Bermuda sod by the roll and pallet
The calculator starts with 2 × 5 ft rolls on 450 sq ft pallets. Many southern farms cut Bermuda as 16 × 24 inch slabs instead; switch the piece size to match your quote.
| Lawn area | With 5% extra | 2 × 5 ft rolls | 16 × 24 in slabs | Pallets of 450 sq ft | Pallets of 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 525 | 53 | 197 | 1.17 | 1.05 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,050 | 105 | 394 | 2.33 | 2.10 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,100 | 210 | 788 | 4.67 | 4.20 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 3,150 | 315 | 1,182 | 7.00 | 6.30 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 5,250 | 525 | 1,969 | 11.67 | 10.50 |
Worked example: a 50 × 40 ft backyard is 2,000 sq ft. With 5% extra: 2,100 sq ft. That’s 210 rolls, or 4.67 pallets of 450 sq ft: four full pallets plus 30 rolls, or five full pallets.
Common Bermuda vs hybrid Bermuda
| Common Bermuda | Hybrid Bermuda | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Coarser blades | Finer, denser turf |
| From seed | Yes | Generally no; sod or sprigs |
| Typical use | Home lawns, roadsides, large areas | Home lawns, sports fields, golf courses |
| Mowing | Often around 1–2 in | Often lower, sometimes with a reel mower |
| Sod price | Usually lower | Usually higher |
Ask the farm which type you’re getting. If you only need a lower-cost lawn and it’s the right season, common Bermuda from seed is an option; the grass seed calculator has Bermuda rates.
What drives Bermuda sod cost
- Type and variety. Hybrid and patented varieties cost more than common Bermuda.
- Piece and pallet size. Compare on price per square foot.
- Delivery and unloading. Often charged separately from the sod.
- Season. Bermuda is harvested while it’s green and growing; availability and pricing can change through the year.
- Order size. Full pallets cost less per square foot than single pieces.
We don’t list prices; see the sod cost calculator for how to compare quotes.
Laying Bermuda sod
- Full sun. Check that the area gets sun most of the day. Bermuda under trees will thin.
- Prepare the soil. Remove old grass and weeds, loosen and grade, and add starter fertilizer if your soil test or farm recommends it; see the fertilizer calculator.
- Lay the day it arrives. Stagger seams, butt edges tight, roll and water each section as you go.
- Water closely for two weeks. Hot weather dries new Bermuda quickly; see watering new sod.
- Mow once it roots, and keep mowing regularly. Bermuda grows fast in summer and looks best cut often.
Bermuda next to other warm-season sod
| Bermuda | Zoysia | St. Augustine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun to light shade | Full sun to partial shade |
| Growth | Fast, spreads aggressively | Slow, dense | Moderate, thick runners |
| Wear | Recovers quickly from wear | Tough once established | Moderate |
| From seed | Common types | Some varieties | Generally no |
See the zoysia sod calculator and the St. Augustine sod calculator for those grasses.
Piece sizes, pallet sizes and varieties differ by farm and region. Confirm them on your quote and adjust the calculator.
Questions people ask
- How much Bermuda sod do I need?
- Measure the lawn, add 5 to 10 percent for cutting, then divide by the piece size and pallet size. A 2,000 sq ft lawn with 5 percent extra is 2,100 sq ft: 210 rolls of 2 × 5 ft, or 4.67 pallets of 450 sq ft.
- How much does Bermuda sod cost?
- It depends on whether it's common Bermuda or a hybrid variety, the region, the season and delivery. Hybrids usually cost more. Get a local quote and enter it in the calculator to price your order.
- Is Bermuda sod or seed better?
- Common Bermuda can be grown from seed in warm weather and is the low-cost option. Most hybrid Bermudas, the fine-textured types used on many lawns and sports fields, don't produce viable seed and are planted as sod or sprigs.
- Does Bermuda sod grow in shade?
- Poorly. Bermuda needs full sun for most of the day and thins out under trees and on the shady side of buildings. For shaded parts of a warm-season lawn, zoysia or St. Augustine usually do better.
- When is the best time to lay Bermuda sod?
- Late spring through summer, while it's actively growing, so it roots quickly. Sod laid while Bermuda is dormant can still root but more slowly, and needs careful watering.