The site work division of ICFHome.ca · Building since 1979 · Insured to $2,000,000 · 705-533-1633
Sod Calculator2026Tiny, Tay, Midland, Wasaga, Collingwood
Sod Calculator: Rolls, Pallets, Topsoil and Cost
A 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) lawn takes about 116 rolls of 10 sq ft sod, which is 3 pallets of 500 sq ft once you add 7% for cutting waste, and runs roughly $1,600-$3,200 laid in 2026. Add about $700-$1,300 if it needs 100 mm of new topsoil underneath. The calculator below does it for your lawn, with the math shown.
Updated October 2026 · Georgian Bay Siteworks, the site work division of ICFHome.ca
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
Work out your sod order
Sod calculator
Enter the lawn area. Sod is sold by the square foot in Ontario, so we show both.
Advanced: change our assumptions
Rough 2026 Ontario figures before HST. “Sod laid” means delivered, laid on a prepared grade and rolled. Topsoil is screened topsoil at $35-$60 per yard plus $12-$25 per yard to spread.
How we calculate
- Lawn area in square feet = square metres × 10.764.
- Sod to order = lawn area × (1 + waste %). Default waste is 7%.
- Rolls = sod to order ÷ roll size (10 sq ft by default), rounded up.
- Pallets = sod to order ÷ pallet size (500 sq ft by default), rounded up. Farms vary, so check the pallet size on your quote.
- Topsoil = area × depth × 1.15 for settling, shown in cubic metres and cubic yards (÷ 0.7646).
- Price laid = lawn area × $1.50-$3.00 per sq ft, which is the Ontario installed range HomeStars publishes. Installed rates are quoted on the lawn area with waste built in, so we price the net area.
- Topsoil price = cubic yards × $47-$85 per yard delivered and spread.
- Not included: stripping old lawn, removing stone and roots, irrigation, and HST.
Why we lay sod and not seed on sand
Most of Tiny and Wasaga Beach is sand. Grass seed on bare sand dries out in a day, blows around in a week, and washes into the low spot with the first good storm. You end up with a nice lawn in the ditch and bare sand by the house.
Sod arrives as a finished lawn with its own root mat. Laid on 100-150 mm of screened topsoil and watered properly, it knits into the soil in a few weeks and holds the grade from day one. On a new build lot it is also what lot grading inspectors look for: in Wasaga Beach, established sod is part of the sign-off.
We do not do hydroseeding. If you want a seeded lawn, we can leave the grade and topsoil ready for whoever you hire.
Builder truth: sod is a living thing and you are now its only water supply. We do not warranty sod, because whether it lives is up to the hose, not the shovel.
Rules of thumb for a lawn that takes
- Lay it the day it arrives. Sod on a pallet in July cooks from the middle out within a day or two.
- Grade first, sod second. Sod follows the ground under it. If the topsoil slopes toward the house, the new lawn will too.
- Water deep, every day, for the first two weeks. Lift a corner: the soil under it should be wet, not just the grass.
- Stay off it until it roots. Tug a corner after two to three weeks. If it does not lift, it has taken.
- Avoid the heat of midsummer if you can. Spring and late summer to early fall are kinder to new sod and to your water bill.
What moves the price
Prep
Sod on a ready grade is quick. Stripping an old lawn, picking stone and roots, or bringing in topsoil is where most of the cost lives.
Access
A pallet of sod is heavy. If the truck cannot get near the lawn, every roll gets carried, and that is labour.
Size
Small lawns cost more per square foot. Delivery and setup cost the same for 300 sq ft as for 3,000.
Shape
Curves, trees and garden beds mean more cutting, more waste and more time.
For a full breakdown of topsoil and sod pricing, see our sod and topsoil cost guide. Planning a septic bed under the lawn? Sod is the usual cover, but read landscaping over a septic bed before you add anything else.
Want the grade, topsoil and sod done in one go?
Send us the lawn size and a few photos. We will tell you what prep it needs and give you a written price.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rolls of sod do I need?
Take the lawn area in square feet, add 5-10% for cutting waste and divide by the roll size. With 10 sq ft rolls, a 1,076 sq ft lawn (100 square metres) needs about 116 rolls at 7% waste.
How many square feet are in a pallet of sod?
We use 500 sq ft as a default, but farms vary, so check the pallet size on your quote and change it in the Advanced section of the calculator.
How much does sod cost per square foot in Ontario?
As a rough 2026 range, sod delivered, laid and rolled on a prepared grade runs about 1.50-3.00 dollars per square foot. Prep, topsoil and access move the number most.
How much topsoil should go under sod?
100-150 mm of screened topsoil is the usual target. On straight sand, closer to 150 mm holds moisture better and helps the sod root.
Is sod covered by a warranty?
No. We do not warranty sod, because whether it survives depends on watering and weather after we leave. Damage from bad weather and natural disasters is not covered either.
Do you do hydroseeding?
No, we do not do hydroseeding. We lay sod, and we can leave the grade and topsoil ready if you want to seed it yourself.