Grass seed calculator
How many pounds of grass seed to buy for a new lawn or overseeding, by grass type.
How to use it
Enter the area you're seeding in square feet, pick the grass type, and choose whether it's a new lawn on bare soil or overseeding an existing lawn. The calculator shows how many pounds of seed to buy.
If your seed bag lists its own rate, choose Rate from the seed bag and enter it. The bag's rate is always the best figure for that seed, especially for coated seed or mixes.
How it's calculated
Pounds of seed = rate per 1,000 sq ft × area ÷ 1,000. For overseeding, the calculator uses half the new-lawn rate.
| Grass | New lawn (lb per 1,000 sq ft) | Calculator uses |
|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue | 6 to 8 | 7 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 6 to 8 | 7 |
| Fine fescue | about 5 | 5 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2 to 3 | 2.5 |
| Bermudagrass (hulled) | 1 to 2 | 1.5 |
Small-seeded grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and bermudagrass need far fewer pounds because each pound holds many more seeds. Rates vary between sources and seed products; these are typical ranges from university extension services and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Tips
- Seed at the right time. Cool-season grasses (fescues, ryegrass, bluegrass) do best sown in late summer to early fall; warm-season grasses like bermuda in late spring.
- Good seed-to-soil contact matters more than extra seed. Rake the seed lightly into loosened soil, or aerate before overseeding.
- Keep it moist with light, frequent watering until the grass is established.
- Mixes: for a seed mix, use the rate printed on the bag.