Artificial Grass Calculator

How This Is Calculated

Strips needed is the area's width divided by the roll width, rounded up - this is how many roll-width pieces have to be laid side by side to cover the full width. Each strip needs to run the full area length, with your wastage allowance added for trimming and pile matching, so the total length of grass to buy is the number of strips multiplied by that length.

Joining tape is needed along every seam between adjacent strips (one fewer seam than the number of strips), running the full length of the area. Turf pins are estimated from the total length of every edge that needs pinning down - the perimeter plus every seam - divided by your chosen pin spacing.

Common Questions

Why does the number of strips matter so much?

Artificial grass only comes in fixed roll widths, so any area wider than one roll needs a second strip joined alongside it - and the whole strip has to be bought at full length even if the leftover width isn't used. On an irregular garden shape, that leftover offcut can sometimes be reused elsewhere, which is worth planning for before ordering.

Why does the pile direction matter at seams?

Artificial grass has a distinct grain, like carpet, and every strip needs to run the same direction. Turning a strip around to save material creates a visible line where the pile catches the light differently, which is far more obvious outdoors in direct sunlight than it sounds.

Do I need to prepare the ground underneath first?

Yes - a proper sub-base of compacted hardcore (typically MOT type 1) with a sharp sand blinding layer on top, and a weed membrane between the base and the grass, is standard practice. Skipping this leads to an uneven surface, poor drainage and weeds growing through over time. This calculator covers the grass, tape and pins only, not the sub-base materials.

What are turf pins actually for?

They pin the grass down at the perimeter and along every seam so the edges don't lift or curl, and so seams stay tight against each other rather than gapping over time. They're driven through the backing into the sub-base beneath, not just decoratively pressed in.