Grass Seed Rates Explained: Reading the Label

The formula

Seed needed (lb) = lawn area (sq ft) ÷ 1,000 × seeding rate (lb per 1,000 sq ft). So a 6,000 sq ft lawn seeded at 6 lb per 1,000 sq ft needs 36 lb of seed.

Use the rate on your seed bag

Seed labels usually list a rate for new lawns and another for overseeding, either as pounds per 1,000 sq ft or as a total coverage (for example, “covers up to 2,000 sq ft”). Because mixes, coated seed, and cultivars vary, the label rate is the most reliable number. If your label lists coverage, divide the bag weight by the coverage and multiply by 1,000 to get the rate.

Typical rates by grass type

These are approximate ranges for planning before you've picked a product. They are not a replacement for your label.

• Kentucky bluegrass: about 2–3 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn
• Tall fescue: about 6–8 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn
• Perennial ryegrass: about 6–9 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn
• Fine fescues: about 3–5 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a new lawn
• Hulled Bermudagrass: about 1–2 lb per 1,000 sq ft
• Overseeding: often roughly half the new-lawn rate

Measuring your lawn

Break the lawn into rectangles, multiply length by width for each, and add them up. Subtract large areas you won't seed, like patios and beds. Online map tools with area measurement can give a useful cross-check for large lawns.

Getting good germination

• Seed at the right time for your grass: early fall for cool-season grasses, late spring for warm-season grasses
• Make sure seed contacts soil — rake lightly or core aerate first when overseeding
• Spread half the seed in one direction and half crosswise for even coverage
• Keep the top of the soil consistently moist until seedlings are established