How much turf do I need?
The short answer: measure each section of lawn in metres, multiply length by width for the square metres, add every section together, then order 5–10% extra for wastage.
It sounds simple, and for a neat rectangular backyard it is. Where people come unstuck is with the real shape of most Australian yards — an L around the house, a curved border along a garden bed, a triangular corner by the clothesline. This guide walks through each situation so you order the right amount the first time. If you'd rather skip the maths, the turf calculator does all of this automatically.
The basic formula
Turf is sold by the square metre (m²), so everything comes back to area. For a rectangle or square:
A backyard that measures 6 metres long and 4 metres wide is 6 × 4 = 24 m². That's your starting figure before wastage.
Worked example: a simple backyard
Say your main lawn is 8 m × 5 m. That's 40 m². Add 5% wastage (2 m²) and you'd order about 42 m². At a common pallet size of 50 m², a single pallet covers it with a little spare — handy for patching any bare spots later.
L-shaped and multi-section yards
Don't try to measure an L-shape in one go. Break it into two rectangles, work out each one, and add them:
| Section | Length | Width | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main lawn | 7 m | 5 m | 35 m² |
| Side strip | 6 m | 2 m | 12 m² |
| Total | 47 m² |
With 10% wastage (curves and cuts around the corner), you'd order roughly 52 m² — one pallet.
Curved and circular areas
For a circular lawn or a rounded garden feature, measure the diameter (straight across the widest point) and use:
A 4 m circle is 3.14 × 2² = about 12.6 m². For gentle curves along an otherwise straight edge, the easiest approach is to measure the area as if it were a rectangle out to the widest point of the curve, then trust your wastage percentage to absorb the offcuts.
Triangular corners
Awkward triangular sections use half the base times the height:
A corner that's 4 m along the fence and 3 m deep is 0.5 × 4 × 3 = 6 m².
How much extra for wastage?
Wastage covers the turf you cut off and can't reuse. As a rule of thumb:
| Lawn shape | Suggested wastage |
|---|---|
| Simple rectangle, few obstacles | 5% |
| Some curves, a garden bed or two | 7–8% |
| Lots of curves, trees, paths, tight corners | 10% |
Running out mid-job is the outcome you're trying to avoid. Fresh turf has to go down within a day or so of delivery, and a return trip for a few extra slabs isn't always possible — so when in doubt, round up.
Ready to get your number?
Plug your measurements into the turf calculator — add a rectangle, circle or triangle for each section — and it'll give you the total m², the number of pallets, and an estimated cost in seconds.