Lawn Seed Calculator: Pounds of Seed per Area
How much grass seed do I need? Enter your lawn area, pick new lawn or overseeding and a grass type, and get the seed in pounds and bags. The rates are typical values; always check your seed label. If you would rather lay turf, use the sod calculator instead.
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Formula
seed (lb) = lawn area / 1,000 x seeding rate (lb per 1,000 sq ft)
bags = seed / bag size, rounded up to a whole bag.
Rates (typical values, new lawn / overseeding, lb per 1,000 sq ft): Kentucky bluegrass 2 / 1, tall fescue 8 / 4, perennial ryegrass 7 / 4, fine fescue 4 / 2, hulled bermuda 2 / 1.
Worked example
5,000 sq ft of new tall fescue: 5,000 / 1,000 = 5, and 5 x 8 = 40 lb of seed. With 5 lb bags that is 40 / 5 = 8 bags. Overseeding the same lawn at 4 lb per 1,000 sq ft needs 20 lb, or 4 bags.
For 10,000 sq ft of new Kentucky bluegrass: 10 x 2 = 20 lb, which is 4 bags of 5 lb.
When to use it
Use it before starting a new lawn from scratch or thickening a thin one. Seed is cheaper than turf but takes weeks to establish and needs steady watering, so decide which you prefer before you order. Rates here are typical values for each grass; seed blends, seed size and germination differ, so follow the rate on your label if it disagrees.
Common mistakes
- Using the new lawn rate when overseeding, which wastes seed.
- Forgetting that grass species differ widely. A pound of Kentucky bluegrass covers about four times the area of a pound of tall fescue.
- Mixing up area units. This tool uses square feet; multiply square metres by 10.764.
- Ignoring bag size, then buying one bag too few.
How it differs from nearby calculators
The sod calculator sizes turf by area, rolls and pallets, so it suits an instant lawn. The lawn fertilizer calculator feeds the grass once it is growing, and the lawn watering calculator covers the sprinkler time that new seed needs.
Frequently asked questions
How much grass seed do I need per 1,000 square feet?
It depends on the grass. Typical rates for a new lawn are about 2 lb of Kentucky bluegrass, 4 lb of fine fescue, 7 lb of perennial ryegrass or 8 lb of tall fescue per 1,000 sq ft. Overseeding uses roughly half.
How much seed for 5,000 square feet of tall fescue?
At a typical 8 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn, 5,000 sq ft needs 8 x 5 = 40 lb, which is eight 5 lb bags. Overseeding at 4 lb per 1,000 sq ft needs 20 lb.
Why is the overseeding rate lower?
Existing grass already fills part of the ground, so you only need enough seed to thicken it. Typical overseeding rates are about half the new lawn rate.
Are these rates exact?
No. They are typical values. Seed mixes, seed size and germination differ, so follow the rate printed on your seed label if it differs.
How much grass seed to overseed 1,000 square feet of Kentucky bluegrass?
The typical overseeding rate is 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft, so you need 1 lb of seed. That fits in one 5 lb bag.
How many bags of seed for 10,000 square feet of Kentucky bluegrass?
A typical new lawn rate is 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft, so 10 x 2 = 20 lb. With 5 lb bags that is exactly 4 bags.
What is the difference between grass seed and sod?
Seed is sold by weight and sown at a rate such as 8 lb of tall fescue per 1,000 sq ft, while sod is sold by area in rolls. For 5,000 sq ft, tall fescue seed needs 40 lb, but sod with 5 percent waste is 5,250 sq ft, or 525 rolls of 10 sq ft.