Grass Seed Calculator

(sq ft ÷ 1,000) × bag rate — not a landscaper bid. Click any i for detail.

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Lawn

Area (sq ft)
i
Area

Lawn you will seed. Length × width, minus beds.

Rate (lb / 1,000 sq ft)
i
Rate

Copy the bag. Overseed is often ~2–4 lb; new lawns are often higher.

Bag size (lb)
i
Bag

Weight of the bag you will buy.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter lawn square footage.
  2. Copy lb per 1,000 sq ft from the seed you chose.
  3. Enter bag weight.
  4. Ceil bags at the register.

Results explained

Pounds = (area ÷ 1,000) × rate. Bags = pounds ÷ bag size. Fertilizer nitrogen is a different page.

Quick reference: grass seed

The bag chart wins over a generic rate.

ItemDetail
Overseed sketchOften ~3 lb / 1,000
New lawnOften higher — read the bag
5,000 sq ft @ 3 lb15 lb
Sod instead?Sod installation cost

Bare soil vs overseed changes the rate, not the formula.

How the estimate is built

lb = (sq ft / 1000) × rate. bags = lb / bag_size.

Example scenario

5,000 sq ft at 3 lb/1,000 → 15 lb → 0.3 of a 50 lb bag (buy 1).

FAQ

Hydroseed?

Still pounds of seed; slurry is extra.

Shade mix vs sun?

Change the rate to that bag.

Fertilizer with seed?

Use the fertilizer calculator for N.