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How Much Turf Do I Need?
This free turf calculator works out exactly how many rolls of turf you need for a new lawn, patch repair, or complete lawn replacement. Enter your dimensions in metres or feet, choose a wastage allowance for cutting around edges, and get an instant answer in square metres, rolls, and estimated cost.
A standard UK turf roll covers approximately 1 square metre (typically 1m long × 0.4m wide, sold in strips). The calculator adds your chosen wastage percentage — 5% for rectangular lawns, 10% for curved edges, or 15% for irregular shapes — so you order enough without overspending.
The cost estimate uses average UK prices for your selected turf grade. Prices vary by supplier and region, so treat this as a guide. For large orders (100m²+), most suppliers offer bulk discounts and free delivery.
Preparing the Ground
Before laying turf, you'll need to prepare the soil properly. Remove existing grass, rotavate to 15cm depth, remove stones and debris, then rake level. If your existing soil is poor or clay-heavy, add a 25–50mm layer of quality topsoil — use our topsoil calculator to work out how much you need.
Apply a pre-turf fertiliser at 35g/m² about a week before laying. Our fertiliser calculator will help you get the quantity right.
Types of Turf Available in the UK
Not all turf is the same. Walk into any turf supplier and you will find at least 4 or 5 different grades, each grown from a specific seed mix and managed to suit a particular use. Picking the right type for your garden saves money and avoids disappointment — I have seen too many people lay premium ornamental turf in a garden with 3 kids and a Labrador, only to watch it get destroyed within 6 months.
Standard Lawn Turf (Utility Grade)
This is the bread-and-butter turf that covers about 70% of UK gardens. It is grown from a mix of perennial ryegrass and fescue, typically containing 60% ryegrass and 40% fescue. It establishes quickly — usually rooting within 14 to 21 days — and handles moderate foot traffic well. Standard lawn turf costs between £3.00 and £4.50 per m² and is the best all-round choice for most front and back gardens. It tolerates mowing down to about 25mm and recovers well from wear.
Hardwearing / Utility Turf
If your lawn takes a battering from children, dogs, or regular garden parties, hardwearing turf is worth the small premium. It contains a higher proportion of dwarf perennial ryegrass — typically 80% or more — bred specifically for durability. The blades are slightly coarser than standard turf, but it recovers from damage roughly twice as fast. Expect to pay £3.50 to £5.00 per m². I use this grade on any lawn where the family actually lives on the grass rather than just looking at it. It handles being mowed at 30mm and copes well with compacted soil.
Luxury / Ornamental Turf
This is the bowling-green grade — fine-bladed fescue and bent grass mixes that create a dense, carpet-like finish. Ornamental turf looks stunning, but it demands more maintenance: mowing twice a week in summer at 12 to 15mm, regular feeding every 6 to 8 weeks, and it does not tolerate heavy foot traffic at all. Prices range from £5.00 to £10.00 per m², making it 2 to 3 times more expensive than standard turf. Only choose this if you genuinely want a showpiece lawn and you are prepared to put in the hours. Use our lawn feed calculator to plan the feeding schedule — ornamental turf needs about 200g of nitrogen per 100m² per year, split across 4 applications.
Shade-Tolerant Turf
If your garden sits under mature trees or faces north, standard turf will thin out and go patchy within 12 months. Shade-tolerant turf uses specific fescue cultivars — mainly creeping red fescue and Chewings fescue — that photosynthesise more efficiently in low light. It typically needs just 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight per day, compared to the 6 hours that standard turf requires. Shade turf costs between £4.00 and £5.50 per m². One important point: even shade-tolerant turf will fail under dense evergreen trees where virtually no light penetrates. In those spots, consider bark mulch or ground cover plants instead.
Wildflower Turf
Wildflower turf has become increasingly popular over the past 3 to 4 years, driven by interest in supporting pollinators and reducing mowing. A typical wildflower turf mat contains 30 to 40 native species — including oxeye daisy, birdsfoot trefoil, red clover, and yellow rattle — pre-grown into a ready-to-lay mat. It costs between £6.00 and £12.00 per m², making it the most expensive option per square metre. However, once established it requires mowing only once or twice per year and needs no fertiliser, so running costs are almost zero. Wildflower turf performs best on poor, low-nutrient soil — do not add topsoil or fertiliser before laying, as the wildflowers actually prefer thin, nutrient-poor ground.
| Turf Type | Cost per m² | Maintenance Level | Foot Traffic | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard lawn | £3.00–£4.50 | Medium | Moderate | Most UK gardens |
| Hardwearing / utility | £3.50–£5.00 | Low–Medium | Heavy | Families, dogs, play areas |
| Luxury / ornamental | £5.00–£10.00 | High | Light only | Front gardens, showpiece lawns |
| Shade-tolerant | £4.00–£5.50 | Medium | Moderate | North-facing, under trees |
| Wildflower | £6.00–£12.00 | Very low | Light only | Pollinator meadows, low-maintenance areas |
How to Lay Turf — Step by Step
Laying turf is genuinely one of the most satisfying garden jobs — you start the morning with bare soil and by teatime you have a green lawn. But the preparation beforehand is what separates a lawn that thrives for 20 years from one that goes patchy within 6 months. I have laid turf on over 30 projects now, and the single biggest factor in success is soil preparation. Skip the prep and you are wasting your money.
Step 1: Remove the Old Lawn or Weeds
If you are replacing an existing lawn, strip off the old turf using a turf cutter (hire one for about £50 to £70 per day) or cut it out with a sharp spade, slicing 30 to 40mm below the surface. For weedy or overgrown ground, apply a glyphosate-based weedkiller 2 to 3 weeks before you plan to start — this gives it time to kill the roots completely. Do not try to bury old grass or weeds under new turf. They will rot, creating air pockets and an uneven surface that sinks in random patches.
Step 2: Prepare and Level the Soil
This is the step most people rush, and it is the one that matters most. Rotavate or fork over the soil to a depth of at least 150mm — 200mm is better if the ground is compacted. Break up any large clods and remove stones bigger than 25mm across. If your existing soil is poor clay or very sandy, add 25 to 50mm of quality topsoil across the whole area. Use our soil calculator to work out exactly how many tonnes you need. Rake the surface level using a landscaping rake, filling any dips and knocking down any high spots. The finished level should sit about 25mm below any adjacent paths or edging — this accounts for the thickness of the turf itself.
Step 3: Firm and Feed the Soil
Walk across the entire area using small, shuffling steps with your weight on your heels — the "gardener's shuffle." This firms the soil evenly without over-compacting it. After treading, rake lightly again to remove footprints and create a fine, crumbly surface. Apply a pre-turf fertiliser at 35 to 50g per m² and rake it into the top 10mm of soil. The phosphorus in pre-turf fertiliser encourages root development, which is critical in the first 3 weeks. Our fertiliser calculator will tell you exactly how much you need for your area.
Step 4: Lay the Turf
Start by laying the first row of turf along a straight edge — a path, driveway, or garden boundary works well. Butt each roll tightly against the next with no gaps and no overlaps. For the second row, stagger the joints like a brick wall pattern — offset each row by half a roll length. This prevents the joins from lining up, which would create visible lines in the finished lawn and weak points where the turf dries out.
Work from planks placed on the turf you have already laid — never walk on the prepared soil, and never kneel directly on freshly laid turf. On slopes, always lay turf across the slope (horizontally), not down it, and peg each roll with wooden pegs on steep banks to stop it sliding before it roots. Use a sharp knife or half-moon edger to cut turf around curves, trees, and borders. Do not use small offcuts (under 300mm wide) at edges — they dry out and shrink. Instead, use full rolls at the edges and place the offcuts in the middle of the lawn where they stay moist.
Step 5: Roll and Water
Once all the turf is laid, go over the entire lawn with a light garden roller — or tread it gently with a plank under your feet — to press the turf firmly against the soil and eliminate air pockets. Then water the entire lawn immediately and thoroughly. The soil underneath needs to be wet to at least 100mm depth. This first watering is critical — if the turf dries out in the first 48 hours, the edges curl up and the roots never make contact with the soil.
Watering Regime — The First 3 Weeks
New turf needs water every single day for the first 2 to 3 weeks, unless it rains heavily. Water early in the morning or in the evening — never in the middle of the day when the sun evaporates it before it soaks in. Apply roughly 15 to 20 litres per m² per week, split across daily sessions. After 3 weeks, you can reduce to every 2 to 3 days. After 6 weeks, the turf should be fully rooted and you can water only during dry spells. If you are on a water meter, a 50m² lawn will use approximately 150 to 200 litres per day in the establishment period — plan accordingly.
When NOT to Lay Turf
Turf can technically be laid at any time of year in the UK, but there are 3 situations where I would strongly advise against it. First, never lay turf when the ground is frozen — the roots cannot penetrate frozen soil and the turf will die. Second, avoid laying turf during a summer heatwave (sustained temperatures above 25°C) unless you can commit to watering twice daily without fail. Third, do not lay turf on waterlogged ground — the roots will rot before they establish. The ideal seasons are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when soil temperatures sit between 8°C and 15°C and rainfall is typically reliable enough to reduce your watering burden.
Turf Cost Guide UK 2026
Knowing the true cost of a turfing project before you start prevents nasty surprises halfway through. I have broken down the real prices you will encounter in 2026 — from budget turf to premium grades, plus delivery charges and the extras most people forget to budget for.
Turf Prices by Grade
Turf prices in the UK vary significantly depending on the grade, your region, and the order size. Northern suppliers tend to be 10 to 15% cheaper than those in the South East. Here is what you should expect to pay in 2026.
| Turf Grade | Price per m² | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / economy | £2.00–£3.00 | Back gardens, large areas on a tight budget |
| Standard utility | £3.00–£4.50 | Most front and back gardens — best value |
| Mid-range hardwearing | £4.00–£6.00 | Families with children, pet owners |
| Premium fine-blade | £7.00–£10.00 | Ornamental front lawns, showpiece gardens |
| Shade-tolerant | £4.00–£5.50 | North-facing gardens, under mature trees |
| Wildflower meadow | £6.00–£12.00 | Pollinator-friendly areas, low-maintenance zones |
Delivery Costs
Most turf suppliers offer free delivery on orders above 30 to 50m². Below that threshold, expect to pay between £30 and £60 for a standard delivery within a 30-mile radius. Some suppliers charge extra for Saturday delivery (typically £15 to £20 on top) or for remote postcodes in Scotland, Wales, or the South West. Always order turf for next-day delivery and plan to lay it within 24 hours of arrival — turf left stacked on a pallet for more than 48 hours starts to yellow and deteriorate, especially in warm weather.
Total Project Costs by Lawn Size
Here is what a complete turfing project actually costs when you factor in turf, topsoil (25mm layer), pre-turf fertiliser, and delivery. These figures use standard utility turf at £4.00/m² as the baseline.
| Lawn Size | Turf Cost | Topsoil (25mm) | Fertiliser | Delivery | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (20m²) | £80 | £25 | £8 | £40 | £153 |
| Medium (50m²) | £200 | £55 | £12 | Free | £267 |
| Large (100m²) | £400 | £100 | £18 | Free | £518 |
| Extra large (200m²) | £750* | £180 | £30 | Free | £960 |
*Bulk discount applied — most suppliers offer 5 to 10% off for orders over 100m².
These figures do not include tool hire. If you need to hire a turf cutter (£50 to £70/day) and a rotavator (£40 to £60/day), add another £90 to £130 for a weekend's hire. If your soil is in decent condition, you can skip the topsoil entirely and save £25 to £180 depending on your lawn size — use our soil calculator to check whether you need it.
Common Turfing Mistakes to Avoid
I have made most of these mistakes myself over the years, so let me save you the trouble. These are the 5 errors I see most often when people lay their own turf — and every single one is completely avoidable with a bit of planning.
1. Skipping Soil Preparation
This is the number one cause of failed turf. Laying new turf on compacted, stony, or unimproved soil is like laying carpet on a bumpy floor — it looks decent for a week, then the problems start showing. The turf roots cannot penetrate hard ground, so they stay shallow and the lawn dries out at the first hint of warm weather. Spend at least half your total project time on soil prep. Rotavate to 150mm, remove stones, add topsoil if needed, and rake until the surface is level and crumbly. This single step determines whether your lawn lasts 2 months or 20 years.
2. Leaving Gaps Between Rolls
Even a 5mm gap between turf rolls causes problems. The exposed edges dry out and shrink, turning that small gap into a 15 to 20mm crevice within days. Weeds then colonise the gaps, and you end up with visible lines running across the lawn that never fully disappear. Push each roll firmly against the next one — the edges should be touching with slight compression, not pulled apart. On hot days, turf shrinks as it dries, so lay it slightly overlapping and trim the excess with a sharp knife.
3. Walking on New Turf Too Soon
New turf takes 2 to 3 weeks to root into the soil beneath it. During this period, any foot traffic shifts the rolls, breaks the fragile new roots, and creates dips and ridges. Stay off the lawn completely for a minimum of 14 days — and that includes the dog. If you absolutely must cross the lawn (to reach a gate or shed, for example), lay planks down and walk on those. After 3 weeks, you can do a gentle "tug test" — grip a corner of the turf and pull. If it resists firmly, the roots have established. If it lifts easily, give it another week.
4. Not Watering Enough in the First 3 Weeks
Under-watering is the second biggest killer of new turf after poor soil prep. New turf has no established root system, so it relies entirely on surface moisture. In spring and autumn, you need to water daily for at least 14 days — roughly 10 to 15 litres per m² per week. In summer, that doubles to 20 to 30 litres per m² per week, applied in 2 daily sessions (early morning and early evening). The classic warning sign is turf edges curling upward and turning brown — by the time you see this, the damage is already done. If you are on a water meter, budget for an extra £15 to £30 on your water bill during the establishment period for a typical 50m² lawn.
5. Laying Turf in Midsummer Heat
July and August are the riskiest months to lay turf in the UK. Soil temperatures above 20°C dry out the turf faster than you can water it, and temperatures above 25°C can actually cook the roots before they establish. If you must lay turf in summer, order it for delivery first thing in the morning, lay it the same day, and soak the soil thoroughly before you even unroll the first piece. Ideally, wait for a cloudy spell or lay in late September when conditions are far more forgiving. The ideal soil temperature for turf establishment is 10 to 15°C — typical of April, May, September, and October in most of the UK.
Turf vs Grass Seed — Which Should You Choose?
This is probably the question I get asked most often, and the honest answer is: it depends on your budget, your timeline, and how much effort you are willing to put in. Both methods produce a perfectly good lawn, but they suit very different situations. I have used both extensively and each has clear advantages.
The Case for Turf
Turf gives you an instant lawn. You wake up with bare soil and go to bed with a green garden — there is nothing else in gardening that delivers that kind of transformation. Turf is also far better on slopes, where grass seed simply washes away in the first heavy rain. It suppresses weeds immediately because the dense mat smothers anything trying to grow underneath. The downside is cost: turf runs between £3.00 and £6.00 per m² for standard grades, which means a 50m² lawn costs £150 to £300 in turf alone. That is 3 to 5 times more expensive than seed for the same area.
The Case for Grass Seed
Grass seed costs just £0.15 to £0.50 per m², making it dramatically cheaper for large areas. A 100m² lawn costs about £15 to £50 in seed versus £300 to £600 in turf. Seed also gives you a wider choice of grass varieties — you can pick a mix tailored exactly to your conditions (shade, drought-tolerance, ornamental finish). The disadvantage is time: seed takes 6 to 8 weeks to establish a usable lawn, and during that period you have bare soil, weeds competing with the seedlings, and a garden you cannot use. Birds will also eat a proportion of the seed despite netting. If you are considering the seeding route, use our grass seed calculator to work out exactly how much you need.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Turf | Grass Seed |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per m² | £3.00–£6.00 | £0.15–£0.50 |
| 50m² lawn total cost | £150–£300 | £8–£25 |
| Time to usable lawn | 2–3 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
| Best season | Year-round (avoid frost/heatwaves) | April–May or September–October |
| Instant green result | Yes — green from day 1 | No — bare soil for 3–4 weeks |
| Slopes and banks | Excellent — holds soil immediately | Poor — seed washes away in rain |
| Weed suppression | Very good — dense mat blocks weeds | Poor — weeds compete with seedlings |
| Variety choice | Limited to what suppliers grow | Wide — hundreds of cultivars available |
My Rule of Thumb
Choose turf if your budget allows and you want results this weekend. Choose seed if you are covering a large area (over 100m²) on a tight budget and you can wait 2 months for the lawn to fill in. For anything on a slope steeper than about 1 in 4, always use turf — I have watched too many seeded slopes wash away in spring downpours. And if you are patching bare spots on an existing lawn, seed is almost always the better option because you can match the grass type exactly and it blends in more naturally than turf patches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Turf & Lawn Prep Products UK 2026 — Our Top Picks
Laying turf requires the right preparation. These are the most popular turf-related products in the UK — from pre-turf fertiliser to essential tools for a professional finish.
| Product | Size | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westland Pre-Turf Fertiliser | 10kg (200m²) | Essential prep — apply before laying turf | Amazon |
| Rolawn Medallion Turf (per m²) | 1m² roll | UK's #1 lawn turf — available via delivery | Amazon |
| Garden Roller (Water-Filled) | 30L | Compact soil before & press turf after laying | Amazon |
| Topsoil (Screened, Multi-Purpose) | 25L Bag | Level ground & improve drainage before turfing | Amazon |
| Landscaping Rake | — | Level soil perfectly before laying turf | Amazon |
| Lawn Edging (Flexible) | 10m | Clean border between turf & beds | Amazon |
Links above are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to Buy Turf in the UK
Once you know how many rolls you need, compare prices from these suppliers. Order for next-day delivery and lay the turf within 24 hours of arrival.
| Supplier | What They Stock | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK | Turf rolls, turf repair kits, pre-turf fertiliser | Small patch repairs, accessories |
| Amazon UK — Topsoil | Bagged topsoil (25L, 50L), soil improver, pre-turf dressing | Small-medium prep jobs |
| Amazon UK — Rollers | Lawn rollers, hand tampers, turf laying tools | Essential tools for laying turf |
Links marked above are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to reputable UK suppliers.