How Much Turf on a Pallet? The Answer Might Surprise You!

Your Whittier backyard’s looking pretty rough right now—those brown patches are probably driving you crazy. And you’re wondering: How much turf on a pallet can I actually order to fix this thing? Here’s the honest truth: most pallets cover somewhere between 400 and 500 square feet, but the real number changes depending on who you’re buying from, what grass type you pick, and how thick they cut it. I know that’s frustrating when you just want a straight answer. But here’s the good news—once you actually understand what’s going on, ordering sod is super simple. No confusing math, no surprises. Let’s walk through this together.

What Is a Turf Pallet?

A turf pallet is a wooden base stacked with rolls or slabs of sod (grass with soil attached). Farmers cut sod in standard pieces, then pile them onto pallets for easy delivery.

Why use pallets?

Easier to move and transport.
Keeps sod neat and safe.
Helps customers know how much area one pallet will cover.

Turf can come in:

Slabs – rectangular pieces.
Rolls – long strips, great for bigger lawns.

Popular grasses sold on pallets include Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, Fescue, and Kentucky Bluegrass.

Understanding Sod Pallet Coverage (Without the Corporate Jargon)

Let me break this down the way I’d explain it to a friend over coffee.

When sod arrives at your house, you’re getting grass that’s been grown for months. It comes with soil attached, roots and all. It’s basically instant lawn. Each piece measures about 16 inches by 24 inches—think of it like a small yoga mat made of grass. That one piece covers about 2.67 square feet.

Here’s what actually matters: A typical pallet of sod square feet usually lands somewhere around 450 square feet. But I’m saying “usually” because I’ve genuinely seen variation. One supplier we work with regularly gives us about 165 pieces per pallet. Another gives us 155. Same grass, different farms, different coverage.

The difference comes down to a few things. Some grass types are just naturally thinner. Bermuda grass, for instance, isn’t as dense as St. Augustine. So when they lay it on a pallet, you get more pieces but they’re lighter overall. St. Augustine is thicker and heavier, so fewer pieces but denser coverage. Both end up covering roughly the same area, just differently.

Then there’s thickness. Some suppliers grow their sod thicker for durability during transport. Others keep it thin to save money. The standard size of a piece of sod doesn’t change, but that thickness affects how many pieces fit on a pallet and how the grass performs after installation.

When we order for Robert Complete Care customers, we’ve learned to ask our suppliers exactly what we’re getting. Not just the price. Not just the coverage number they put in their brochure. We actually ask questions like: “How many pieces?” “How thick?” “Is that 450 square feet measured how?” This matters.

What Factors Affect Grass Cost in Whittier

Now let’s talk about the part that actually hits your wallet.

The pallet of sod cost in Whittier isn’t fixed. I wish it were. It’s influenced by things you’d expect and things you wouldn’t.

First, the grass itself. Not all sod is created equal. In Whittier, your main options are typically Bermuda, St. Augustine, or Zoysia. Bermuda is usually the most affordable—usually runs you around $150 to $250 per pallet depending on the supplier. St. Augustine is middle ground, hitting somewhere between $250 and $350. Zoysia? That’s the premium option. You’re looking at $300 to $400 per pallet, sometimes more if you want specialty varieties.

Why the price difference? It’s about growing time, durability, and performance in our Whittier climate. Cheaper grass isn’t necessarily bad. It just means different characteristics and different establishment speed. We recommend whatever matches your yard conditions and your water access honestly.

Timing matters way more than people think. Spring and summer? That’s peak season. Everyone wants their lawn installed May through September. Prices are higher because demand is crushing supply. Fall and winter, especially September through February? Prices drop. You’ll find better deals, though you’re installing into a slower-growth season. We’ve had customers save 20 to 30 percent ordering in fall versus spring.

Where you buy from changes the price. Some suppliers include delivery if you’re within a certain distance (like 10 miles). Others charge per mile after that. Some just give you one flat price and you figure it out. We always get the actual total cost to your property, not just the pallet price. There’s a massive difference.

And here’s something most people don’t think about: Quality affects pricing, and pricing affects outcome. We’ve seen homeowners buy the cheapest sod available, have it installed, and then watch it struggle in our heat. Then they’re calling us six months later asking why it’s not thriving. Turns out, that cheap sod either wasn’t grown properly or wasn’t handled right before delivery. Now they’re looking at sodding again.

Quality sod costs more upfront. But it roots faster, establishes better, and actually lasts. That’s a fact we’ve confirmed through years of installations.

Standard Turf Pallet Sizes

In the U.S., a pallet usually has 400–500 sq. ft. of sod.
In other countries (UK, Australia, UAE), pallets usually cover 35–50 sq. m.
Weight: 1 pallet can weigh 1,500–3,000 lbs (680–1,360 kg).

Turf Pallet Size Chart

Region	Coverage per Pallet	Rolls/Slabs	Weight
U.S.	400–500 sq. ft.	50–70 rolls	1,500–3,000 lbs
UK / Europe	40–50 sq. m	60–75 rolls	700–1,400 kg
Australia / UAE	35–45 sq. m	55–70 rolls	650–1,200 kg

Always check with your supplier, because sizes can be different.

How to Calculate How Much Turf You Need

Measure your lawn

Length × Width = Area.
Example: 40 ft × 20 ft = 800 sq. ft.
Add extra for waste
- Add 5–10% for cutting and trimming.
- 800 sq. ft. + 10% = 880 sq. ft.
Work out pallets needed
- One pallet = 450 sq. ft.
- 880 ÷ 450 = about 2 pallets.

Quick Formula:

Lawn size (sq. ft.)÷Coverage per pallet=Pallets needed\text{Lawn size (sq. ft.)} ÷ \text{Coverage per pallet} = \text{Pallets needed}Lawn size (sq. ft.)÷Coverage per pallet=Pallets needed

Things That Change How Much Turf Fits on a Pallet

Grass type – e.g., Bermuda is lighter, St. Augustine is heavier.
Sod thickness – thinner sod = more pieces per pallet.
Supplier differences – some farms sell 400 sq. ft. pallets, others 500.
Climate – hot regions may cut sod thinner to make it easier to install.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Sod

As a longtime professional in this field, I’ve seen a lot of people buy sod incorrectly. One of the worst things you can do is buy sod without calculating how much you will need. Before, I would suggest calculating how much square footage you will need, and then double check it before you order.

You would also like to avoid the common mistake of purchasing sod while not doing your due diligence on how to take care of it for the long haul. Make sure you purchase sod that is correct for your soil and weather.

Conclusion

It doesn’t have to be hard to buy sod. Once you know how much sod you’re buying, how much square footage is on each box, and how much it costs, the process is easy. There are different kinds of sod, like Zoysia, St. Augustine, and Bermuda. This guide should help you choose the right one for your lawn or yard. If you have any query related to Lawn care service in Whittier you can contact us.