🌱 Plant Spacing Calculator
Enter your bed size and plant spacing to see how many plants fit — in a square grid or a space-saving triangular layout.
Plants that fit (square)
40
Bed area
40 ft²
square 40 · triangular 46
Square grid = area ÷ spacing². Triangular (offset) rows fit about 15% more plants for the same spacing — area ÷ (spacing² × 0.866). Use the on-centre spacing from the seed packet. 🔒 In your browser.
How the plant spacing calculator works
For a square grid, the number of plants is the bed area divided by the spacing squared. A triangular (offset-row) layout, where each row is shifted half a space, packs plants closer: it fits about 15% more for the same spacing, because the rows sit √3⁄2 (≈ 0.866) of a spacing apart. The tool computes both from your bed dimensions and the on-centre spacing.
Use the recommended on-centre spacing from the seed packet or plant label. Triangular spacing maximises the number of plants and ground cover, which also helps shade out weeds — handy for intensive or square-foot gardening.
Frequently asked questions
How many plants fit in my garden bed?
Divide the bed area by the spacing squared for a square grid. A 10 × 4 ft bed (40 ft²) with plants 12 in (1 ft) apart fits 40 in a grid, or about 46 in a triangular layout. Enter your figures and the tool shows both.
What is triangular plant spacing?
An offset layout where each row is shifted half a plant-space from the next, so plants sit in a hexagonal pattern. It fits about 15% more plants than a square grid at the same spacing, and gives better ground cover.
How much closer can I plant with triangular spacing?
About 15.5% more plants for the same on-centre spacing, because the offset rows are spaced 0.866 × the spacing apart instead of a full spacing. It's the most efficient equal-distance layout.
What spacing should I use?
Follow the on-centre spacing on the seed packet or plant tag — it accounts for the mature plant's size. Tighter spacing increases yield per area up to a point, then crowds plants and reduces airflow.
Does closer spacing increase yield?
Up to a point — more plants per area can mean more total yield and fewer weeds, but overcrowding reduces air circulation and light, raising disease risk and shrinking individual plants. Stick near the recommended spacing.