Using a grass seed calculator helps you determine the right amount of seed based on your lawn's square footage and whether you're overseeding or starting fresh.
Overseeding your existing lawn needs two to five pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet, while seeding a brand-new lawn requires four to eight pounds.
Your lawn's shape affects how you measure it: rectangular lawns need simple length-times-width calculations, while irregular shapes require averaging multiple width measurements for accurate coverage.
Hiring a local lawn seeding professional provides reliable support with applying seed correctly and nurturing your lawn through the critical early growth period.
Wondering how much grass seed you need for your lawn? It all depends on the size of your yard and the current condition of your grass. Whether you’re overseeding your existing lawn or starting one from scratch, here’s how to calculate the right amount of grass seed for your needs.
The amount of grass seed you need depends on whether you’re seeding over an existing lawn (also known as overseeding) or seeding a new lawn. Overseeding requires two to five pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet of lawn, while new lawn seeding requires four to eight pounds per 1,000 square feet.
Here’s how much grass seed you’ll need based on the size and condition of your lawn:
| Lawn Size (in Square Feet) | Grass Seed Needed for Overseeding (in Pounds) | Grass Seed Needed for New Lawn Seeding (in Pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 2–5 | 4–8 |
| 2,500 | 5–13 | 10–20 |
| 5,000 | 10–25 | 20–40 |
| 7,500 | 15–38 | 30–60 |
| 10,000 | 20–50 | 40–80 |
| 15,000 | 30–76 | 60–120 |
| 20,000 | 40–100 | 80–160 |
| 30,000 | 60–152 | 120–240 |
| 40,000 | 80–200 | 160–320 |
| 50,000 | 100–250 | 200–400 |
| 75,000 | 150–375 | 300–600 |
To calculate how much grass seed you should buy, you’ll first need the square footage of your lawn.
You’ll also need to know how many pounds of seed are required to seed 1,000 square feet. That figure may be listed on the product packaging, but if it’s provided in a different format (say, pounds per 4,000 square feet), you can do some quick math to convert it to pounds per 1,000 square feet.
When you have those numbers, you can use the following formula to determine your grass seed needs:
Pounds of Grass Seed Needed = (Lawn Size in Square Feet / 1,000) x Pounds of Seed Required per 1,000 Square Feet
You’ll need to measure the square footage of your lawn to figure out how much grass seed to order. The process for doing this will depend on the layout of your yard.
Follow these steps to get the square footage of a square or rectangular lawn:
Measure the length.
Measure the width.
Multiply the numbers to get the square footage.
You can use this same process if there are recessed or protruding areas of your lawn. For example, if you have a rectangular shed in the middle of your yard, you can calculate its square footage and subtract that from the lawn’s overall square footage.
If your lawn includes curved edges, here’s how to get a rough idea of its area:
To estimate the length, measure the longest part of the lawn.
To estimate the width, measure the width in several different areas and come up with an average.
Multiply the length and width to get a ballpark idea of the square footage.
Calculating the right amount of grass seed is fairly simple, but the actual process of seeding your lawn is more challenging. To grow a healthy lawn, you don’t just need to know how much seed to use. You should also understand how and when to apply it and how to nurture your lawn until the new grass comes in. For the best results, consider hiring a local lawn seeding pro instead of tackling this job yourself.
Wonderful. I am going to have them remove and replace my driveway in the spring.
All Star Paving and SealingWe were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTileWe had a 20+ year old landscape lighting system that needed replacement. Midwest Lightscapes worked with us to design a much improved lighting system, lighting the exterior of the house and the back yard. Installation of the 45 light system took one and one-half days, and went very smoothly....
Midwest LightscapesDid an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLCWe hired Jim to replace our hardwood floors with new hardwood. He and his helper Jerry did a fantastic job. Their work ethic is impeccable!! We would highly recommend McColl Floors!
They show up and they did take us on as a client which seems to be a problem with other lawn care providers. We have multiple properties and this one was located close to downtown and no one really wants to mess with it.
The worker came out when he was supposed to come. He informed me he would honor the Angie's List deal, but would not do any more work for me since my son in law owns lawn care company as well, even though they do not do the same type of work. He said he did not feel comfortable giving me...
Bello Giardino LLCE & L Lawn Care was super. They were very responsive before and after service. They were efficient and were able to complete the job within 1 day. I have had concern about one section of sod - the owner was pro-active and did a visit to evaluate. I have no doubt they will stand behind...
E&L lawn careFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
The cost to reseed a lawn can vary depending on the size of your yard and the condition of the soil. We’ll help you figure out the true cost of reseeding or overseeding your lawn, along with whether or not you should hire a professional.
Get transparent power seeding cost info to learn what impacts pricing, how to save, and whether to DIY or hire a pro for your lawn’s best results.
Learn how much seed you need for a new lawn and how to calculate the right amount to ensure your grass has a healthy start.
Will grass seed germinate on top of soil? Yes, and it’s the ideal way to start a new lawn. Find out how (and why) to plant grass seeds on top of soil.
A lawn with dead patches may need to be refreshed with power seeding. Learn how to power seed a lawn for lush, green grass with this comprehensive guide.
Read tips on how to germinate your grass seed successfully, and learn how to tell if germination has happened or when you need to begin again.
