Plant Spacing Calculator
Estimate plant counts for foundation beds, hedges, and repeating landscape runs with a quick row-versus-stagger check.
Use this page for a fast bridge number or sanity check, then continue into the related calculators or guides below when the decision needs more than a raw conversion.
Count plants across a planted area.
Straight rows or a single line.
Pick a preset to seed the inputs, then fine-tune the numbers if your plant size or nursery stock calls for it.
Common spacing for foundation plantings that need to fill in without crowding.
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Calculate →How the calculator works
Use bed area when you are filling a planting bed and linear run when you are spacing a border, foundation strip, or hedge line. The spacing preset seeds the numbers, and the mature spread check keeps the final count tied to how the plants actually grow.
Bed area, straight rows: plants = area / spacing^2
Bed area, staggered rows: plants = area / (spacing^2 x 0.866)
Linear run: plants per row = ceil(run / spacing) + 1
Preset quick reference
| Preset | Spacing | Mature spread |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation shrubs Common spacing for foundation plantings that need to fill in without crowding. | 36 in | 48 in |
| Privacy hedge A looser hedge spacing that gives shrubs room to knit together over time. | 48 in | 60 in |
| Perennial drift Good for grouped perennials and smaller shrubs in repeating beds. | 24 in | 30 in |
| Groundcover grid Tighter spacing for low plants that are meant to close in quickly. | 18 in | 24 in |
Foundation spread checks
Foundation plantings are where spacing mistakes show up fastest. Tight spacing can create a dense look right away, but it also increases pruning and crowding later. Wider spacing can look cleaner on day one, yet the bed may feel empty until the plants fill in.