How To Measure For Artificial Grass & Calculate Square Footage: A Complete Step-By-Step Guide

When it comes to artificial grass, the burning question on everyone’s mind is, “How much will it cost to install?” While this may be a commonly asked question, the answer isn’t so straightforward.

The cost of installing artificial grass depends on various factors, with the size of the installation being the most significant. To be more precise, what’s the square footage of the area you want to cover with artificial grass?

In general, larger areas come with higher installation costs. This is due to the need for more materials, time, and labor. So, if you’re considering artificial grass installation for your residential or commercial property and crave an accurate estimation of the cost, you’ll need to calculate the square footage of the space.

In this comprehensive turf measuring guide, we’ll reveal the secrets to measuring an area and calculating the square footage accurately. Get ready to transform your space with stunning artificial grass!

How To Measure for Artificial Grass & Calculate Square Footage

Versatility is one of the biggest benefits of synthetic grass, it can be installed pretty much anywhere you can think of. From front or backyards to playgrounds to dog runs to swimming pool surrounds to backyard putting greens, to name a few. Being that versatile, the intended installation area isn’t always a perfect square or rectangle. Artificial grass can be installed on any shape or size space.

For the sake of simplicity, we’ll be referring to the examples throughout this post as “lawns.” That said, measuring a space to determine the square footage will apply to any area you want to install turf. We’ll use a few different shaped areas to demonstrate how to measure and calculate the square footage:

• Square and rectangular lawns
• Round lawns
• Triangle-shaped lawns
• L-Shaped lawns 

Why Do You Need To Measure For Artificial Grass?

As mentioned above, one question that frequently comes up when considering artificial grass is the cost. To provide an accurate estimate, it is important to determine the amount of turf needed for your project. By measuring the installation area and calculating the square footage, you can accurately assess the required quantity of turf.

Artificial turf is available in various sizes. However, most turf rolls are 15 feet wide by 100 feet long [15′ x 100′]. Additionally, it’s crucial to note that artificial grass has a directional nature, with the turf fibers all aligning in one direction, resembling fur.

To ensure a consistent appearance, make sure you have enough turf to cut the pieces in a way that maintains directional uniformity. In the United States, artificial grass is typically sold by square foot. With this in mind, the examples provided below will use measurements in feet.

What Tools Do I Need to Measure for Artificial Grass?  

Measuring a space to calculate the square footage is pretty straightforward and you’ll need a few tools before getting started.

Gather the following items before you measure your lawn/space/area.

• Tape measure
• Pen or pencil
• Graph Paper [Any paper will suffice, but graph paper is best for odd-shaped areas]
• Calculator

Step-By-Step Turf Measuring Guide 

Equipped with the tools necessary to measure your space, we’re ready to get started. If you aren’t very mathematically inclined, don’t worry, this is a simple and straightforward process.

STEP #1: Measure Widest & Longest Points 

To simplify the measurement process for any shaped area, imagine it as a rectangle or square. This applies to areas with rounded edges, curves, sharp angles, or peculiar shapes. Extend your measurements accordingly to fit the area within a rectangle or square.

It’s important to note that artificial turf typically comes in large 15′ x 100′ rolls, resembling giant rectangles. Therefore, any curves, sharp angles, or odd shapes will require cutting from a rectangular piece of turf.

To provide a clearer understanding, we have created custom graphics that showcase various examples of measuring the different shapes you may encounter.

Square & Rectangular Lawns

If you have a square or rectangular lawn, consider yourself lucky! These spaces are the easiest to measure when it comes to turf installation. Armed with your trusty tape measure, simply measure the length and width of your lawn, just like the graphic above demonstrates.

Here’s a pro tip: Artificial grass rolls generally come in a width of 15 feet. So, divide the width of your lawn into 15-foot segments. If your lawn width isn’t evenly divisible by 15, don’t worry. You’ll just have a small strip of turf left over as waste.

Round Lawns

Measuring round spaces to calculate the square footage is actually pretty simple. Begin by measuring the diameter of your round lawn and draw it to scale on a piece of graph paper. Next, divide the circle into 15-foot-wide stripes and measure each strip at its longest point.

L-Shaped Lawns

Measuring an L-shaped lawn is a bit more difficult than the examples above. You basically want to divide the area into two separate rectangular sections. Measure each rectangular section and plot them on graph paper. Next, determine the length and width of each independent rectangular section. You’ll add them together in the next step.

Triangular Shaped Lawns

Measuring a triangular-shaped lawn can be quite simple if it’s small, but is a little more involved for larger spaces. If the triangular area is less than 15 feet at its widest, then you can treat the triangle as half of a square. Measure the two sides of the triangle that form the right angle. For larger triangular-shaped lawns, you’ll have to follow the steps below.

Begin by measuring all three sides of your triangular space and plot it out on graph paper. Next, you’ll take the leg of the triangle that’s on the x-axis, and divide it into 15-foot sections, as shown in the example above. Now, you’ll take each 15-foot section and measure how long the strip of turf will need to be by measuring where the hypotenuse (the longest leg) of the triangle hits the y-axis. 

If your x-axis leg doesn’t divide evenly into 15-foot lengths, account for an extra strip of turf to cover the remainder. Remember, turf is directional, so you can’t just cobble together scrap material to cover a small space. 

STEP #2: Multiply the Width x Length

To determine the square footage of a rectangular or square lawn, simply multiply the length by the width.

For example:

• If your lawn is 30 feet wide and 18 feet long, you’ll need 540 square feet of turf (30 x 18 = 540). 
• If you have a larger yard, say 64 feet wide by 38 feet long, you’ll need 2,432 square feet of turf (64 x 38 = 2,432). 

Determining the square footage of turf you’ll need for a round, L-shaped, or triangular lawn is a bit more involved, but still pretty straightforward. You’re basically going to calculate the square feet of each strip of turf needed, then you’ll add them up to determine the total square footage of artificial grass required for your installation.

It might help, regardless of the shape of your lawn, to think of it as a series of rectangles. In the example above of the triangular-shaped lawn, you would need three strips of artificial grass with the following measurements:

• 15 feet x 48 feet = 720 square feet
• 15 feet x 32 feet = 480 square feet
• 15 feet x 18 feet = 270 square feet

When you add up each of these strips, you get a total of 1,470 square feet. 

You follow the same process for a circular or L-shaped lawn: just measure the area of each strip of turf needed, then add them to get the total square footage for the artificial grass installation.

STEP #3: Check Areas Estimated Cost

If you’re planning a DIY installation, determining the square footage of the area where you want to install artificial grass is essential. Without the square footage, you won’t know how much turf you should order from the artificial turf supplier. Ordering too little to complete your installation could potentially lead to an issue with the color of your turf. Synthetic grasses are produced in batches, so there are slight variations in color between batches. Without enough turf to complete your installation, you’ll have to order the rest, which may not match the color of your original turf.

If you’re going to work with a professional turf installer, knowing the project size will enable them to give you a more accurate estimate. If you’d like to explore the costs a bit to better understand what factors influence that cost, we’ve built some cost calculators for different turf applications.

• Artificial Turf Cost Calculator
• Putting Green Cost Calculator

It’s worth keeping in mind that even when determining the square footage, there are still numerous factors that will influence the total cost. Below, we’ve outlined a few of the factors that are the most influential in determining the cost of installing synthetic grass:

• Project Size [Square Footage]
• Location
• Ease of access for crew
• Pre-Installation Site Prep [i.e. Removing Sod, Bushes, Shrubs, Trees, Rocks, Capping Sprinkler Heads, Moving Irrigation Systems, Etc.]
• Type of Artificial Turf 
• Type & Quantity of Infill Material
• Extras: Bender Board, Drainage Tiles, Shock Pads, Etc.

Wrapping Up Our Turf Measure Guide: How to Measure for Artificial Grass & Calculate Square Footage

Measuring for artificial turf is an important step in the purchasing process. There are different tools and techniques to use, depending on the shape of your lawn. Following a single step-by-step guide, you can determine the square footage of your space and get an estimated cost for the areas you plan to cover.  Being prepared with accurate dimensions of your space will make it easier for you to find the perfect artificial grass for your needs.  

Learning how to measure for artificial turf doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow our simple guide and get ready to upgrade your outdoor space with beautiful, low-maintenance artificial turf today! If you’re looking for professionals who understand turf installation, Turf Network can help connect you with professionals who have years of experience installing synthetic grass on residential and commercial properties.

Meet the Expert:

Kevin Sullivan

Kevin Sullivan, the President and Co-Founder of Turf Network is a U.S. Air Force Veteran with a B.A. in Communications. An SEO and marketing expert, he is a staunch proponent of content quality over quantity, hence the Turf Network’s mission to become the go-to resource for all things artificial turf.

Kevin Sullivan, the President and Co-Founder of Turf Network is a U.S. Air Force Veteran with a B.A. in Communications. An SEO and marketing expert, he is a staunch proponent of content quality over quantity, hence the Turf Network’s mission to become the go-to resource for all things artificial turf.