How Much Does a Pallet of Sod Weigh

May 29, 2019 | Grass, Sod, Sod Harvesting, posted by Sasha

Sod, or turf, is used to grow grass and complete our landscapes, giving your yard that fresh, natural, and well-kept feel. If you need to create or improve your yard, sod will usually be the first place to start. Bringing grass into your garden can take a lot of work, and requires careful planning. Transporting a 3,000 lb sod pallet can be one of the most significant difficulties.

Generally, sod is sold and transported on pallets for easy loading, hauling, and unloading. Understanding the sod pallet’s weight is vital before scheduling a grass pick-up. Only then can you be sure that your vehicle can handle transportation without damage. That way, you can check your truck’s payload/tow-load or schedule a heavy-duty truck and trailer rental, if need be.

You also need to consider various other factors affecting the sod pallet’s weight. 

What Affects a Sod Pallet’s Weight?

The pallet’s weight will depend on both the type of sod itself and the pallet used. The wooden pallet’s weight can vary depending on how it is made. The pallets used by The Grass Outlet will always be made of wood, but the type of wood and the size of the pallet will change how much it weighs.

Full pallets for sod tend to come in two sizes: one that can hold 450 sq ft of sod or one that can carry 500 sq ft. If you get a pallet that can hold 500 sq ft of grass, the pallet will be significantly heavier. On top of this, the sod itself can vary. Although our harvesting tractors are set to cut 1″ of soil with the grass, sometimes the cutters will get a little more or less when harvesting in a lower or higher spot in the fields. Further, some cultivars will hold on to the soil better than others when handled during the stacking & unstacking processes. 

Having more soil will mean that the pallet will be heavier, affecting transportation requirements. The weight of the sod will also depend on whether it is wet or dry (such as after a significant weather event). An increase in the moisture content of the soil will add weight to the sod pallet.

What Will the Final Weight Be?

The weight of any one pallet of sod will depend on the manufacturer and various environmental factors. So it is always a good idea to check with the vendor before arranging transportation. Generally, one pallet’s weight will be around 2,800 – 3,000 lbs. There are plenty of varieties of sod that will be substantially heavier too.

Checking with the professionals at The Grass Outlet will help you understand what you need. As long as you have a vehicle that can transport up to 3,000 pounds, you can assume you will be able to transport a single pallet of sod purchased from The Grass Outlet in a single trip.

Contact Us Today to Discuss Delivery Options for Your Location

Here at The Grass Outlet, we cover everything grass from location, type, and how to get it to you. We’ll help you determine approximately how many pallets your space needs if you provide us with your square footage. Get started today!