We created this tree spacing calculator used in forestry and agriculture to calculate the optimal distance between the number of trees that can be planted in a given area.
Suppose you have a 1-acre plot and want to plant oak trees. The Tree Spacing Calculator can help you determine:
How many trees you can plant if you want them spaced 20 feet apart
How far apart to space the trees if you want to plant 100 trees
Using the tree per acre calculator:
You can plant approximately 108 trees with 20-foot spacingTo plant 100 trees, you'd need to space them about 20.8 feet apartTree Spacing Calculator
| Desired Trees per Acre | Calculated Spacing (ft) | Rounded Spacing (ft) | Actual Trees per Acre | Metric Conversion (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 29.54 | 30 x 30 | 48.4 | 9.1 x 9.1 |
| 75 | 24.12 | 24 x 24 | 75.6 | 7.3 x 7.3 |
| 100 | 20.88 | 21 x 21 | 98.8 | 6.4 x 6.4 |
| 125 | 18.68 | 19 x 19 | 121.1 | 5.8 x 5.8 |
| 150 | 17.08 | 17 x 17 | 149.2 | 5.2 x 5.2 |
| 175 | 15.81 | 16 x 16 | 174.2 | 4.9 x 4.9 |
| 200 | 14.76 | 15 x 15 | 193.6 | 4.6 x 4.6 |
| 225 | 13.87 | 14 x 14 | 222.4 | 4.3 x 4.3 |
| 250 | 13.10 | 13 x 13 | 256.9 | 4.0 x 4.0 |
| 275 | 12.41 | 12 x 12 | 302.5 | 3.7 x 3.7 |
| 300 | 11.80 | 12 x 12 | 302.5 | 3.7 x 3.7 |
| 325 | 11.25 | 11 x 11 | 360.5 | 3.4 x 3.4 |
| 350 | 10.75 | 11 x 11 | 360.5 | 3.4 x 3.4 |
| 375 | 10.29 | 10 x 10 | 435.6 | 3.0 x 3.0 |
| 400 | 9.87 | 10 x 10 | 435.6 | 3.0 x 3.0 |
| 425 | 9.48 | 9 x 9 | 537.3 | 2.7 x 2.7 |
| 450 | 9.12 | 9 x 9 | 537.3 | 2.7 x 2.7 |
| 475 | 8.78 | 9 x 9 | 537.3 | 2.7 x 2.7 |
| 500 | 8.46 | 8 x 8 | 681.3 | 2.4 x 2.4 |
Trees Per Acre Spacing Chart
| Spacing (feet) | Trees per Acre |
|---|---|
| 5 x 5 | 1,742 |
| 6 x 6 | 1,210 |
| 8 x 8 | 681 |
| 10 x 10 | 436 |
| 12 x 12 | 302 |
| 15 x 15 | 194 |
| 20 x 20 | 109 |
| 25 x 25 | 70 |
| 30 x 30 | 48 |
Tree Spacing Calculation Formula
The basic formula for calculating the number of trees per acre is:
Trees per Acre = (43,560 / (Row Spacing x Tree Spacing))Where:
- 43,560 is the number of square feet in an acre
- Row Spacing is the distance between rows (in feet)
- Tree Spacing is the distance between trees within a row (in feet)
For trees spaced 10 feet apart in rows that are 10 feet apart:
Trees per Acre = 43,560 / (10 x 10) = 435.6 ≈ 436 trees
For trees spaced 8 feet apart in rows that are 12 feet apart:
Trees per Acre = 43,560 / (12 x 8) = 453.75 ≈ 454 trees
How to calculate the spacing of trees?
- Decide how many trees you want per acre based on factors like species, climate, and purpose (timber production, orchard, etc.).
- Choose a planting pattern: Common patterns include square, rectangular, triangular, or quincunx.
- Use the formula: Rearrange the Trees per Acre formula to solve for spacing:
Spacing = √(43,560 / Trees per Acre) - Adjust for row spacing: If using rectangular spacing, you’ll need to adjust the formula:
Row Spacing x Tree Spacing = 43,560 / Trees per Acre - Round and refine: Round your results to practical measurements and adjust as needed for your specific situation.
How far apart should trees be spaced?
Most forest trees are spaced between 8 and 12 feet apart, while orchard trees might be spaced 15 to 25 feet apart.
Tree species: Different species have varying growth habits and space requirements.
Purpose: Timber production may require different spacing than an orchard or landscape planting.
Soil quality: Rich soils can support denser plantings than poor soils.
Climate: Drier climates may require wider spacing to reduce competition for water.
Management practices: Intensive management can allow for closer spacing.
Future thinning plans: If you plan to thin the trees later, you might start with closer spacing.
How many trees per acre in a healthy forest?
A healthy mature forest might have anywhere from 40 to 1,000 trees per acre.
For example:
- A mature pine plantation might have 200-300 trees per acre
- A natural hardwood forest could have 40-100 large trees per acre, with numerous smaller trees and saplings
- A young, regenerating forest might have 1,000 or more saplings per acre
Forest managers often use the concept of “Basal Area” (the cross-sectional area of trees at breast height) rather than trees per acre to measure forest density, as it accounts for tree size as well as number.
The number of trees per acre in a healthy forest varies widely depending on:
- Forest type: Tropical rainforests have more trees per acre than temperate forests.
- Age of the forest: Younger forests typically have more trees per acre than mature forests.
- Species composition: Forests with smaller tree species can support more trees per acre.
- Site conditions: Soil quality, water availability, and climate affect tree density.
- Management goals: A forest managed for timber production might have different density than one managed for wildlife habitat.
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