Grass Seed Calculator
Pounds and bags of seed for a new lawn or overseeding, with the right grass for your ZIP.
Quick answer
A new tall fescue lawn takes about 6 to 8 lb of seed per 1,000 sq ft; Kentucky bluegrass only 2 to 3 lb. Overseeding uses about half the new-lawn rate.
Measure
Project details
Not sure? Enter your ZIP below for what grows well near you.
Many retail seed bags are coated, and coating can be up to half the weight. If yours says coated, follow its coverage chart.
Shows your grass region and the best months to plant.
7 lb of seed. 6 to 8 lb for 1,000 sq ft. Buy 1 x 7 lb.
Your project
7 lb of seed
6 to 8 lb for 1,000 sq ft. Buy 1 x 7 lb.
Measured: 1,000 sq ft, 140 ft of edge
HaulOnce order ticket
Lawn from seed
Ticket no.
287322
- 01Tall fescue (turf-type) seed7 lb
6 to 8 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn. Buy 1 x 7 lb (7 lb).
- 02Starter fertilizer1 bag (check coverage)
Rated for at least 1000 sq ft.
Before you start
- Deep roots, handles heat better than other cool-season grasses. The usual pick in the transition zone.
- Seed needs firm contact with soil. Rake it in lightly and keep the top inch moist until it sprouts.
Estimate from haulonce.com. Weights vary with moisture and supplier. Prices are examples unless you entered your own.
Ready to text or email your supplier:
“Project: lawn from seed. Tall fescue (turf-type) seed: 7 lb; Starter fertilizer: 1 bag (check coverage).”
Add your ZIP code above to include it.
Seeding rates by grass
Seed size varies enormously, so rates do too. These are new-lawn rates from university extension guides. The seed bag label wins if it differs.
| Grass | Season | New lawn, lb per 1,000 sq ft | Overseeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue (turf-type) | Cool | 6 to 8 | 3 to 4 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | Cool | 2 to 3 | 1 to 1.5 |
| Perennial ryegrass | Cool | 7 to 9 | 3.5 to 4.5 |
| Fine fescue | Cool | 4 to 5 | 2 to 2.5 |
| Bermudagrass (hulled) | Warm | 1 to 2 | 0.5 to 1 |
| Zoysiagrass | Warm | 1 to 2 | 0.5 to 1 |
| Centipedegrass | Warm | 0.25 to 0.5 | 0.13 to 0.25 |
| Bahiagrass | Warm | 7 to 10 | 3.5 to 5 |
When to seed
Cool-season grasses do best seeded in late summer to early fall, when soil is warm and weeds slow down; spring is second best. Warm-season grasses want late spring to early summer, once soil stays warm. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your hardiness zone, grass region, and planting months.
How to measure your lawn
Measure the length and width in feet, multiply for square feet, then decide the depth in inches. For odd shapes, split the area into rectangles, circles, and triangles and add them up; the calculator lets you add as many areas as you need and subtract cut-outs like a tree ring or an air-conditioner pad.
No tape measure? Open the Draw on satellite map tab, find your address, and trace the outline. Or use Pace it off: count steps along each side. Measure depth in a few spots, because ground is rarely flat.
Subtract the house, driveway, patio, and beds as cut-outs. Seeding them wastes money.
Want the area on its own first? The lawn size calculator measures any part of your yard and carries it into the other calculators.
Common mistakes
- Seeding at the overseed rate on bare soil.
- Ignoring the coated-seed coverage on the bag.
- Seeding cool-season grass in late spring, right before summer heat.
- Letting the top inch dry out before seed sprouts.
Questions people ask
How much grass seed do I need per 1,000 square feet?
It depends on the grass: about 6 to 8 lb for tall fescue, 2 to 3 lb for Kentucky bluegrass, 7 to 9 lb for perennial ryegrass, and 1 to 2 lb for hulled bermuda, for a new lawn.
How much seed do I need to overseed?
About half the new-lawn rate. For tall fescue, roughly 3 to 4 lb per 1,000 sq ft.
When is the best time to plant grass seed?
Cool-season grasses: late summer to early fall. Warm-season grasses: late spring to early summer. Your ZIP code gives a more specific window.
What kind of grass seed should I use?
Match the region: cool-season grasses in the North, warm-season in the South, and usually tall fescue in the transition zone in between. Enter your ZIP to see what fits.
Does coated grass seed cover less?
Yes, per pound. The coating can be up to half the weight, so follow the bag's coverage chart.
Sources
- Purdue University Extension, AY-25-W, Establishing Lawns From Seed (seeding rates)
- Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (seeding rates and timing)
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home and Garden Information Center, Lawn Establishment
- University of Florida IFAS Extension, ENH8/LH009: Centipedegrass for Florida Lawns
- University of Florida IFAS Extension, ENH6/LH006: Bahiagrass for Florida Lawns
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map (data by PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University)
- PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone GIS datasets (ZIP code file)
Last reviewed: . How we calculate
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