Both give you a lawn. The choice comes down to budget, patience and timing.
Seed
Cheaper by far, with a wide choice of grass types. The downsides are time and care: it takes weeks to establish, needs consistent watering, and is vulnerable to weather and birds early on. A new lawn is often seeded at about 5 pounds per 1000 square feet.
Sod
An instant lawn, laid as rolls or slabs of grown turf. It costs more and must be installed quickly once delivered, but it establishes fast and can be laid in more of the year. A pallet covers roughly 450 square feet.
Choosing
Seed for large areas and tight budgets, sod for speed, slopes prone to erosion, or when you need a usable lawn soon.
Estimate seed or sod. Grass Seed Calculator →
Common questions
Is seed or sod cheaper?
Seed is much cheaper per square foot, but takes longer and needs more care to establish.
How much seed for a new lawn?
About 5 pounds per 1000 square feet for a new lawn, roughly half that for overseeding.
More Calculators
Concrete New
Enter slab dimensions. Result rounds up with a 7 percent waste allowance.
Gravel New
Enter the area dimensions and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent waste allowance.
Mulch New
Enter the bed area and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent allowance.
Topsoil New
Enter the area and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent allowance.
Paint New
Enter total wall area and coats. Result rounds up to whole units.
Flooring New
Enter room area and the coverage printed on the box. 10 percent waste added.
Tile New
Enter the area and one tile size. 10 percent waste added.
Drywall New
Enter total area to cover. 10 percent waste added.
Paver New
Enter the patio size and one paver size. 5 percent waste added.
Sand New
Enter the area and depth. 5 percent allowance added.
Roofing New
Enter the roof surface area. 10 percent waste added. Three bundles per square.
Insulation New
Enter area to cover and the coverage printed on the package. 5 percent added.
Fence New
Enter total fence length and post spacing.
Sod New
Enter the area to cover. 5 percent allowance added.
Grass Seed New
Enter area and seeding rate. Default rates suit a new lawn.
Fertilizer New
Enter area, target nitrogen rate and the first number on the bag.
Cubic Yards New
Enter length, width and depth. No waste added.
Square Footage New
Enter length and width.
Board Foot New
Enter board dimensions and quantity.
Material Cost New
Enter quantity, unit price, tax and delivery. Figures are in your own currency.