Plant Spacing Calculator
Calculate plants per area from row and in-row spacing.
Please note: Planning figures based on published averages. Soil type, climate, variety, season and local practice all shift these results substantially. Base real decisions on a soil test, local extension guidance and the product label — particularly for fertiliser, lime and any crop protection product, where the label is a legal document.
What the Plant Spacing Calculator does
Plant density comes from the area each plant occupies, which is row spacing multiplied by in-row spacing. Staggering alternate rows into a triangular pattern reduces that area by a factor of √3/2, fitting noticeably more plants into the same ground.
Formula
Area per plant = Row spacing × In-row spacingTriangular: × √3 ÷ 2, about 0.866Plants per hectare = 10,000 ÷ Area per plantTotal = Plants per hectare × Area
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row spacing | cm | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Spacing within the row | cm | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Planting pattern | one of 2 options | Yes | — |
| Area to plant | number | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Area to plant unit | one of 4 options | Yes | — |
| Allowance for headlands and edges | % | Optional | — |
How to use it
- Choose Planting pattern and Area to plant unit.
- Enter Row spacing, Spacing within the row and Area to plant.
- Optionally add Allowance for headlands and edges.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
Rows 75 cm apart with plants every 25 cm, on a square grid over one hectare.
- Rows
- 75 cm
- In row
- 25 cm
- Pattern
- Square grid
- Area
- 1 ha
0.75 × 0.25 = 0.1875 m² per plant, so 53,333 plants per hectare.
Frequently asked questions
Is triangular spacing worth the extra effort?
It fits 15.5% more plants in the same area, which matters for high-value crops. For anything machine-planted the row spacing is usually fixed anyway.
Should I allow for headlands?
Yes, for a real plant order. Turning areas and field margins commonly account for 5–10% of a field, and buying short is worse than buying slightly over.