Garden Size Calculator
Enter how many people you are growing for and how much of your food you want to grow. The calculator works out the growing area, how many 4 × 8 ft raised beds that is, the total plot size with paths and the water it needs.
- Area per person
- Raised beds and paths
- Soil and water
New gardeners should start with about half of this and grow it next year.
A small, well kept vegetable garden feeds more people than you might think. About 100 square feet a person gives fresh salads and vegetables all summer. Double it to store some for winter, and allow about 400 square feet each to grow most of your vegetables.
Garden size chart
Fresh plus some to store. Search for a household.
| People | Growing area (sq ft) | 4 × 8 beds | Plot (sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 | 7 | 358 |
| 2 | 400 | 13 | 666 |
| 3 | 600 | 19 | 973 |
| 4 | 800 | 25 | 1280 |
| 5 | 1000 | 32 | 1638 |
| 6 | 1200 | 38 | 1946 |
Plot includes 2 ft paths between beds.
People and garden
Fresh plus some to store. Slide the people.
Each green bed is 4 × 8 ft, with paths round it.
How to plan a vegetable garden
People, goal, layout. Step through it.
Count people
Who will eat it.
Put the garden where it gets at least six hours of sun a day, close to a tap.
Raised beds, rows or containers
Ways to grow. Compare them.
Boxed beds of good soil.
Traditional plot.
Pots and grow bags.
Raised beds warm up earlier in spring and drain better, and you never walk on the soil.
Before you dig
Garden checks. Tick each item.
Tick each item as you go.
Plant what your family actually eats. A bed of courgettes nobody wants is wasted space.
What you get
Garden plan. Each tile explains one result.
For your goal.
4 × 8 ft.
With paths.
Each week.
To fill beds.
Succession sowing, a few seeds every two weeks, gives a steady harvest from a smaller area.
Frequently Asked Questions
No question matches that search.
How big should a vegetable garden be for a family of four?
About 400 square feet for fresh eating, or 800 to store some for winter.
How much garden space does one person need?
About 100 square feet for fresh vegetables in season.
How many raised beds do I need?
About three per person for fresh eating, six to store some.
How big is a standard raised bed?
4 × 8 feet is the most common, narrow enough to reach the middle.
How much water does a vegetable garden need?
About an inch, or 25 mm, of water a week.
Should I start with a big garden?
No. Start small and grow it as you learn.
How much soil to fill a raised bed?
About 1.2 cubic yards for a 4 × 8 ft bed 12 inches deep.
Grow what your family eats
Size the garden by the people you feed and how much you want to grow. Lay it out in raised beds with paths, and start with the crops you like best.
More size calculators
Each one has its own calculator, worked examples and answers to common questions.