How to use the trees per acre calculator
- Pick feet or meters, then choose rows and columns or a staggered layout.
- Enter the distance between trees, and the distance between rows if it is different.
- Open More options and enter the planting area to total the trees.
- Read the trees per acre, the exact figure, the trees per hectare and the ground each tree has.
Formula
area per tree = spacing x row spacing
staggered, equal distance: area per tree = spacing squared x sqrt(3) / 2
trees per acre = 43,560 / area per tree
trees per hectare = 10,000 / area per tree in square meters
An acre is 43,560 square feet and a hectare is 10,000 square meters. The whole-tree count is rounded down, because a fraction of a tree cannot be planted. The staggered layout puts every tree the same distance from its neighbors.
20 by 20 foot spacing
At 20 feet between trees and rows, each tree has 400 square feet. Then 43,560 / 400 = 108.9, so an acre holds 108 whole trees. At 15 feet between trees and 20 feet between rows each tree has 300 square feet, giving 145.2. A staggered layout at 20 feet gives each tree 346.4 square feet and 125.75 trees per acre.
In metric, 5 meters between trees in a square grid gives 10,000 / 25 = 400 trees per hectare, which is 161.87 per acre. Fifty acres at 108.9 trees an acre hold 5,445 trees.
Spacing is a decision, not a formula
The right distance between trees depends on the species, how big it grows, the purpose of the planting and the equipment you will use between rows. Closer spacing gives more trees now but competes for light and water sooner. This page does the counting once you have chosen a spacing.
A forester, orchard adviser or local extension office can suggest a spacing that suits your species and region. The count assumes the whole acre is planted, so roads, ponds, gaps and edges reduce what actually fits.
Related planning
For small beds, use the Plant Spacing Calculator. To spread mulch at the base of trees, see the Mulch and Gravel Calculator, and for grazing land, the Pasture Carrying Capacity Calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- The entire planting area is covered by the same layout.
- Roads, gaps, edges and wet ground are not subtracted.
- The whole-tree count is rounded down.
- In meter mode, the planting area is entered in hectares.
Frequently asked questions
How many trees fit on an acre?
Divide 43,560 square feet by the ground each tree needs. At 20 by 20 feet that is 43,560 / 400 = 108.9, so 108 whole trees.
What is the difference between a grid and a staggered layout?
In a grid, trees line up in rows and columns. In a staggered layout every second row is shifted, so each tree is the same distance from its neighbors and slightly more fit.
How do I convert trees per acre to trees per hectare?
Divide by 0.40468564, because an acre is that fraction of a hectare. 108.9 trees an acre is about 269 trees a hectare.
Does the count include edges and roads?
No. It assumes every part of the acre is planted. Subtract roads, ponds and gaps from the area you enter if you want a realistic total.