Use our free calculator to plan perfect spacing for garden beds, hedges, groundcovers, containers, and bulbs. Choose grid or triangular spacing, pick a plant, and see exactly how many to buy—plus expert spacing tips.
Free Plant Spacing Calculator
Plant Spacing Calculator
All inputs will use the selected unit set.
Excluded from planting on all sides.
Multiplier — Square: – / Triangular: – (plants per sq ft)
Turn on “Show plant spread” to preview overlap.
“Placed (preview)” is exact icons. “Recommended” applies rounding to the theoretical count.
Enter area and spacing to see results.
Visual Preview
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Embed this calculator
Copy the iframe code and paste it into any web page.
What this tool does
- Calculates plant count for a rectangular bed from your Length, Width, and Plant Spacing.
- Lets you choose a layout pattern (Square/Grid or Triangular/Offset).
- Shows a live visual preview so you can see density at a glance.
- Provides Print/Save PDF, Copy Shareable Link, Download CSV, and Embed options.
Who will use this
- Home gardeners planning beds and borders.
- Landscape pros estimating quantities and layouts.
- Garden centers & nurseries assisting customers.
- HOAs, schools, municipalities standardizing installs.
- Bloggers/educators who want to embed a free planning tool.
Quick start (Simple Mode)
- Open the calculator: Free Plant Spacing Calculator
- Enter bed size: Fill in Length and Width.
- Enter plant spacing: Type the distance between plants (e.g.,
12 in). - Choose layout: Square/Grid or Triangular/Offset.
- Review results: Total plant count and a visual preview appear. Adjust inputs to refine.
- Save/share: Print/PDF, shareable link, CSV—as needed.
If the preview is hidden, make sure Length, Width, and Spacing all have values.
Advanced options
When enabled, Advanced Mode can include refinements like stagger offsets, margins, and helper guides. If you don’t see these controls, the page is in Simple Mode for faster embedding—the core math and preview remain the same.
Features & benefits
Features
- Instant plant count
- Square/Grid & Triangular/Offset patterns
- Live visual preview
- Print/PDF, Shareable Link, CSV
- Free website embed
Benefits
- Faster planning—no manual math
- Accurate orders—reduce waste
- Cleaner installs—consistent spacing
- Easy collaboration—share or print
- Add value to your site—free embed
How to interpret spacing
- Use the plant’s mature width as a starting point.
- For spacing ranges (e.g., 6–9 in), choose the lower number for fuller massing, the higher for airflow/maintenance.
- Tighter spacing = quick fill & more plants. Wider spacing = fewer plants & larger individual form.
Common questions
Why is my preview empty?
Enter valid values for Length, Width, and Plant Spacing. The preview stays hidden until the calculator has enough info.
Which layout should I choose?
Square/Grid is straightforward for most installs. Triangular/Offset tucks plants into gaps and can increase count by ~10–15% for the same spacing.
Can I use feet instead of inches?
Yes—use the units the page requests. Many gardeners prefer inches for spacing and feet for bed size, but either is fine.
Does this work on mobile?
Yes. The layout is responsive, and you can print/share from phones and tablets.
Best-practice tips
- Measure the inside edges of the bed and round conservatively if it isn’t a perfect rectangle.
- Account for obstacles (rocks, posts, trees) by planning in sections or reducing the dimensions.
- Plan for growth: tight spacing looks great now, but some species prefer more room later.
- Save a PDF before shopping so you can adjust on-site if inventory changes.
Troubleshooting
- Embed not appearing: Use a Raw HTML block; some builders strip iframes from rich text blocks.
- Print layout off-center: Switch to A4/Letter, try “Fit to page” or “Scale: 100%.”
- CSV won’t download: Allow downloads/pop-ups for
plantaddicts.comin your browser.