Garden Plant Spacing Calculator

How it works

square: plants per row = ⌊usable length ÷ spacing⌋ + 1 · rows = ⌊usable width ÷ spacing⌋ + 1 · triangular: rows sit spacing × √3 ÷ 2 (0.866) apart and every other row is shifted half a spacing · rows layout: rows = ⌊usable width ÷ row gap⌋ + 1 · usable size = bed size − 2 × edge setback · any shape: plants = area ÷ (spacing × row gap)

Each bed dimension is divided by the spacing to see how many plants fit along it, plus one for the plant at the start of the row. In a square grid every plant has four neighbors at the full spacing. A triangular (offset) layout shifts every other row by half a spacing so plants nest like a honeycomb: rows can sit 0.866 × the spacing apart and every plant still keeps the full distance from all six neighbors, which fits up to about 15% more plants on larger beds. On small or narrow beds the shifted rows can lose a plant at the end, so the calculator counts every row and compares both layouts. The rows layout lets you set a wider gap between rows for paths or larger crops. You can start plants at the edge or set them back half a spacing (so outer plants do not hang over the side), and for round beds each row is counted across its own chord. Crop presets fill in intensive bed spacing from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Worked example

An 8 ft × 4 ft bed at 12 in (1 ft) spacing, plants at the edge: ⌊8 ÷ 1⌋ + 1 = 9 plants per row and ⌊4 ÷ 1⌋ + 1 = 5 rows, so 45 plants in a square grid. In a triangular layout rows sit 0.866 ft apart, which still gives ⌊4 ÷ 0.866⌋ + 1 = 5 rows, but the two shifted rows hold only 8 plants each: 3 × 9 + 2 × 8 = 43. Setting the plants half a spacing in from the edge leaves 7 × 3 ft to plant, which holds 8 × 4 = 32 plants, each with a full foot of room.

Sources: Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-335 — intensive gardening spacing guide · Omni Calculator — plant spacing (square, rectangular and triangular grids, border)

Frequently asked questions