How much artificial grass do I need?
You need more artificial grass than your lawn’s area, because grass is sold in fixed-width rolls (2m, 4m, 5m). You pay for full roll widths run the length of the lawn, plus offcut trim — typically 5–15% more than the net area, depending on the shape and how the rolls are laid.
Start with the area, then think in rolls
Measure the length and width of the lawn to get the net area — but that is not what you buy. Grass rolls come in set widths, most often 2m, 4m and sometimes 5m, in long lengths. You buy whole roll widths, run down the lawn, and trim the excess. That trim is waste you have paid for.
A quick example
A 6m × 5m lawn is 30 m² net. Laid with 4m rolls, you need two strips 6m long: one full 4m width and one 2m-wide strip cut from a second 4m roll. That is 2 × 4m × 6m = 48 m² of roll bought to cover 30 m² of lawn — until you rotate the lay. Running the rolls the other way (two 5m strips, 4m + 1m) buys 2 × 4m × 5m = 40 m². Same lawn, 8 m² less grass, just by changing direction.
How to keep waste down
Add roughly 10% to your net area as a rule of thumb, then refine it by planning the actual rolls. Mixing widths (a 4m roll plus a 2m roll) often beats a single width. Lay the rolls the same way — never mix pile directions across a lawn, or the colour looks patchy — and run the pile toward the main viewpoint.
The precise answer comes from a roll plan: it lays the strips for the real lawn shape and tells you exactly how many square metres to order, waste included.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra artificial grass should I order for waste?
A common rule of thumb is about 10% over the net lawn area, but the real figure depends on shape and roll width — anywhere from 5% for a simple rectangle to 20%+ for an awkward or curved lawn. A roll plan gives the exact number.
What widths does artificial grass come in?
Most artificial grass is sold in 2m and 4m widths, with some ranges offering 5m. It comes in long rolls, so the width is the constraint you plan around.
Does the direction I lay the grass matter?
Yes, twice over. It changes how much waste you buy, and the pile has a direction — lay all rolls the same way, ideally with the pile leaning toward where the lawn is viewed from, so the colour reads evenly.
Sources
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