About & methodology

Lawn Calculator is a free suite that estimates how much grass seed, fertilizer, and sod your lawn needs. No sign-up; the math runs in your browser.

How it works

• Grass seed = (area ÷ 1,000) × the seeding rate for your grass type (new lawns use about double the overseeding rate).
• Fertilizer = area ÷ the bag's coverage; or, for a target nitrogen rate, product lbs = (lbs of N needed) ÷ the bag's nitrogen %.
• Sod = area + 5% waste, converted to rolls (~9 sq ft each) and pallets (~450 sq ft).

Grass type matters

Seeding rates vary a lot by grass: tall fescue and ryegrass need ~8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn, while Kentucky bluegrass needs only ~2 and warm-season Bermuda about 1.5. Picking the right grass for your region (cool-season north, warm-season south) is the first step.

Important

These are planning estimates. Always follow the rate on your specific product label, and seed cool-season grasses in fall, warm-season in late spring.