HesapHanem

Plant Spacing Calculator

Find how many plants fit.

How it is calculated

The tool lays plants on a square grid. Bed length and width are in metres and spacing is in centimetres. It converts spacing to metres (s = spacing / 100) and counts how many whole plants fit along each side: rows = floor(length / s) and columns = floor(width / s). The total is rows × columns.

Because each count is rounded down, a leftover strip narrower than one spacing is not used; a length that is an exact multiple of the spacing counts in full (0.3 m at 10 cm gives 3). All plants are assumed to be on the same spacing in both directions; staggered (triangular) planting, which fits more, and different row and in-row distances are not modelled. Spacing must be above zero. Check the plant's recommended spacing on the seed packet, and note that the grid starts at the bed's edge, so edge plants may sit closer to the border than ideal.

Worked example

A bed is 5 m long and 2 m wide, and the plants are 30 cm apart, so s = 0.30 m. Along the length, 5 / 0.30 = 16.67, which rounds down to 16. Along the width, 2 / 0.30 = 6.67, which rounds down to 6. The bed holds 16 × 6 = 96 plants.

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Common mistakes

  • Entering the bed dimensions in centimetres. They must be in metres, or the count will be hugely overstated.
  • Entering spacing in metres (0.3) instead of centimetres (30).
  • Using the centre-to-centre distance for a crop that needs wider rows than in-row gaps, such as many vegetables; the tool uses one distance for both.
  • Ignoring paths and edges. If you need an access path inside the bed, subtract its width first.

About this calculator

This calculator finds how many plants fit in a bed at a given spacing, dividing the bed's area by the space each plant needs (spacing × spacing) on a square grid of rows and columns.

Home gardeners use it to plan a vegetable bed before buying seedlings, and small farmers use it to estimate seed or transplant quantities for a new planting.

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  • Editorial team

    The count assumes plants fill the bed right up to its borders, but most gardeners leave a margin and a working path. Subtract those widths from the bed size before entering it. Measure the bed in metres and the spacing in centimetres, and treat the total as an upper estimate. Buy a few spare plants for losses. Which crop are you planting, and how far apart does its packet say?

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