Plant spacing calculator
How many plants, perennials or ground cover you need to fill a bed at a given spacing, in a square grid or staggered rows.
Plants needed
How to use it
Enter the size of the bed and the spacing on the plant tag, which is the distance between plants, center to center. Choose a square grid, where plants line up in both directions, or staggered rows, where each row is offset by half a space like bricks in a wall. Staggered rows fill in faster and look more natural for ground cover.
How it's calculated
- Area = length × width.
- Square grid: each plant covers spacing × spacing.
- Staggered rows: each plant covers spacing × spacing × 0.866, because the rows sit closer together (a triangle layout).
- Plants = area ÷ area per plant, rounded up.
| Spacing | Square grid, per 100 sq ft | Staggered rows, per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 400 | 462 |
| 8 in | 225 | 260 |
| 12 in | 100 | 116 |
| 18 in | 45 | 52 |
| 24 in | 25 | 29 |
| 36 in | 12 | 13 |
Tips
- This is for filling an area. For a single row along a fence or path, divide the length in inches by the spacing and add one.
- Small or narrow beds may fit a few plants fewer than the area suggests, because plants near the edge are set back from it.
- Use the tag's spacing, which is based on the plant's mature size. Planting closer fills in faster but crowds the plants later.