Free calculator
Grass seed calculator: how much seed per square foot or m², by grass type
A new lawn takes 1.5-7 lb of grass seed per 1,000 sq ft, or 0.02-0.11 oz per square foot, depending on the grass type: tall fescue 7 lb, Kentucky bluegrass 2.5 lb, bermudagrass 1.5 lb. Overseeding takes less for most types, roughly half. UK seed labels say 35-50 g per m². With the US starting values (1,000 sq ft of tall fescue (turf-type), new lawn at 7 lb per 1,000 sq ft, Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment, Table 1; 10 lb bags), you need 7 lb of seed, so 1 bag of 10 lb ($53.00 at $53.00 a bag).
The area is shared: change it here and the other two calculators and the Pro plan use the same lawn.
Result
- Lawn area
- 1,000 sq ft
- Seed rate
- 7 lb per 1,000 sq ft
- Seed to buy
- 7 lb
- Bags of 10 lb
- 0.7 (buy 1 bag)
- Cost of the bags
- $53.00
Seed = area × rate; bags = seed ÷ bag weight, rounded up; cost = bags × the price you typed. Starting rate for tall fescue (turf-type), new lawn: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment, Table 1, read 2026-09-20. Rates from university extension guides and product labels, each with its source and date: the label on the bag wins.
Pro puts the three results on one printable plan with a 12-month calendar.
Sod, seed and fertilizer as a shopping list with the cost, plus mowing, feeding, overseeding and aeration month by month for your climate. Printed or exported to Excel.
How much grass seed per square foot and per m², by grass type
US extension guides write the rate per 1,000 sq ft and UK seed labels per m², because a square foot takes so little seed. Per square foot it is the rate ÷ 1,000: 7 lb per 1,000 sq ft of tall fescue is 0.112 oz per square foot. These are the calculator’s starting rates; the label on your bag wins.
| Grass type | New lawn, lb/1,000 sq ft | New lawn, oz/sq ft | Overseeding, lb/1,000 sq ft | Overseeding, oz/sq ft | New / overseeding, g/m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2.5 | 0.04 | 1.25 | 0.02 | 12.2 / 6.1 |
| Tall fescue (turf-type) | 7 | 0.112 | 4 | 0.064 | 34.2 / 19.5 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 4.5 | 0.072 | 5 | 0.08 | 22 / 24.4 |
| Fine fescue | 4.5 | 0.072 | 2.75 | 0.044 | 22 / 13.4 |
| Bermudagrass | 1.5 | 0.024 | 0.75 | 0.012 | 7.3 / 3.7 |
| Zoysiagrass | 1.5 | 0.024 | 0.75 | 0.012 | 7.3 / 3.7 |
| Sun and shade mix (bluegrass, fine fescue, ryegrass) | 3.5 | 0.056 | 1.75 | 0.028 | 17.1 / 8.5 |
New lawn: Penn State Extension (Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, sun and shade mix); NC State Extension Gardener Handbook (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass). Overseeding: University of Maryland Extension (Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue); Penn State Extension (perennial ryegrass); half the new-lawn rate, the Ohio State University Extension rule of thumb (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, sun and shade mix). Where a guide gives a range, the calculator uses its midpoint; each quote, link and date is in the sources list under How it works.
| Lawn seed | New lawn, g/m² | Overseeding, g/m² | 1 kg covers (new lawn) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General-purpose lawn (ryegrass and fescue) | 35 | 23 | 28.6 m² | Rolawn, Overseeding a Lawn |
| Shade lawn | 35 | 25 | 28.6 m² | Johnsons Shady Lawn Seed label |
| Hard-wearing lawn (ryegrass) | 50 | 50 | 20 m² | Boston Seeds Quality Hard Wearing Lawn Seed, Landscape Centre listing |
Seed to buy for 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 sq ft of every grass type is in how much grass seed per square foot; for big lots, how much grass seed per acre; bermudagrass in ounces per 100 sq ft in how much bermuda grass seed per square foot.
How much does a bag of grass seed cover?
Coverage = bag weight ÷ the rate; the calculator does it the other way round (seed ÷ bag = bags, rounded up). The figures are square feet of new lawn at the starting rates above. Overseeding covers more for most types, because the rate is lower (Ohio State Extension: about half the new-lawn rate); perennial ryegrass is the exception, as Penn State’s renovation rate is not below its new-lawn rate.
| Grass type | 3 lb bag | 10 lb bag | 25 lb bag | 50 lb bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | 1,200 | 4,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 |
| Tall fescue (turf-type) | 428.6 | 1,428.6 | 3,571.4 | 7,142.9 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 666.7 | 2,222.2 | 5,555.6 | 11,111.1 |
| Fine fescue | 666.7 | 2,222.2 | 5,555.6 | 11,111.1 |
| Bermudagrass | 2,000 | 6,666.7 | 16,666.7 | 33,333.3 |
| Zoysiagrass | 2,000 | 6,666.7 | 16,666.7 | 33,333.3 |
| Sun and shade mix (bluegrass, fine fescue, ryegrass) | 857.1 | 2,857.1 | 7,142.9 | 14,285.7 |
How it works
Seed = lawn area × the seed rate for the grass type and the purpose. Bags = seed ÷ the bag weight, rounded up to what you buy. Cost = bags × the price you typed. The rate is the starting value the extension guide or the seed label gives for that grass and purpose; overseeding an existing lawn takes about half the new-lawn rate, and where a guide gives no overseeding figure the calculator says so in the source line and uses that rule of thumb.
With the US starting values, 1,000 sq ft of tall fescue (turf-type) takes 7 lb as a new lawn and 4 lb for overseeding (University of Maryland Extension, Maintaining an Established Lawn, overseeding rate). In the UK a general-purpose lawn (ryegrass and fescue) mix sown at 35 g per m² (Rolawn, Overseeding a Lawn) takes 3.5 kg for 100 m²: 3.5 (buy 4 boxes) of 1 kg.
US new-lawn rates by type: Kentucky bluegrass 2.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment, Table 1 seeding rates); tall fescue (turf-type) 7 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment, Table 1); perennial ryegrass 4.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment, Table 1); fine fescue 4.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment, Table 1); bermudagrass 1.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft (NC State Extension Gardener Handbook, chapter 9 Lawns, seeding rate); zoysiagrass 1.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft (NC State Extension Gardener Handbook, chapter 9 Lawns, seeding rate); sun and shade mix (bluegrass, fine fescue, ryegrass) 3.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment, Table 1 mixtures). UK rates: general-purpose lawn (ryegrass and fescue) 35 g per m² (Rolawn, Overseeding a Lawn); shade lawn 35 g per m² (Johnsons Shady Lawn Seed label); hard-wearing lawn (ryegrass) 50 g per m² (Boston Seeds Quality Hard Wearing Lawn Seed, Landscape Centre listing). The calculator starts from the published figure; change it to the rate on your own bag.
Overseeding 10,000 sq ft of tall fescue (turf-type) takes 40 lb; a new lawn that size 70 lb. Every grass type for 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 sq ft, new lawn and overseeding, is in how much grass seed per square foot, or start this calculator on overseeding.
Sources of the US starting values
- Kentucky bluegrass, new lawn: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (updated 2025-09-19), Table 1 seeding rates (lb/1,000 sq ft): "Kentucky bluegrass: 2-3"; midpoint 2.5 used — https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-establishment, read on 2026-09-20
- Tall fescue (turf-type), new lawn: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (updated 2025-09-19), Table 1: "Turf-type tall fescue: 6-8" lb/1,000 sq ft; midpoint 7 used — https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-establishment, read on 2026-09-20
- Perennial ryegrass, new lawn: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (updated 2025-09-19), Table 1: "Perennial ryegrass: 4-5" lb/1,000 sq ft; midpoint 4.5 used — https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-establishment, read on 2026-09-20
- Fine fescue, new lawn: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (updated 2025-09-19), Table 1: "Fine fescues: 4-5" lb/1,000 sq ft; midpoint 4.5 used — https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-establishment, read on 2026-09-20
- Bermudagrass, new lawn: NC State Extension Gardener Handbook, chapter 9 Lawns, seeding rate: bermudagrass "1–2 pounds per 1,000 sq ft"; midpoint 1.5 used — https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/9-lawns, read on 2026-09-20
- Zoysiagrass, new lawn: NC State Extension Gardener Handbook, chapter 9 Lawns, seeding rate: zoysiagrass "1–2 pounds per 1,000 sq ft"; midpoint 1.5 used — https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/9-lawns, read on 2026-09-20
- Sun and shade mix (bluegrass, fine fescue, ryegrass), new lawn: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (updated 2025-09-19), Table 1 mixtures: "Kentucky bluegrass + fine fescues + perennial ryegrass: 3-4" lb/1,000 sq ft; midpoint 3.5 used — https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-establishment, read on 2026-09-20
- Kentucky bluegrass, overseeding: University of Maryland Extension, Maintaining an Established Lawn (updated 2026-09-14), overseeding rate: Kentucky bluegrass "1 to 1½ pounds" per 1,000 sq ft; midpoint 1.25 used — https://extension.umd.edu/resource/maintaining-established-lawn, read on 2026-09-20
- Tall fescue (turf-type), overseeding: University of Maryland Extension, Maintaining an Established Lawn (updated 2026-09-14), overseeding rate: tall fescue "4 pounds" per 1,000 sq ft — https://extension.umd.edu/resource/maintaining-established-lawn, read on 2026-09-20
- Perennial ryegrass, overseeding: Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (updated 2025-09-19), overseeding/renovation: "Perennial ryegrass: 4-6" lb/1,000 sq ft (a renovation seeds into competition, so the rate is not below the new-lawn rate); midpoint 5 used — https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-establishment, read on 2026-09-20
- Fine fescue, overseeding: University of Maryland Extension, Maintaining an Established Lawn (updated 2026-09-14), overseeding rate: fine fescue "2½ to 3 pounds" per 1,000 sq ft; midpoint 2.75 used — https://extension.umd.edu/resource/maintaining-established-lawn, read on 2026-09-20
- Bermudagrass, overseeding: Rule of thumb: half of the NC State new-lawn rate for bermudagrass (1-2 lb/1,000 sq ft, midpoint 1.5 → 0.75); Ohio State University Extension (Ask Extension, 2023-04-13): overseeding rates are "approximately half those used for new plantings" — https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=824923, read on 2026-09-20
- Zoysiagrass, overseeding: Rule of thumb: half of the NC State new-lawn rate for zoysiagrass (1-2 lb/1,000 sq ft, midpoint 1.5 → 0.75); Ohio State University Extension (Ask Extension, 2023-04-13): overseeding rates are "approximately half those used for new plantings" — https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=824923, read on 2026-09-20
- Sun and shade mix (bluegrass, fine fescue, ryegrass), overseeding: Rule of thumb: half of the Penn State new-lawn rate for the bluegrass, fine fescue and ryegrass mixture (3-4 lb/1,000 sq ft, midpoint 3.5 → 1.75); Ohio State University Extension (Ask Extension, 2023-04-13): overseeding rates are "approximately half those used for new plantings" — https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=824923, read on 2026-09-20
- Bag size: Twin City Seed Company, Blue Resilience tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass mixture: "10 lb Bag" — https://twincityseed.com/product/blue-resilience-tall-fescue-kentucky-bluegrass-mixture/, read on 2026-09-20
- Price per bag: Twin City Seed Company, Blue Resilience tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass mixture: 10 lb bag $53.00 — https://twincityseed.com/product/blue-resilience-tall-fescue-kentucky-bluegrass-mixture/, read on 2026-09-20
- Starting area: Convention: 1,000 sq ft, the area US extension seed and fertilizer rates are written per (Purdue Turf, Calculating the pounds of fertilizer to apply, 2009) — https://turf.purdue.edu/calculating-the-pounds-of-fertilizer-to-apply-3/, read on 2026-09-20
UK starting values (Rolawn, Johnsons and Boston Seeds labels) show their sources under each field when you switch region.
Rates from university extension guides and product labels, each with its source and date: the label on the bag wins. Planning quantities, not agronomic advice.
Frequently asked questions
- How much grass seed per square foot?
- For a new lawn, 1.5-7 lb per 1,000 sq ft, which is 0.02-0.11 oz per square foot: Kentucky bluegrass 2.5 lb (0.04 oz per sq ft), tall fescue 7 lb (0.112 oz per sq ft), perennial ryegrass 4.5 lb (0.072 oz per sq ft), fine fescue 4.5 lb (0.072 oz per sq ft), bermudagrass 1.5 lb (0.024 oz per sq ft), zoysiagrass 1.5 lb (0.024 oz per sq ft), sun and shade mix 3.5 lb (0.056 oz per sq ft). Extension guides write rates per 1,000 sq ft because a square foot takes so little seed; per square foot it is the figure ÷ 1,000, and the calculator does it for your area and grass type. Each rate's source is under the table above.
- How much grass seed per square foot for overseeding?
- About half the new-lawn rate for most types. Per square foot: Kentucky bluegrass 0.02 oz, tall fescue 0.064 oz, perennial ryegrass 0.08 oz, fine fescue 0.044 oz, bermudagrass 0.012 oz, zoysiagrass 0.012 oz, sun and shade mix 0.028 oz. Per 1,000 sq ft: Kentucky bluegrass 1.25 lb, tall fescue 4 lb, fine fescue 2.75 lb (University of Maryland Extension); perennial ryegrass 5 lb (Penn State Extension); bermudagrass 0.75 lb, zoysiagrass 0.75 lb, sun and shade mix 1.75 lb (half the new-lawn rate, the Ohio State University Extension rule of thumb). Perennial ryegrass is the exception: 5 lb for overseeding against 4.5 lb for a new lawn. Pick "Overseeding" in the calculator and the rate follows.
- How many bags of seed do I need?
- Seed ÷ bag weight, rounded up. With the US starting values, 1,000 sq ft of tall fescue (turf-type) is 0.7 (buy 1 bag) of 10 lb; a 5,000 sq ft lawn is 3.5 (buy 4 bags). Type the bag you actually buy; sizes differ by brand and the starting bag is only one supplier's.
- How much grass seed do I need for 5,000 square feet?
- Tall fescue 35 lb new or 20 lb overseeding, Kentucky bluegrass 12.5 lb new or 6.25 lb overseeding, bermudagrass 7.5 lb new or 3.75 lb overseeding. With the starting tall fescue (turf-type) and 10 lb bags that is 3.5 (buy 4 bags), $212.00. Type your own area and bag for your figure.
- Why do the rates differ between guides?
- Seed size and climate. Kentucky bluegrass has small seed (2.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn), tall fescue large seed (7 lb per 1,000 sq ft), and guides written for other climates use other ranges. The calculator quotes one guide per figure with its date; if your bag says otherwise, type the bag's rate: the label wins.
- How much grass seed per m² (UK)?
- For a new lawn, 35-50 g per m² on the UK labels: general-purpose lawn (ryegrass and fescue) 35 g per m² (Rolawn, Overseeding a Lawn); shade lawn 35 g per m² (Johnsons Shady Lawn Seed label); hard-wearing lawn (ryegrass) 50 g per m² (Boston Seeds Quality Hard Wearing Lawn Seed, Landscape Centre listing); overseeding 23 g per m² to 25 g per m² on the Rolawn and Johnsons labels. At 35 g per m² a 1 kg box covers about 28.6 m² of new lawn. Switch the region to UK / metric and the calculator works in m², kg and £; the 1 kg box and its price are the starting bag.
- How much grass seed per square yard?
- Nine times the rate per square foot. For a new lawn: tall fescue 1.01 oz, Kentucky bluegrass 0.36 oz, bermudagrass 0.22 oz per square yard. At the UK label rate of 35 g per m², 29 g per square yard.
- How much does a 50 lb bag of grass seed cover?
- 7,142.9 sq ft of tall fescue, 20,000 sq ft of Kentucky bluegrass, 33,333.3 sq ft of bermudagrass as a new lawn, at the starting rates (bag ÷ rate). A 10 lb bag, the calculator's starting bag, covers 1,428.6 sq ft of tall fescue. Overseeding covers about twice as much.
- How much grass seed per acre?
- For a new lawn: tall fescue 305 lb, Kentucky bluegrass 109 lb, bermudagrass 65.3 lb (the rate per 1,000 sq ft × 43.56). The acre guide has every grass type for larger plots, new lawn and overseeding.
- When should I sow?
- Cool-season lawns in the US: the Purdue calendar puts reseeding from mid-August to mid-September. Warm-season lawns: bermudagrass and zoysia are planted in late spring once the soil is warm. UK: spring or autumn (Rolawn, RHS). The Pro plan shows the window on a 12-month calendar for your climate.
Guides
- How much grass seed per square foot? (by grass type, new lawn and overseeding, cost per sq ft, 1,000 to 10,000 sq ft)
Grass seed per square foot: 0.02-0.11 oz (1.5-7 lb per 1,000 sq ft) by type, new lawn and overseeding; cost per square foot; 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 sq ft.
- How much grass seed per acre? (pounds by grass type, new lawn and overseeding, ¼ to 5 acres)
Grass seed per acre from the extension rates: tall fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass, fine fescue, bermuda, zoysia; new lawn and overseeding; ¼ to 5 acres.
- How much bermuda grass seed per square foot? (per 1,000 sq ft, new lawn and overseeding, zoysia too)
Bermudagrass seed at the NC State rate of 1-2 lb per 1,000 sq ft: ounces per 100 sq ft, pounds for 1,000 to 10,000 sq ft, new lawn and overseeding.