Enter the size of the area and the width of the turf roll. The calculator lays out the strips for you, then works out the turf to buy, the seams, the infill and the base material.
Extra for trimming and cost
Infill amounts depend on the turf product and pile height. Use the rate your turf maker recommends if it's different.
How artificial turf is sold
Turf comes on rolls of a fixed width, most often 15 feet, sometimes 12 feet, and it’s cut to whatever length you order. That means you pay for the full width of every strip, even where the area is narrower. So the amount you buy depends on how the strips are laid out, not just on the square footage.
The calculator checks both directions and picks the layout with the fewest seams, unless that would use more than 10 percent extra turf. The drawing shows the strips, the seams (dashed lines) and any offcut you’ll trim away.
Worked examples
A 30 ft × 20 ft yard with 15 ft wide turf: two strips, each 20 ft long, cover the 30 ft side exactly. That’s 40 ft of roll, or 42 ft with 5 percent for trimming: 630 square feet of turf and one seam.
A 30 ft × 14 ft yard: one 30 ft strip covers it with no seam, leaving a 1 ft offcut along one edge. Two 14 ft strips would save a little turf but add a seam, so the calculator chooses the single strip: 31.5 ft of roll, or 473 square feet.
Infill
Infill is sand or granules brushed down into the turf fibers. It weighs the turf down, holds the blades upright and protects the backing from the sun.
- Most landscape turf needs about 1 to 2 lb of infill per square foot. The calculator uses 1.5 lb.
- Some products, especially putting greens, need much more. Use the rate your turf maker gives.
- Use silica sand or coated sand made for turf, not ordinary play or masonry sand. For pet areas, many installers use zeolite infill to help control odors.
For the 30 × 20 ft example, 600 square feet at 1.5 lb is 900 lb of infill, or about 18 bags of 50 lb.
The base underneath
A firm, well-drained base is what keeps artificial grass flat for years.
- Dig out the grass and soil, usually 3 to 4 inches down.
- Spread 2 to 4 inches of Class II road base, crusher run or decomposed granite. The calculator uses 3 inches and adds 15 percent for compaction.
- Compact it with a plate compactor, with a slight slope so water drains away.
- Add a weed barrier if weeds are a problem in your area.
For the 30 × 20 ft example, a 3 inch base takes about 6.4 cubic yards, or roughly 9.9 tons of road base. The crushed stone calculator can work out other base depths and stone types.
Seams
Each seam is joined with seaming tape and turf adhesive along its full length, so you need one strip of tape as long as each seam. Lay every strip with the blades leaning the same way, or the seams will show.
Frequently asked questions
How much infill do I need per square foot?
Most landscape turf takes 1 to 2 lb per square foot. Check your product’s instructions, because pile height changes the amount.
How deep should the base be for artificial grass?
Around 2 to 4 inches of compacted road base or decomposed granite, with 3 inches a common choice for lawns.
How wide are artificial turf rolls?
Most are 15 feet wide, and some are 12 feet. They’re cut to the length you need.
How much turf do I need for 500 square feet?
At least 500 square feet plus a little for trimming, but the real figure depends on the shape. Enter the length and width so the calculator can lay out the strips.
Is artificial turf cheaper than sod?
Turf costs much more to install, but needs no watering or mowing. Sod is cheaper up front but needs ongoing care. The sod calculator works out the sod option.
Results are estimates for planning. Infill and base needs vary by product and site. See How We Calculate for the formulas and values we use.