Artificial Turf Calculator — Turf, Base & Infill
Plan an artificial grass install end to end. Enter your area and this calculator returns the turf (with waste), the crushed-rock base in tons, and the infill bags you need — the full materials list.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet.
- Set the base depth — 3–4 inches of crushed rock (Class II road base or decomposed granite) is standard.
- Choose an infill rate; 1–2 lb per square foot of silica sand keeps the blades upright.
- Order turf in roll widths (usually 15 ft); the 10% waste covers seams and trimming.
The formula
An artificial turf install needs three materials, so we calculate each.
Turf = area + 10% for seams and trimming. Turf comes in 15 ft rolls, so plan your seams.
Base = area × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.4 → tons of crushed rock.
Infill = area × infill rate (lb/sq ft) ÷ 50 → 50 lb bags.
Worked example
A 20 ft × 15 ft lawn, 3 in base, 1.5 lb/sq ft infill.
Area = 20 × 15 = 300 sq ftTurf = 300 × 1.1 = 330 sq ftBase = 300 × (3 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.4 ≈ 3.9 tonsInfill = 300 × 1.5 ÷ 50 = 9 bags
For a 300 sq ft lawn: 330 sq ft of turf, ~3.9 tons of base, and 9 bags of infill.
Frequently asked questions
How much base do I need under artificial turf?
Use 3–4 inches of compacted crushed rock for residential lawns, and up to 4–6 inches in high-traffic or poorly draining areas. That is roughly 0.15 tons per square foot at 3 inches.
How much infill does artificial grass need?
Plan on 1–2 pounds of infill per square foot depending on pile height. Infill weighs the turf down, keeps blades upright, and protects the backing.
How much extra turf should I buy?
Add about 10%. Turf has a grain direction (all pieces must face the same way) and comes in fixed roll widths, so seams and trimming create waste.