Grass seed calculator
How much seed to buy for a new lawn or for overseeding, from your lawn size and grass type. If your seed bag gives its own rate, use that.
Seeding rates by grass type
Pounds of seed per 1,000 sq ft:
| Grass | New lawn | Overseeding |
|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue | 6–8 lb | 3–4 lb |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2–3 lb | 1–1.5 lb |
| Perennial ryegrass | 6–9 lb | 3–4 lb |
| Fine fescue | 4–5 lb | 2–2.5 lb |
| Bermudagrass (hulled) | 1–2 lb | – |
| Zoysiagrass | 1–2 lb | – |
| Centipedegrass | 0.25–0.5 lb | – |
| Bahiagrass | 5–10 lb | – |
Typical university extension rates. Warm-season lawns are rarely overseeded with their own seed: fill thin or bare spots at the new-lawn rate. Seed mixes and coated seed list their own rate on the bag. St. Augustine grass is grown from sod or plugs, not seed.
Tips for the seed to take
- Seed cool-season grass in early fall, when soil is between 50°F and 65°F. Seed warm-season grass once soil stays above 65°F. Check your soil temperature.
- More seed is not better: crowded seedlings compete and thin out. Stay within the range.
- Spread half the seed in one direction and half crosswise, so coverage is even.
- Keep the top inch of soil moist until the new grass is about 2 inches tall.
- Crabgrass preventer stops grass seed from sprouting too; see When to overseed for how to time the two.
Feeding the new lawn? Try the fertilizer calculator.