Plant Spacing Calculator
Find how many plants you need for a bed, border or field at a given spacing. Compare a square grid with a triangular (staggered) pattern or rows, and see the exact layout for a rectangular bed.
Center-to-center distance between plants
Distance between rows
How to use the Plant Spacing Calculator
- Choose units and whether you know the bed dimensions or only the total area.
- Pick the pattern: square grid, triangular (staggered) or rows.
- Enter the spacing recommended on the plant tag (and the row spacing for rows).
- Read the number of plants and the layout, then add extra for losses if you like.
- Check the table to compare other spacings, or download it as CSV.
Plant spacing formulas
| Pattern | Space per plant | Plants needed |
|---|---|---|
| Square grid | s × s | Area ÷ s² |
| Triangular (staggered) | s × s × 0.866 | Area ÷ (0.866 × s²) ≈ 1.155 × square |
| Rows | s × row spacing | Area ÷ (s × row spacing) |
Use the same unit for area and spacing: convert inches to feet by dividing by 12, or centimeters to meters by dividing by 100. In a triangular grid the rows are s × 0.866 apart and every second row is shifted by s ÷ 2.
Plants per 100 sq ft at common spacings
| Spacing | Square grid | Triangular | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 900 | 1,040 | Plugs of small groundcovers, carrots |
| 6 in | 400 | 462 | Ajuga, creeping thyme, onions |
| 8 in | 225 | 260 | Vinca, pachysandra, lettuce |
| 12 in | 100 | 116 | Liriope, hostas (small), peppers |
| 18 in | 45 | 52 | Perennials, tomatoes (caged) |
| 24 in | 25 | 29 | Ornamental grasses, shrubs (small) |
| 36 in | 12 | 13 | Shrubs, squash |
Counts are rounded up from the area estimate. Typical uses are only examples: always follow the spacing recommended for your variety.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many plants I need?
Divide the planting area by the space each plant takes. For a square grid that is spacing × spacing: 100 sq ft at 12 in (1 ft) spacing needs 100 ÷ 1 = 100 plants. For rows, use plant spacing × row spacing.
What is triangular spacing?
Triangular (staggered or offset) spacing places every plant the same distance from its six neighbors, with each row shifted by half a spacing. Each plant occupies spacing² × 0.866, so you fit about 15.5% more plants than in a square grid and get faster, more even cover.
How many plants per square foot at 12-inch spacing?
One plant per square foot on a square grid, and about 1.15 per square foot on a triangular grid. At 6-inch spacing it is 4 per square foot (square) and about 4.62 (triangular).
Why is the layout count lower than the area estimate?
The area estimate assumes plants can fill every bit of space, including the edges. In a real bed you keep plants a little away from the edges, so the exact layout often fits fewer plants than the area ÷ spacing estimate.
What does spacing mean on a plant tag?
It is the center-to-center distance between plants, roughly the plant's mature spread. Spacing closer than recommended fills in faster but costs more and can crowd plants; wider spacing saves plants but takes longer to cover.
How many groundcover plants do I need for 100 square feet?
At 12 in spacing, about 100 plants on a square grid or 116 staggered. At 8 in spacing about 225 square or 260 staggered. At 18 in spacing about 45 square or 52 staggered.