How many plants fit in your bed?
Number of plants for a bed at any spacing, with square-grid and staggered triangular layouts compared side by side.
Formula shownNo signupShareable linkUpdated October 18, 2026
Before you buy: Use the mature width on the plant tag as the spacing. For square-foot gardening, a 12" grid with 1, 4, 9 or 16 plants per square works the same way.
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Worked examples
| Spacing | Square (10×4 bed) | Triangular |
|---|---|---|
| 6" | 160 | 184 |
| 9" | 71 | 82 |
| 12" | 40 | 46 |
| 18" | 17 | 20 |
| 24" | 10 | 11 |
Formula & assumptions
Square grid: plants = area (in²) ÷ spacing². Triangular: plants = area ÷ (spacing² × 0.866), because staggered rows sit 0.866 × spacing apart. Triangular fits about 15% more plants at the same spacing, which helps groundcovers fill in faster. These are interior estimates; edge rows can shift the count by a few plants.
FAQ
How many plants for 100 square feet at 12-inch spacing?
100 on a square grid, or about 115 in a staggered triangular layout.
Square or triangular spacing?
Triangular for groundcovers, hedges and mass plantings (better coverage). Square for vegetables you weed and harvest by row.
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