Hedge Plant Spacing and Cost Calculator
Enter the hedge length, plant spacing, row layout, contingency, and unit price to estimate how many plants to order and what the plants will cost.
Total plants to order11
- Plants per row
- 10
- Base plants needed
- 10
- Extra plants
- 1
- Estimated plant cost
- $165.00
- Plant cost per linear foot
- $5.50
- Base plants per linear foot
- 0.33
Assumes 1 full planting row of equal length.
Spacing is measured center to center between plants.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the hedge run in feet along the planned planting line.
- Enter the center-to-center spacing recommended for the plant species and starting size.
- Choose a single row or a staggered double row.
- Add a spare-plant percentage and the delivered price per plant to estimate the order cost.
How the plant count is calculated
This calculator starts with the planting run, not the mature width of the hedge. Enter the length along the centerline of the hedge, then enter the nursery or supplier spacing measured from the center of one plant to the center of the next. The calculator converts the hedge length to inches, divides by the spacing, and rounds up so the order does not come up short.
The formulas are:
P = ceil((12 x L) / S)
B = R x P
E = ceil(B x X / 100)
Q = B + E
C = Q x D
CF = C / L
PF = B / L
- L is the hedge length in feet.
- S is the plant spacing in inches.
- R is 1 for a single row and 2 for a staggered double row.
- X is the extra-plant percentage.
- D is the price per plant.
P is plants per row, B is the base plant count, E is extra plants, Q is total plants to order, C is estimated plant cost, CF is plant cost per linear foot, and PF is base plants per linear foot before contingency.
What changes the result most
Spacing has the largest effect on plant count. A 30 foot hedge at 36 inch spacing needs 10 plants per row, while the same hedge at 24 inch spacing needs 15 plants per row. A staggered double row approximately doubles the base plant count because it uses two full rows of the same length. The spare-plant percentage usually changes the order by only a few plants, but it matters when matching a specific cultivar, size, or nursery batch later would be difficult.
Price per plant does not change the quantity. It only converts the order into an estimated plant cost and cost per linear foot, which can help compare a tight spacing with a wider one or a single row with a double row.
What this calculator leaves out
The estimate covers plant quantity and plant cost only. It does not include soil preparation, irrigation, mulch, fertilizer, delivery, sales tax, labor, tools, plant replacements, or future pruning. It also assumes a straight count along equal-length rows. Gates, corners, driveways, utilities, shortened return runs, and other obstructions should be measured as separate sections or adjusted by hand.
Correct spacing still depends on the plant species, starting container size, mature width, climate, soil, and the supplier's instructions. Use the result as a buying estimate, then confirm the spacing with the grower or nursery before ordering.
Worked example
For a 30 foot hedge planted at 36 inch spacing in a single row, the row count is ceil((12 x 30) / 36), or 10 plants per row. A single row keeps the base count at 10 plants.
With a 5% contingency, extra plants are ceil(10 x 5 / 100), or 1 plant. The total order is 11 plants. At $15 per plant, the estimated plant cost is $165, the plant cost per linear foot is $5.50, and the base density is 0.33 plants per linear foot before extra plants.
Common questions
How far apart should hedge plants be planted?
Use the spacing recommended for the species, starting plant size, and desired speed of fill-in. Small or slow-growing plants are often set closer than large specimens, but spacing too tightly can increase competition and pruning work. Measure spacing center to center, not edge to edge.
How many hedge plants do I need per foot?
Base plants per foot equals the base plant count divided by the hedge length. For a single row at 36 inch spacing, the density is about 0.33 plants per foot before contingency. A double row at the same spacing is about twice that density.
Should I plant a hedge in a single or double row?
A single row is simpler, cheaper, and common for many formal hedges. A staggered double row can create a denser screen and fill gaps faster, but it uses about twice as many plants and needs enough bed width for two rows.
How do I stagger plants in a double-row hedge?
Lay out two parallel rows and offset the plants in the second row so they sit between the plants in the first row. This calculator counts two full rows of equal length; it does not reduce the second row for end offsets.
Should hedge quantities be rounded up?
Yes. Plants are purchased as whole items, and rounding down can leave the run short. This calculator rounds plants per row up and also rounds any fractional contingency up to one whole plant.
How many extra hedge plants should I buy?
Five to ten percent is a practical starting range for many home projects. Use a higher allowance if plants are fragile, the site is difficult, the hedge is long, or matching the same stock later would be hard.