How Much Turf Do I Need for My Garden?
If you're standing in the garden with a tape measure in one hand and a rough sketch in the other, asking how much turf do I need, you're not alone. It is one of the first questions on any lawn job, and getting it right saves time, money and hassle. Order too little and the job stalls halfway through. Order too much and you are paying for rolls you may not use.
The good news is that working it out is straightforward once you break the space into manageable sections. Whether you're freshening up a tired lawn, finishing a new-build garden or sorting out a rental property between tenants, the aim is the same - measure properly, allow a bit extra, and get fresh turf delivered when you need it.
How much turf do I need? Start with the total area
Turf is normally ordered by square metre, so the main job is to calculate the total square metreage of the area you want to cover. If your garden is a simple rectangle or square, measure the length and the width in metres, then multiply them together.
For example, a lawn area that is 8 metres long and 5 metres wide needs 40 square metres of turf. That is the easy version. A lot of gardens across Newcastle, Northumberland, Durham and the wider North East are not perfectly neat shapes, so you may need to split the space into smaller sections first.
If the lawn is L-shaped, curved or broken up by paths, sheds, beds or patios, sketch it out and divide it into rectangles or squares. Measure each section separately, work out the area of each one, and then add them together. This gives you a much more reliable figure than trying to guess from the widest and longest points.
Measuring awkward garden shapes properly
Most turfing jobs are not on a perfect blank canvas. You might be working around raised beds, stepping stones, trees or a paved seating area. In those cases, accuracy matters.
For curved edges, the simplest method is to measure the longest and widest parts of the section and then slightly reduce the figure if the curve cuts off a noticeable amount of space. Another option is to divide the area into a few straight-sided sections and keep your sketch simple rather than trying to make it architect-perfect.
If you have circular features such as a tree surround or a round bed in the middle of the lawn, measure the feature and subtract that area from the total. The same applies to patios, greenhouses and any permanent hard landscaping that will not be turfed.
It is always better to spend an extra ten minutes measuring than to guess and come up short on delivery day. Turfing is much easier when all the material is on site and ready to lay in one go.
A quick example
Say your garden has two main lawn sections. One is 6m x 4m, which gives you 24 square metres. The second is 3m x 2m, which gives you 6 square metres. Together, that is 30 square metres.
If there is a small paved feature measuring 1m x 1m inside the larger section, subtract 1 square metre. That leaves you needing 29 square metres before allowing for cuts and waste.
Why you should always order a little extra
Once you've answered how much turf do I need on paper, the next step is allowing for the real world. Gardens are rarely perfectly straight, and turf has to be cut to fit edges, corners and awkward spaces. A small margin helps cover trimming, minor measuring errors and any pieces damaged during laying.
As a rule, adding around 5 to 10 per cent extra is sensible. If your garden is a straightforward rectangle, 5 per cent is often enough. If it has lots of curves, features or narrow sections, 10 per cent is safer.
For a 40 square metre lawn, 5 per cent extra means ordering 42 square metres. For 30 square metres in a more awkward garden, ordering 33 square metres can save a last-minute headache.
This is one of those jobs where being too exact can cost more than being slightly generous. A couple of extra rolls are far less frustrating than trying to match a second batch later.
Turf roll sizes and what that means for your order
People often ask for a number of rolls, but turf is best thought of in square metres first. Roll sizes can vary slightly depending on the supplier, how the turf is cut and how it is handled for delivery. That is why the total area matters more than trying to estimate by eye.
When you order by square metre, you know exactly what coverage you are paying for. The supplier can then translate that into the right number of rolls or pallets for the job. It also makes comparing quotes much clearer, especially if you're ordering topsoil or asking for a laying service at the same time.
Fresh-cut turf should be laid quickly, so having the right amount delivered on the right day is just as important as the measurement itself.
Don't forget the condition of the ground underneath
Working out how much turf you need is only half the story. If the ground is uneven, compacted or full of rubble, the finished lawn will never look as good as it should. Before ordering, check whether you also need topsoil to level the area and create a proper base.
A lot of patchy lawns are not caused by poor turf. They come from poor preparation. If your garden has dips, poor drainage or very shallow soil, the turf may root unevenly and struggle once the weather changes.
For many domestic jobs, adding quality screened topsoil and levelling the area properly makes a big difference. It gives the turf a better start, improves contact with the soil, and helps produce a flatter, smarter finish.
When exact measurements matter most
There are some jobs where you can get away with being approximate, and some where precision is worth the effort. New-build gardens, front lawns with clean borders, rental property upgrades and trade jobs with fixed schedules all benefit from accurate ordering.
If you are working to a deadline, arranging labour or trying to get a property ready for sale or let, delays are the last thing you need. Running short by even a few square metres can hold everything up. On larger jobs, that can affect other trades or planned handovers.
The same applies if access is tight. If the turf is being carried through a side gate, over a drive or into a back garden with limited space, you want the delivery and the quantity sorted properly from the start.
DIY or professional laying?
If you are laying the turf yourself, ordering a touch extra is usually wise because first-time cuts are not always neat. Most DIY customers do a solid job with good preparation, but edges and corners can produce more offcuts than expected.
If you are using a professional laying service, wastage is often lower because the fitting is quicker and more efficient. Even so, awkward shapes still need a margin. A good supplier will usually help sense-check your measurements before the order is confirmed.
That is especially useful if you're trying to price the whole job, including turf, topsoil and delivery, in one go.
Common mistakes when calculating turf
The biggest mistake is measuring the full garden rather than the actual lawn area. Patios, decking, sheds, flower beds and gravel strips all need to come off the total. The second is forgetting to allow for waste, especially on shaped gardens.
Another common issue is mixing units. Measure everything in metres, not a mix of feet and metres, otherwise your figures can quickly go wrong. Finally, some customers measure before the old lawn or weeds are cleared and miss changes to the final layout. If you are redesigning the space at the same time, calculate from the finished plan, not the current one.
Getting your order right the first time
The best approach is simple. Measure the lawn area carefully, break awkward spaces into sections, subtract anything that will not be turfed, and add a little extra for cuts and waste. If you are also improving the base, factor in topsoil before the turf arrives so the levels are correct.
For local customers, Brunswick Turf keeps things straightforward with fresh-cut turf, fast delivery and practical support for both DIY and trade jobs. That matters when you want the garden sorted without chasing multiple suppliers.
A good lawn job starts before the first roll is laid. If you take the time to measure properly, order the right amount and get the ground ready, the whole project runs smoother - and the finished lawn looks the part from day one.