Garden Edging Calculator: Border Length, Pieces & Stakes
Edging gives a border a crisp line and stops grass creeping into the bed. Whether you are using metal strips, plastic rolls, timber boards or brick, the order comes down to three numbers: length, pieces and fixings.
Runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored.
What this calculator does
Choose a rectangle, circle or custom shape, enter your measurements and the length of one edging piece. The calculator returns the edging length, pieces to buy, connectors for each join and the stakes or pegs, with an outline of the bed.
How to use the garden border & edging length calculator
- Pick the bed shape. For irregular or curved beds choose custom and enter each side.
- Enter the measurements in metres or feet.
- Subtract any length that sits against a wall, path or fence and needs no edging.
- Add a curve allowance if you measured a wavy edge in straight lines.
- Enter the length of one edging piece or roll and the stake spacing recommended for your product.
How the calculation works
rectangle perimeter = 2 × (length + width) circle perimeter = π × diameter edging length = perimeter × (1 + curve %) − length needing no edging pieces = ceil(edging length × (1 + waste %) ÷ piece length) connectors = pieces if the loop is closed, otherwise pieces − 1 stakes = ceil(edging length ÷ stake spacing), + 1 for an open run
A closed loop has as many joins as pieces; an open run has one fewer. Excluding any length turns a closed loop into an open run.
Worked example
A 3 × 1.2 m rectangular bed has an 8.4 m perimeter. With 1.2 m edging strips and 5% waste you need 8 strips and 8 connectors, plus 14 stakes at 60 cm spacing. If one 3 m side sits against a path, the edging drops to 5.4 m: 5 strips, 4 connectors and 10 stakes.
Assumptions and limitations
- The calculator counts straight-line lengths. Measure curves directly with a hose or flexible tape for the best result.
- Connector and stake needs vary by product. Some interlocking edging needs no connectors; check the manufacturer guidance.
- Corner pieces are not counted separately; a rectangle needs four if your product uses them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure a curved garden border for edging?
Lay a garden hose or rope along the curve, mark the ends, then straighten it and measure. Enter that length as a custom side.
How much edging do I need for a round flower bed?
Multiply the diameter by π (about 3.14). A 2 m (6.5 ft) wide circle needs about 6.3 m (20.4 ft) of edging, plus a little for overlaps.
How far apart should edging stakes be?
Many plastic and metal edging products use a stake every 60–90 cm (2–3 ft), and closer on curves. Follow your product instructions.
Should I buy extra garden edging?
Yes, about 5–10% extra covers cuts, overlaps and mistakes, especially on curved beds.