How much grass seed do you need for 5,000 square feet?
Seeding 5,000 square feet (5,000 sq ft) as a new lawn takes about 40 lb of tall fescue or 12.5 lb of Kentucky bluegrass. Overseeding an existing lawn takes roughly half as much.
Change the numbers
The calculator below is pre-filled for this project. Adjust any value — including feet and inches — and the results update instantly.
Rates are typical mid-range values; your seed bag’s rate takes priority.
Your results
Grass seed needed40 lb
Buy at least40 lb
Rate used8 lb per 1,000 sq ft
Lawn area5,000 sq ft
Seed for 5,000 square feet by grass type
Grass
New lawn
Overseeding
Tall fescue
40 lb
20 lb
Kentucky bluegrass
12.5 lb
6.3 lb
Perennial ryegrass
35 lb
17.5 lb
Fine fescue
22.5 lb
11.3 lb
Bermudagrass, hulled
7.5 lb
3.8 lb
Bahiagrass
37.5 lb
18.8 lb
Centipedegrass
2.5 lb
1.3 lb
Seed blends list a seeding rate on the bag; when they do, use it instead of the species rates above.
The math (tall fescue)
5,000 ÷ 1,000 × 8 lb = 40 lb
Common questions
How much grass seed for 5,000 square feet?
About 40 lb of tall fescue or 12.5 lb of Kentucky bluegrass for a new lawn; about half for overseeding.
