How to Measure

1) Square or Rectangle

Formula

Area = L x W
L = length
W = width

Example

Area = 90 feet x 50 feet
Area = 4,500 square feet

The following illustration reduces the area to be sodded around the house (A, B, C) and the backyard (D) to rectangles.

Example

Area A = 50' x 10' = 500 sq. ft.; Area B = 30' x 10' = 300 sq. ft.; Area C = 50' x 10' = 500 sq. ft.; Area D = 40' x 30' = 1200 sq. ft.

Sod Needed: A (500 sq. ft.) + B (300 sq. ft.) + C (500sq. ft.) + D (1,200 sq. ft.) = 2,500 sq. ft.

2) Oval, Egg Shapes and Circles

Formula

Area = 0.8 L x W
L = length
W = width at midpoint

Example

Area = 0.8 x 60 feet x 40 feet
Area = 1,920 square feet
(within 5% accuracy)

Formula

Area = πR²
π = 3.14
R = radius

Example

Area = 3.14 x 30 feet x 30 feet
Area = 1,413 square feet

The half circle backyard has a radius of 30 feet. A complete circle would be π 30² or 3.14 x 30 ft. x 30 ft. = 2,826 sq. ft. Half would be 1,413 sq. ft.

Sod Needed: A + B + C (1,300 sq. ft.) + D (1,413 sq. ft.) = 2,713 sq. ft.

3) Irregular Shapes

Formula

Measure the length of the longest axis across the area. Every 10 feet along the length, measure the width of the area at right angles to the length line. Total all widths and multiply by 10.

Example

Area = 40 feet + 30 feet + 50 feet x 10
Area = 1,200 square feet

4) Triangles

Formula

Area = 0.5 x B x H
B = base
H = height

Example

Area = 0.5 x 25 feet x 25 feet = 312.5 square feet x 2
(triangles) = 625 square feet
Area = 625 square feet

5) Trapezoid

Formula

Area = 0.5 x (A + B) x H
A = one parallel side
B = second parallel side
H = height perpendicular to two parallel sides

Example

Area = 0.5 x A + B (100 feet) x H (30 feet)
Area = 1,500 square feet

Sod Needed: A + B + C (1,300 sq. ft.) + D = 2,800 sq. ft.

6) Unusual Shapes

Formula

Divide area into sections of regular geometric shapes, calculate area of individual sections, then total.

Example

Triangle 0.5 x B (15 feet) x H (30 feet) = 225 square feet
Rectangle 30 feet x 45 feet = 1,350 square feet
Circle π (3.14) x 9 x 9 = 258 square feet / 2 = 127 square feet.

So Needed: 225 sq. ft. + 1,350 sq. ft. + 127 sq. ft. = 1,702 sq. ft.

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