Artificial turf comes in rolls of a fixed width, usually 15 ft in the United States, sometimes 12 ft or 7.5 ft. Because you pay for the full width of every strip, how you lay it out matters: turning the strips the other way can save a lot of waste. This calculator compares both directions, keeps the one with less waste and adds seam tape, infill and the stone base.
The method
- Strips = width to cover ÷ roll width, rounded up
- Strip length = lawn length + trim allowance
- Turf to order = strips × roll width × strip length, computed in both directions; the smaller one wins
- Seam tape = (strips − 1) × strip length
- Infill = lawn area × infill rate
- Base = lawn area × base depth
Example
A 30 × 20 ft lawn with 15 ft rolls. Laying the strips along the 30 ft side takes two strips of 31 ft, or 930 sq ft. Turning them along the 20 ft side takes two strips of 21 ft: 630 sq ft, only 5% waste, with a single 20 ft seam. At 1.5 lb of infill per sq ft you need 900 lb of sand, and a 3 in base takes 5.6 cu yd of crushed stone. At $3 per sq ft, the turf costs $1,890.
Typical quantities
| Item | Common range |
|---|---|
| Infill (silica sand) | 1 to 2 lb per sq ft |
| Base (crushed stone or decomposed granite) | 3 to 4 in, compacted |
| Weed barrier | the full area |
| Nails or staples | every 6 in along seams and edges, 2 ft in the field |
Installation steps
- Remove the existing grass and 3 to 4 in of soil.
- Lay a weed barrier, then spread and compact the base, sloping it slightly for drainage.
- Roll out the turf with all the blades pointing the same way, so the seams disappear.
- Join strips with seam tape and adhesive, then trim the edges.
- Spread the infill with a drop spreader in several passes and brush it in against the grain.
Infill choices
Silica sand is the cheapest. Coated sand is gentler on pets and limits odors. Rubber infill, used on sports fields, is softer but gets hot in the sun. For dog areas, choose an antimicrobial infill and turf with a perforated backing for drainage.
Limits
Real yards are rarely perfect rectangles: for curved shapes, measure the smallest rectangle that encloses each area and expect more waste. Turf surfaces can get very hot in direct summer sun.