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Garden

Garden Bed Calculator

Garden Bed Calculator

Compute bed area, soil volume, and a simple plant capacity from spacing.

ft
ft
in
in

Results appear as you type.

How to use

  1. Enter raised-bed outer length and width.
  2. Set soil depth for volume.
  3. Enter on-center plant spacing to estimate capacity.

Formula

area = L × W
soil_cu_ft = area × (depth_in/12)
plants ≈ floor((L×12)/spacing) × floor((W×12)/spacing)

Examples

Example 1

8×4 bed = 32 sq ft; 8 in soil ≈ 21.33 cu ft.

Example 2

12 in spacing → about 8×4 = 32 plant positions.

Assumptions

  • Grid spacing ignores paths inside the bed.
  • Capacity is a maximum geometric fit, not crop-specific.

FAQ

How is plant count calculated?

From bed area and spacing. Closer spacing fits more plants but needs more water and thinning.

What depth should I use for soil volume?

Use the depth you will actually fill. Many vegetable beds use 8 to 12 inches of mix.

Does this subtract paths?

No. Enter only the planted bed dimensions, not the whole yard.

Where do I get bag counts for soil?

Use the Soil calculator with the same length, width, and depth.

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