Grass Seed Calculator
Enter your lawn size, pick your grass type, and get the pounds of seed you need — with the correct rate for new lawns vs. overseeding.
Rates shown are pounds per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn (mid-range values).
How the math works
Seeding rates are published per 1,000 square feet and differ hugely by species — a fescue lawn can need 4–5× more seed by weight than a Bermuda lawn, because fescue seeds are large and Bermuda seeds are tiny. The calculator uses mid-range rates: tall fescue 7 lb, Kentucky bluegrass 2.5 lb, perennial ryegrass 7 lb, fine fescue 5 lb, Bermuda 1.5 lb, zoysia 1.5 lb, buffalograss 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Overseeding (thickening an existing lawn) uses about half the new-lawn rate because existing plants already fill part of the space.
Tips that matter more than the exact rate
Seed-to-soil contact beats precision: rake or slit the surface so seed sits in the top ¼ inch, keep it consistently moist for 2–3 weeks, and seed during your grass type's right season — fall for cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass), late spring for warm-season grasses (Bermuda, zoysia, buffalograss).
FAQ
- What if my lawn is in square meters?
- Multiply square meters by 10.76 to get square feet, or just divide the pound result by 2.205 for kilograms.
- Can I mix grass types?
- Yes — most bagged "sun & shade" mixes combine species. Use the rate printed on the bag; our per-species rates are for single-species lawns.
- How long until I see grass?
- Ryegrass sprouts in 5–10 days, fescue in 7–14, bluegrass in 14–30, and warm-season grasses can take 3+ weeks in cool soil.