How much grass seed do you need?
Pounds of grass seed for a new lawn or overseeding, by grass type, with 3, 7 and 20 lb bag counts.
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Before you buy: To measure an irregular lawn, split it into rectangles, calculate each, and add them up. Skip the house footprint, driveway and beds.
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Worked examples
| Lawn | Tall fescue (new) | Bluegrass (new) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 ft² | 7.0 lb | 2.5 lb |
| 2,500 ft² | 17.5 lb | 6.3 lb |
| 5,000 ft² | 35.0 lb | 12.5 lb |
| 10,000 ft² | 70.0 lb | 25.0 lb |
| 43,560 ft² | 304.9 lb | 108.9 lb |
Formula & assumptions
Seed (lb) = area ÷ 1,000 × rate. Rates used (lb per 1,000 ft², new / overseed): tall fescue 7 / 4, Kentucky bluegrass 2.5 / 1.5, perennial ryegrass 8 / 4, fine fescue 4.5 / 2.5, sun & shade mix 5 / 3, hulled bermuda 1.5 / 1, zoysia 1.5 / 1. These are midpoints of typical university-extension ranges. Seed size differs hugely by species (bluegrass seed is tiny), which is why rates differ so much. Your bag label overrides these numbers.
FAQ
How much grass seed per acre?
An acre is 43,560 ft². For tall fescue on bare soil that is about 305 lb; for Kentucky bluegrass about 109 lb.
Is more seed better?
No. Seeding well above the label rate makes seedlings crowd each other and raises disease risk. Good seed-to-soil contact and steady moisture matter more.
When should I seed?
Cool-season grasses (fescues, bluegrass, ryegrass) do best seeded in late summer to early fall; warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia) in late spring once soil is warm.
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