Measuring an irregular lawn
Few lawns are rectangles. The reliable method is to split the lawn into shapes you can measure, work out each area, and add them up:
curved strip ≈ length along the middle × average width
For a kidney-shaped or free-form lawn, measure one long centre line, then measure the width at right angles every metre or two along it and average those widths. Length × average width is usually within a few per cent, which the waste allowance covers. Measure to the edge of the lawn you want, not the edge of the existing grass.
Worked example, an L-shaped backyard: the main lawn is 8 m × 5 m (40 m²) and the side strip is 4 m × 3 m (12 m²), so 52 m² in total. The edges curve around two garden beds, so allow 10 %: 52 × 1.10 = 57.2, and order 58 rolls. Underlay at 100 mm plus 15 % settling is 52 × 0.1 × 1.15 = 6.0 m³, about 8.4 tonnes. That is a truck delivery, not trailer runs.
How much extra to order
Ordering one short is the expensive mistake. A second delivery usually costs more than the few spare rolls would have, and turf from a different harvest can differ slightly in colour for a few weeks.
Which turf?
Most Australian lawns are warm-season grasses; cooler parts of Australia and most of New Zealand also grow cool-season grasses. Supply-only prices below are the 2026 ranges published by Australian turf suppliers and price guides; delivery and laying are extra.
Choosing between laying turf and sowing seed? Turf vs seed compares the cost, the time and which grasses you can grow each way.
Before the turf arrives
- Clear and loosen. Remove the old grass and weeds completely; couch and kikuyu runners come back through new turf. Rip or rotary-hoe compacted ground to about 100 mm.
- Underlay. Spread 100–150 mm of turf underlay (a sandy loam), roll it, water it, and fill the low spots. The topsoil calculator handles the weight and delivery.
- Levels. Finish the underlay one turf-thickness below paths and edges so the new lawn sits flush. Ask your supplier how thick their rolls are cut.
- Timing. Book delivery for the day you will lay it. Turf heats up and deteriorates if it sits rolled on a pallet, especially in warm weather.
Watering new turf
New turf has no roots in your soil yet; it lives on what you give it until it knits down. Turf growers' schedules for the first weeks look like this (reduce in cool or rainy weather, increase in a heatwave):
The aim is moist soil to about 150 mm, so the roots grow down into it. Lift a corner of a roll after a week: white roots reaching into the underlay mean it is taking. If you plan to water from a tank, the rainwater tank calculator shows how long it will last at these volumes.
Turf questions
How much turf do I need for 50 square metres?
53 rolls of 1 m² with a 5 % allowance, or 55 rolls if the edges are curved (10 %). Underneath, 100 mm of underlay plus settling is about 5.75 m³.
How big is a roll of turf in Australia?
The standard roll is 1 m², about 1.71 m long and 0.585 m wide. Some retailers sell 0.5 m² slabs, and big projects use large machine-laid rolls. Always confirm the size, because the number of pieces changes.
Can I lay turf over existing grass?
No. The old grass rots under the new turf, the roots cannot reach soil, and runner grasses grow back through. Remove it, loosen the ground, and lay the turf on fresh underlay.
When is the best time to lay turf?
Spring to autumn, when warm-season grasses are growing and root in fastest. It can be laid in summer with enough water and in winter in mild areas, but it will take longer to knit down.
Sources and method
- Roll size (1 m², 1,710 × 585 mm) and waste allowances: Australian turf suppliers' calculators and guides, e.g. Lilydale Instant Lawn – How many rolls of turf do I need?; measuring irregular areas: Lawn Solutions Australia – How to measure difficult areas.
- Watering schedule: Anco Turf – Watering newly laid turf.
- Price ranges: 2026 supply-only prices published by Australian turf suppliers and price guides, e.g. Yellow Pages – turf price guide. Prices vary by region and season.
- Underlay depth and density as on the topsoil calculator (100–150 mm; sandy loam about 1.4 t/m³).
Written by DueRiva · Last reviewed 23 September 2026 · Report an error