Plant Spacing Calculator
This plant spacing calculator tells you how many plants fit in a garden bed: number of rows, plants per row, area per plant and plants per square foot or meter – in a square grid or in the space-saving staggered (triangular) pattern.
Example: What do you want to find: How many plants fit in the bed? · Unit: Inches (in) · Bed length 160 · Bed width 48 · Spacing within the row 12 · Spacing between rows 12 · Pattern: Grid (rows in a square) · Edge margin 6 → Result: 52 plants (4 rows of 13 plants each). Source: Wolfram MathWorld – Equilateral triangle: height = side · √3/2. Updated: .
How it is calculated
Plant spacing decides how many plants fit in a bed and how much room each one has to grow. The tool works out the number of rows and plants from the bed size, spacing and edge margin.
How it is calculated
First the edge strip is subtracted. The remaining length holds as many plants as the spacing fits in, plus one: with 370 cm of usable length and 30 cm spacing there are 12 gaps and so 13 plants. The number of rows follows in the same way from the usable width and the row spacing.
- Grid: rows run parallel at a fixed row spacing, with plants directly behind each other – easy to hoe and water.
- Staggered (triangular): every second row is shifted by half the spacing, and the row spacing is spacing × 0.866 (√3 ÷ 2). About 15% more plants fit on the same area.
- Spacing for a set number: if a given number of plants should go in the bed, the spacing is the square root of area ÷ number.
Which spacing to choose?
The right number depends on the plant – lettuce stands closer than squash. Go by the seed packet or plant label and let the tool do the arithmetic. Choose a generous spacing if the plants will spread widely later.
Related calculators: for a raised bed use the raised bed soil calculator, for areas the square meter calculator, and for converting square meters to acres the area converter.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate plant spacing?
Bed length minus the edge strip, divided by the spacing, plus one, gives the plants per row. Multiply by the number of rows for the total: 370 ÷ 30 = 12 → 13 plants per row.
How many plants fit in a square meter?
10,000 divided by the area per plant in cm². At 30 × 30 cm that is 11 plants per m², at 25 × 40 cm exactly 10.
What is a triangular pattern?
A staggered planting where every plant is equally far from its neighbors. The row spacing is 0.866 times the plant spacing, so about 15% more plants fit on the area.
How wide should the edge margin be?
Usually half the plant spacing, so edge plants get as much room as inner ones. In framed beds 4–6 inches is often enough.
How do I find the spacing for a set number of plants?
Choose “What spacing do I get for my number of plants?”: the tool divides the bed area by the number and takes the square root – 4 m² and 25 plants give 40 cm.
Sources and legal basis
As of: · Editorial policy
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