{
    "name": "Plant Spacing Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/plant-spacing-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/plant-spacing-calculator.md",
    "category": "Agriculture",
    "description": "Find the plant-to-plant spacing that gives a target population per hectare, acre or m², for fixed rows, square or triangular planting.",
    "summary": "Start from the population you want and get the spacing to plant at. Each plant needs area ÷ population, laid out in rows, squares or triangles.",
    "also_called": [
        "Planting distance calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "target_plants",
            "label": "Target population",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "60000"
        },
        {
            "name": "target_basis",
            "label": "Population is per",
            "type": "select",
            "default": "ha",
            "options": {
                "ha": "Hectare",
                "acre": "Acre",
                "m2": "Square metre"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "layout",
            "label": "Layout",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "rows",
            "options": {
                "rows": "Rows",
                "square": "Square",
                "triangular": "Triangular"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "row_spacing",
            "label": "Row spacing",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "75",
            "shown_when": {
                "layout": "rows"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "spacing_unit",
            "label": "Spacing in",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "cm",
            "options": {
                "cm": "cm",
                "in": "inches"
            }
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "plant_spacing",
            "label": "Spacing between plants",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "row_spacing_out",
            "label": "Distance between rows",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "area_per_plant_m2",
            "label": "Area per plant",
            "format": "decimal4"
        },
        {
            "key": "plants_per_ha",
            "label": "Plants per hectare",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "plants_per_acre",
            "label": "Plants per acre",
            "format": "integer"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Area per plant A = Area unit ÷ Population;  Rows: spacing = A ÷ Row spacing;  Square: s = √A;  Triangular: s = √(2A ÷ √3), rows s × √3 ÷ 2 apart",
        "variables": {
            "A": "area each plant occupies",
            "s": "distance between neighbouring plants"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "target_plants": "60000",
            "target_basis": "ha",
            "layout": "rows",
            "row_spacing": "75",
            "spacing_unit": "cm"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Area per plant = 10,000 m² ÷ 60,000 = 0.1667 m².",
            "In-row spacing = 0.1667 ÷ 0.75 m = 0.2222 m = 22.22 cm."
        ],
        "result": "For 60,000 plants per hectare in 75 cm rows, space plants 22.2 cm apart in the row."
    },
    "interpretation": "Spacing and output units follow the unit you choose (cm or inches). Triangular planting fits about 15% more plants than square planting at the same plant-to-plant distance.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Plants are evenly spaced; one plant per station."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Planters and seed plates set spacing in steps, so round to the nearest setting your equipment offers."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "What is triangular (hexagonal) spacing?",
            "answer": "Each plant sits at the corner of equilateral triangles, so every neighbour is the same distance away. Rows are offset and set √3/2 (0.866) of the plant spacing apart."
        },
        {
            "question": "How do I get spacing for a seed drill?",
            "answer": "Use the Rows layout with your drill’s row width and divide the result by your establishment rate if you want seed spacing rather than plant spacing."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Plant Population Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/plant-population-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Seed Rate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/seed-quantity-per-acre-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}