Grass Seed and Sod Calculator
Example: Lawn area: 5000 sq ft · Seeding rate per 1,000 sq ft: 5 lb · Seed price per pound: 6 $ · Sod price per sq ft: 0.6 $
| Grass seed needed | 25 |
| Seed option cost | $150 |
| Sod option cost | $3,000 |
Worked example
For a 5,000 square foot lawn seeded at 5 pounds per thousand square feet, you need 5 x 5 = 25 pounds of seed. At $6 a pound that is $150. Sodding the same area at $0.60 per square foot costs 5,000 x 0.60 = $3,000. Seed is a fraction of the cost but takes weeks to establish, while sod is a lawn the day it is laid, which is the trade-off the two numbers make plain.
Frequently asked questions
What seeding rate should I use?
Rates depend on the grass type and whether you are seeding new ground or overseeding. New lawns commonly use roughly 4 to 8 pounds per thousand square feet for cool-season blends and less for some warm-season grasses. Follow the rate on your seed bag, since over-seeding wastes money and crowds seedlings.
Is seed or sod the better choice?
Seed is far cheaper and offers more grass-type choices but needs weeks of careful watering to establish and is vulnerable to weather and washout. Sod gives an instant, erosion-ready lawn at several times the cost. Slopes, timing, and budget usually decide it; this tool shows the price gap.
Do I need extra seed for overseeding?
Overseeding an existing thin lawn uses roughly half the new-lawn rate, since you are filling in rather than starting bare. Enter the lower rate for overseeding. For bare, prepared soil, use the full new-lawn rate to get dense coverage and crowd out weeds.
When is the best time to seed?
Cool-season grasses establish best in early fall, with spring as a second choice, while warm-season grasses prefer late spring into early summer. Seeding in the right window dramatically improves germination, so timing matters as much as the quantity this calculator gives you.