20×10 ft · 24 in rows · 18 in plants
Input
20 ft × 10 ft · row 24 in · plant 18 inOutput
~65 plants (13 × 5 grid)20÷1.5=13 plants/row; 10÷2=5 rows; 13×5=65.
Plant spacing on a rectangular grid counts how many positions fit when rows are **row spacing** apart and plants along each row are **plant spacing** apart.
**Imperial formula (grid layout):**
Plants along length = floor(Length ÷ Plant spacing)
Number of rows = floor(Width ÷ Row spacing)
**Total plants = plants per row × number of rows**
**Example — 20×10 ft bed, 24 in row spacing, 18 in plant spacing:**
Length: 20 ft ÷ 1.5 ft = **13** positions (or 20÷1.5 = 13.3 → 13)
Width: 10 ft ÷ 2 ft row spacing = **5 rows**
Total: 13 × 5 = **65 plants** (exact count depends on edge placement setting)
**Conservative estimate (no partial slots):**
Use floor division so partial spaces at edges are excluded — matches how most gardeners plant from center or edge with full spacing.
**Metric formula:**
Same logic with meters or centimeters — convert spacing to the same unit as bed dimensions.
**Example — 6 m × 3 m bed, 60 cm rows, 45 cm plants:**
600 ÷ 45 = 13 plants per row; 300 ÷ 60 = 5 rows → **65 plants**
Spacing on seed packets and plant tags is **center-to-center** unless noted as "thin to" distance. Staggered (offset) rows pack slightly more plants — this calculator uses a square grid unless your tool offers offset mode.
The calculator divides bed length and width by on-center spacing distances and multiplies the resulting row and column counts for a square-grid layout.
Formula
plants = floor(W ÷ row_spacing) × floor(L ÷ plant_spacing) | square-foot: floor(W ÷ S) × floor(L ÷ S)Tap 4×8 ft raised bed, 20×10 plot, or metric allotment — or enter your own length and width. Measure plantable soil only, not paths.
Row planting uses separate row and plant spacing from your seed packet. Square-foot mode uses one grid spacing (typically 12 in) for intensive beds.
Tap Tomato, Lettuce, Pepper, or Square foot on the main form — each sets recommended spacing. Verify against your cultivar tag.
Default 6 in inset per side keeps roots off frame boards. Enable the 10% order buffer for transplant loss — results show grid count and plants to order.
Results show rows across width, plants per row along length, plants per sq ft, and six-pack round-up for nursery shopping.
Spacing counts plants; fill volume is separate. Use Garden Soil or Raised Bed Soil calculators when building the bed from scratch.
Input
20 ft × 10 ft · row 24 in · plant 18 inOutput
~65 plants (13 × 5 grid)20÷1.5=13 plants/row; 10÷2=5 rows; 13×5=65.
Input
8 ft × 4 ft · row 12 in · plant 12 inOutput
64 plants (8 × 8)Square-foot style spacing — one plant per square foot equivalent.
Input
10 ft × 10 ft · row 36 in · plant 24 inOutput
~30 plants (5 × 6)Large spacing for peppers or bush squash.
Input
6 m × 3 m · row 60 cm · plant 45 cmOutput
~65 plantsMetric grid — same floor division logic.
Common real-world scenarios where this tool saves time.
20×10 ft bed, 36 in row spacing, 24 in plant spacing: ~4 rows × 10 plants = 40 tomatoes. Wider row spacing eases harvest paths.
4×8 ft bed, 12 in row and plant spacing: 8 rows × 8 plants = 64 heads. Tight spacing works for baby greens; thin for full heads.
30×2 ft border, 12 in spacing both ways: 2 rows × 30 plants = 60 cell packs to buy — round up for pack sizes.
Enter meters and centimeter spacing for EU seed labels — same grid math, no unit conversion errors.
Step-by-step chains that connect related tools for common tasks.
From bed build to transplant order in four steps.
Typical center-to-center spacing — verify your cultivar.
| Crop | Row spacing | Plant spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce (head) | 12–18 in | 10–12 in | Thin for size |
| Tomato (indeterminate) | 36–48 in | 18–24 in | Cage or stake |
| Pepper | 24–36 in | 18–24 in | Bush habit |
| Carrot (direct sow) | 12 in | 2–3 in | Thin after germination |
| Bush bean | 18–24 in | 4–6 in | Direct sow in rows |
| Method | Spacing logic | Plants in 4×8 bed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square grid (this tool) | Uniform row × plant spacing | Varies by spacing | Rows of single crops |
| Square foot (12 in grid) | 1 plant per sq ft | 32 max at 12 in | Intensive mixed beds |
| Hexagonal offset | Staggered rows | ~15% more than square | Orchards · some cut flowers |
| Bed size | Rows (24 in) | Plants/row (18 in) | Total plants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×8 ft | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| 4×10 ft | 5 | 6 | 30 |
| 10×10 ft | 5 | 6 | 30 |
| 20×10 ft | 5 | 13 | 65 |
Floor division; edge inset may reduce by one row or column.
| Situation | Extra % | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Transplants from nursery | 5–10% | Wilting · pest damage |
| Direct sow then thin | N/A — sow heavy | Thin to final spacing |
| Deer/rabbit pressure | 10–20% | Replace losses |
| First-time gardeners | 10% | Spacing mistakes |
**Row spacing** runs across the bed width (between rows). **Plant spacing** runs along the row. Check the seed packet diagram.
Tags list **on-center planting distance**, not final canopy width. Overcrowding invites disease.
Plants centered on the first spacing may overhang edges. Inset the grid or reduce count by one row/column.
Corn and some intensive layouts use staggered rows — square grid **undercounts** slightly vs offset.
Only measure **plantable soil** — not walkways between beds.
Direct-sown crops often seed dense then **thin to** final spacing — initial count is higher than mature grid.
Indeterminate tomatoes need wider row spacing for cages — use the larger packet recommendation.
Add 5–10% for transplant shock and slug damage.
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Divide bed width by row spacing to get the number of rows, and bed length by plant spacing for plants per row (use the same units). Multiply: plants per row × number of rows = total plants on a row grid.
Row spacing is the distance between rows measured across the bed width. Plant spacing is the distance between plants within each row along the bed length. Seed packets list both.
At 36 in row spacing and 24 in plant spacing: about 5 rows × 10 plants = 50 plants. Wider spacing for large cages reduces count — follow your cultivar tag.
Square-foot method uses 12 in × 12 in cells (one plant per square foot for many crops). Enter 12 in for both row and plant spacing on a 4×8 bed to approximate 32 positions.
Offset (hexagonal) layouts fit slightly more plants and improve canopy cover. This calculator uses a square grid — reduce spacing slightly or add a row for offset planning.
Depends on crop. At 12 in grid: up to 32 plants. At tomato spacing (36×24 in): about 8–10 plants. Use packet spacing for your crop.
Standard grid math uses floor division — partial spaces smaller than one spacing unit are dropped. Inset your grid from edges if you want margin.
Add 5–10% to transplant orders. Direct-sown crops are sown thick and thinned — buy seed by packet, not final plant count.
Calculate each crop zone separately or use the tightest spacing in mixed intensive beds. Companion paths may need wider row spacing.
Spacing counts plants; soil fill is separate. Use Garden Soil Calculator for 12 in bed fill, then this tool for layout.
When you enter only square footage, the calculator assumes a square bed with equal length and width (√area on each side) so row and plant spacing can run on a grid. Long narrow beds (for example 4×20 ft) should use rectangle mode for accurate counts.
Bed size and spacing preferences are calculated locally in your browser — EverydayTools does not collect plant counts or layout dimensions from this tool.
Layout estimates only — not agronomic advice. Follow seed packet, extension, and cultivar-specific spacing for final planting decisions.
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Reviewed on 2026-06-27.
24 in rows · 18 in plants — indeterminate cage spacing on a framed bed.
Along the row direction — plants run along this side.
Across the bed — row spacing divides this dimension.
Crop spacing (from seed packets)
Distance between row centers across the bed width.
Distance between plants within each row along the bed length.
Default 6 in per side keeps roots off frame boards — disable for maximum count.
Common vegetable spacing (verify your cultivar)
| Crop | Row spacing | Plant spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Lettuce (head) | 12–18 in | 10–12 in |
| Tomato (indeterminate) | 36–48 in | 18–24 in |
| Pepper | 24–36 in | 18–24 in |
| Carrot (direct sow) | 12 in | 2–3 in |
| Bush bean | 18–24 in | 4–6 in |
| Basil | 18 in | 10–12 in |
| Kale | 24 in | 18 in |
| Zucchini | 48 in | 36 in |