By lawn size
How much fertilizer for one acre?
One acre is 43,560 sq ft, about 209 ft on each side of a square. At the usual 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, that is 43.6 lb of nitrogen, or 150 lb of a 29-0-4 lawn food.
The short answer
- Lawn food 29-0-4150 lbat 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft
- Complete 16-4-8272 lbat 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft
- All-purpose 10-10-10436 lbat 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft
- Urea 46-0-094.7 lbat 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft
Pounds to spread
Fertilizer for one acre, by rate
One feeding usually carries 0.5 to 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft. Pick the row for your bag's first number.
| Bag numbers | 0.5 lb N / 1,000 | 0.75 lb N / 1,000 | 1.0 lb N / 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29-0-4 lawn food | 75.1 lb | 113 lb | 150 lb |
| 16-4-8 complete | 136 lb | 204 lb | 272 lb |
| 10-10-10 all-purpose | 218 lb | 327 lb | 436 lb |
| 46-0-0 urea | 47.3 lb | 71.0 lb | 94.7 lb |
Bags to buy
Whole bags at 1 lb of nitrogen
| Bag numbers | 15 lb bags | 30 lb bags | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29-0-4 | 11 | 6 | 4 |
| 16-4-8 | 19 | 10 | 6 |
| 10-10-10 | 30 | 15 | 9 |
| 46-0-0 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
A whole year
Nitrogen a year for one acre, by grass
Typical yearly ranges from university extension guides, multiplied out for one acre. Spread the total over several feedings.
| Grass | lb of nitrogen a year | lb of 29-0-4 a year |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | 43.6–174 | 150–601 |
| Tall fescue | 43.6–174 | 150–601 |
| Bermudagrass | 131–218 | 451–751 |
| St. Augustinegrass | 87.1–174 | 300–601 |
| Zoysiagrass | 87.1–131 | 300–451 |
| Centipedegrass | 17.4–87.1 | 60.1–300 |
Calculator
Your bag, your rate
The calculator starts at one acre. Type the numbers from your own bag for an exact answer.
Other sizes
Fertilizer by lawn size
Questions
One acre, answered
How much fertilizer do I need for one acre?
At the usual 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, one acre takes 43.6 lb of nitrogen. That is 150 lb of a 29-0-4 lawn food, 272 lb of 16-4-8 or 436 lb of 10-10-10.
How many bags of fertilizer for one acre?
With 29-0-4 at 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, you need 150 lb: 11 bags of 15 lb or 4 of 50 lb. Bags round up, so check what is left over in the calculator above.
How big is one acre?
One acre is 43,560 sq ft, about 209 ft on each side of a square. Measure your own lawn with the lawn measuring tool, leaving out the house, drive and beds.