W
Example: A= 90’ x 50’ = 4,500 sq. ft.
The illustration below reduces the areas to be sodded around the house (A, B, C) and the backyard (D) to rectangles.
Area A = 50' x 10' = 500 sq.ft;
Area B = 30' x 10' = 300 sq.ft;
Area C = 50' x 10' = 500 sq. ft;
Area D = 40' x 30' = 1,200 sq ft.
Sod Needed = A (500 sq. ft) + B (300 sq. ft) + C (500 sq. ft) + D (1,200 sq. ft.) = 2,500 sq. ft.
2. Ovals & Circles
Oval Formula:
Area = 0.8 L x W L= Length;
W = Width at midpoint Example: A= 0.8 x 60’ x 40’ = 1,920 square feet (within 5% accuracy)
Circle Formula: Area = piR 2 pi= 3.14; R= Radius
Example: A= 3.14 x 30’ x 30’ = 2,826 sq. ft.
Example: The half circle backyard has a radius of 30’.
A complete circle would be 3.14 x 30’ x 30’ = 2,826 sq ft. Half would be 1,413 sq ft.
Sod Needed = A+B+C = 1,300 sq.ft + D (1,413 sq. ft.) = 2,713 sq. ft.
3. Irregular Shapes
Formula: Measure the length of the longest axis across the area. Every 10 feet along the length, measure the width of the area at right angles to the length line. Total all widths and multiply by 10.
Example: A= (40’ + 30’ + 50’) x 10 = 1,200 sq. ft.
Sod Needed = A+B+C (1,300 sq. ft.) + D (1,200 sq ft) = 2,500 sq. ft.
4. Triangle
Formula: Area = 0.5 x B x H Example: A=0.5 x 90’ x 50’= 2,250 sq. ft.
Example: Area A = 0.5 x 25’ x 35’ = 437.5 sq. ft x 2 (triangles) =875 sq.ft. Yard area "D" is 60’ x 40’ = 2,400 sq. ft. Subtract the 2 triangles (875 sq. ft.). D=2,400 sq. ft. - 875 sq. ft = 1,525 sq. ft.
Sod Needed = A+B+C (1,300 sq. ft.) + D (1,525 sq. ft) = 2,825 sq. ft.
5. Trapezoid
Formula: Area = 0.5 x (A + B) x H Example:
Area = 0.5 x (40’ + 60’) x 30’ = 1,500 sq. ft.
Sod Needed = A + B + C (1,300 sq. ft) = D (1,500 sq. ft.) = 2,800 sq. ft.
6. Unusual Shapes
Formula: Divide area into sections of regular geometric shapes, calculate area of individual sections, then total.
Example: Triangle: 0.5 x 15’ x 30’ = 225 sq. ft.
Rectangle: 30’ x 45’ = 1,350 sq. ft.
Circle: 3.14 x 9 x 9 = 254 sq. ft./2 = 127 sq. ft.
Sod Needed = 225 sq. ft + 1,350 sq. ft + 127 sq. ft = 1,702 sq. ft.
