How much turf do I need?
Updated July 2026
Turf is sold by the square metre, so measure your lawn (length times width) and add about 5 percent for cutting-in around edges and curves. A rectangular lawn of 8m by 5m is 40 m2, so you would order roughly 42 m2.
Turf is sold and priced by the square metre, so the whole job comes down to one number: the area of the ground you want to cover. Get that right and you order the correct amount first time, with just a little spare for trimming.
Start with the area in square metres
Turf comes as rolls that each cover about half a square metre, roughly one metre long by half a metre wide, so there are about two rolls to the square metre. Sizes vary between suppliers, which is exactly why you order by the m2 and not by the roll.
At TopTurf the turf is cut to order and sent out next day, so you tell us the square metreage and we cut that amount. We sell one grade, premium lawn turf, at £4 per m2.
How to measure your lawn
For a square or rectangular lawn, measure the length and the width in metres and multiply the two together. A lawn 8 metres long by 5 metres wide is 40 square metres.
For an awkward shape, split it into rectangles, measure each one, and add the totals up. For a circle, measure from the centre to the edge, multiply that figure by itself, then multiply by 3.14. For a triangle, multiply the base by the height and halve it.
Then add a bit for wastage. Add about 5 percent on a straight, rectangular lawn, and up to 10 percent if you have lots of curves, borders, trees or paths to cut around. Turf is easy to trim off but you cannot stretch it, so it is better to have a roll spare than to come up short.
What it works out at
Take that 40 square metre lawn and add 5 percent for cutting-in, which rounds to 42 m2. At £4 per m2 that is £168 for the turf.
A small front lawn of 5 metres by 4 metres is 20 m2, so 21 m2 with wastage, or £84 in turf. A larger back garden of 12 by 8 is 96 m2, closer to 101 m2 once you allow for trimming, so about £404.
Delivery from our Leigh base is from £20, set by your postcode and how much you order.
Do not forget the soil underneath
Turf roots into whatever it is laid on, so a good bed matters more than the grade of turf. If your existing soil is thin, stony or compacted, lay a fresh layer of topsoil first, at least 100mm for a new lawn, raked level and firmed down.
Topsoil is sold by volume. A bulk bag is about 0.7 cubic metres and covers roughly 7 square metres at 100mm deep, or about 14 square metres at 50mm. As a rule topsoil weighs about 1.5 tonnes per cubic metre, so a bulk bag is close to a tonne.
TopTurf sells screened topsoil at £70 a bulk bag. It has the stones taken out so it rakes level easily under turf, which is exactly what a new lawn bed needs.
Weight, timing and laying
Turf is heavy, roughly 15 to 20 kg per square metre, so even a small lawn is several hundred kilos. Bear that in mind on delivery day and have a way of moving it from the drop point to the garden.
Lay turf within 24 hours of it arriving, and the same day in warm weather. Left rolled up it heats up and yellows fast. That is why TopTurf cuts to order for next-day delivery rather than holding stock that has been sat around.
If you would rather not handle it, supply-and-lay is available through Barrow Landscaping, the family's landscaping company, so the turf, the topsoil prep and the laying are all one job. Order by phone on 0161 399 8706 or email and we can price it either way.
Questions
How many rolls of turf are in a square metre?
About two. Each roll covers roughly half a square metre, around one metre by half a metre, though sizes vary between suppliers. That is why turf is ordered and priced by the m2 rather than by the roll.
How much does turf cost per square metre?
At TopTurf premium lawn turf is £4 per m2, cut to order for next-day delivery. Delivery is from £20, priced on your postcode and the size of the order.
Do I need topsoil before laying new turf?
If your existing soil is thin, stony or compacted, yes. Lay at least 100mm of decent topsoil first, raked level. A bulk bag covers about 7 square metres at that depth, and our screened topsoil is £70 a bag.
How long can turf sit before I lay it?
Lay it within 24 hours, and the same day in warm weather, or it starts to yellow inside the roll. Ordering turf that is cut to order rather than sat in stock gives you the best start.
Need the materials?
We supply lawn turf across Leigh and Greater Manchester. Order by phone or email. Want it laid? Barrow Landscaping can prep the ground and lay it.