Turf Calculator

Ordering the right amount of turf saves you from running short mid-project or paying for far more than you need. This calculator works out your lawn's area, adds a sensible wastage allowance, and tells you how many rolls to order along with an estimated cost.

How to use the turf calculator

Enter the length and width of your lawn in metres, add a wastage allowance for cutting and offcuts, and enter the coverage and price of the turf rolls you plan to buy. The calculator shows your total lawn area, the area including wastage, and how many rolls you need to order, along with an estimated total cost.

How the calculation works

The calculator multiplies your lawn's length and width to get the total area in square metres, then increases that figure by your chosen wastage percentage to account for cutting around edges, curves and obstacles. Dividing that area by your roll's coverage, and rounding up to the nearest whole roll, gives you the number of rolls to order, which is then multiplied by the price per roll for an estimated total cost.

Worked example

For a lawn measuring 8m by 5m, the area comes to 40m². Adding a 10% wastage allowance brings that up to 44m². If your turf rolls cover 2m² each at £6.50 a roll, you would need 22 rolls, since 44 ÷ 2 = 22 exactly, giving an estimated total cost of £143.00.

Measuring an irregular lawn

If your garden is not a simple rectangle, it often helps to split it into smaller rectangular or triangular sections, measure each one separately, and add the areas together before entering the total into this calculator. For triangular sections, the area is half the base multiplied by the height. Rounding up slightly for irregular shapes is generally safer than rounding down.

Common mistakes people make

A common mistake is ordering turf based on the exact lawn area without any wastage allowance, which often leaves you short once you start cutting around borders and features. Another mistake is not checking the actual coverage of the rolls from your specific supplier, since roll sizes vary and assuming a standard size when it differs can throw the whole calculation off. It also helps to order all your turf from one batch where possible, since colour and texture can vary slightly between deliveries.

Related calculators

If you are tackling other parts of a garden or renovation project, our concrete calculator can help with paths or patios, and our paint coverage calculator is useful for fences and sheds. For indoor projects, try our flooring calculator.