1. Measure the areas

For rectangular areas, measure length and width in feet and multiply. Divide an L-shaped area into nonoverlapping rectangles:

Rectangle area (sq ft) = length × width
Total area = sum of the nonoverlapping sections

Example: a 40 × 10 ft rectangle is 400 sq ft. Adding a separate 10 × 8 ft rectangle gives 400 + 80 = 480 sq ft.

For a curved bed, use measured sections or a scaled layout to approximate its actual area. A rectangle enclosing the bed gives an upper bound and includes space outside the bed; do not treat it as the measured bed area. Write down slope, equipment access, sprinkler heads, trees and anything to remove.

2. Sod: square feet plus waste

Add a waste allowance for cuts along edges and curves. Base that allowance on your layout and the sod sizes your supplier sells. Then round up to whole units of what your supplier sells:

Sod to order (sq ft) = area × (1 + waste %)
Units to order = sod to order ÷ sq ft per supplier unit, rounded up to whole units

Example: 480 sq ft with a 5% waste allowance (an example; use your own) is 480 × 1.05 = 504 sq ft. If your supplier's unit covered U sq ft, you'd order 504 ÷ U, rounded up to whole units. For example, if U were 50 sq ft (example only), 504 ÷ 50 = 10.08, which rounds up to 11 units. Check the real coverage per slab, roll or pallet with your supplier.

3. Mulch and rock: cubic yards

Check whether your supplier sells mulch or rock by volume, weight or bag. Convert depth from inches to feet, then cubic feet to cubic yards (27 cubic feet in a cubic yard):

Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27

Example: a 200 sq ft bed at 3 inches deep is 200 × (3 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 200 × 0.25 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.85 cubic yards. Round up to what your supplier sells, for example 2 yards.

Some suppliers sell rock by the ton instead of the yard. Ask them for the conversion for that product rather than guessing.

4. Plant counts

For a rough quantity allowance on a square grid:

Approximate plant count = bed area (sq ft) ÷ (spacing in ft × spacing in ft)

This is an area-based allowance, not an exact layout count. Bed dimensions, edge setbacks and the arrangement of rows affect the final number. A staggered layout needs its own layout count.

Example: 100 ÷ (2 × 2) = 25 gives a preliminary allowance of 25 plants for a 100 sq ft bed at 2 ft spacing. Use the spacing specified for the plants, then draw or mark the planting positions before ordering.

5. Edging

Edging to order (linear ft) = total measured edge length × (1 + waste allowance as a decimal), rounded up to full supplier pieces

Example: 60 ft of bed edge with a 10% allowance (an example; use your own) is 60 × 1.10 = 66 ft, then round up to your supplier's piece length.

6. Labor hours

Labor hours = hours on the task × number of people

Example (not real numbers): a 4-hour install with a 3-person crew is 4 × 3 = 12 labor hours. Count delivery, cleanup and haul-off time too.

7. Line items customers can follow

Turf or weed removal (sq ft)
Grading and soil prep, with the amendment named
Sod, with the variety named
Mulch or rock, with the type and depth named
Landscape fabric
Edging by the linear foot, with the material named
Plants, each with its container size
Delivery
Labor
Cleanup and haul-off

Naming the variety, type and size on each line makes your quote easy to compare line by line.

8. Exclusions and terms

Irrigation repair or new zones
Tree removal and stump grinding
Drainage correction
Buried debris or rock found while grading
Watering after install

New sod and plants depend on watering. State the watering schedule you give the customer and what your warranty covers, if you offer one, and what voids it. If you don't offer one, say so. Have your terms reviewed for your state.

FAQ

Do I measure mulch in square feet or cubic yards?
Measure the bed in square feet, then convert to cubic yards with the depth using the formula above.

How much waste should I add for sod?
Base the allowance on your layout, the cuts needed and the sod sizes your supplier sells. The 5% on this page is only an example.

Should I round up or down?
Round material orders up, so you don't come up short on install day.

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Landscaping Quote Guide: Sod, Mulch, Rock and Plant Math