Row Spacing Calculator — From Target Density
Find row-centre spacing from a chosen position density and within-row spacing, with metric and US customary results.
Find the row-centre distance that corresponds to a chosen planting-position density and within-row spacing. This inverse layout calculation keeps the known distance along the row fixed. Results in metres, centimetres, inches and feet support both field equipment and smaller planting plans.
How to use this tool
- Choose a target density of planting positions and its area unit.
- Enter the distance between positions along each row.
- Select the unit for that known distance.
- Read the solved spacing and check it against the practical layout.
Formula
Row spacing = 1 / (positions per square metre × within-row spacing in metres)
The two perpendicular distances define one rectangular cell per position. Density and the known distance must both be positive. An acre uses the international foot, not the retired US survey-foot definition. All displayed distances describe the same result.
Example
A target of 10 positions/m² with positions 20 cm apart along the row gives 1 ÷ (10 × 0.2) = 0.5 m, or 50 cm between row centres. The resulting rectangular cell is 0.1 m².
Frequently asked questions
Is this the best spacing for my crop?
It is the geometry for your supplied target. Crop variety, canopy, disease pressure, equipment and growing conditions determine whether that layout is appropriate; the calculator does not optimize those factors.
Should I enter seeds or final plants as the target?
Enter the positions to be placed. If the target is an established plant population, first determine the sowing density using an appropriate emergence estimate. Otherwise the result assumes every position produces a surviving plant.
Does it handle staggered rows or multiple seeds per hole?
No. The formula assumes one position per rectangular cell and uniform row spacing. Clustered sowing, alternating wide and narrow rows, triangular layouts and field-edge counts require a different explicit layout.
Sources
Last updated: 2026