Tree Spacing Calculator
Pick a fruit category and rootstock size to get in-row spacing, row spacing, and how many trees an acre can hold.
Recommended spacing
How the spacing is worked out
The calculator starts from a mature-spread figure for a pome-fruit tree (apple or pear) on each rootstock class, then adjusts it for other fruit categories that tend to stay somewhat smaller on an equivalent rootstock — stone fruit a little smaller, citrus smaller again, and berry bushes and canes smaller still.
In-row spacing is set equal to that mature spread, so two full-grown trees just meet without crowding. Row spacing adds a further 50% so equipment and light can move between rows. Trees per acre then falls out of dividing the standard acre area by that spacing rectangle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rootstock, and why does it change spacing so much?
Most fruit trees are grafted: the top (the variety you want to eat) is joined onto a different root system (the rootstock) chosen for its effect on the tree's eventual size. A dwarf rootstock might mature at 8–10 feet across, while a standard rootstock of the same variety can spread 20 feet or more — so spacing has to follow the rootstock, not just the fruit.
Why is row spacing wider than in-row spacing?
In-row spacing just needs to stop neighboring trees from crowding each other at maturity. Row-to-row spacing also needs room for a wheelbarrow, mower, ladder, or spray equipment to pass between rows, and for light to reach the lower branches on both sides — which is why this calculator sets it to about 1.5 times the mature spread.
How accurate is the trees-per-acre figure?
It is a straightforward area calculation — dividing the standard 43,560 square feet in an acre by the spacing rectangle one tree occupies — so it is exact for the spacing you enter. It doesn't account for access paths, irregular plot shapes, or space lost to buildings and other plantings.
Can I space fruit trees more tightly than this?
Some intensive systems (like a trained espalier or a high-density hedgerow) do plant closer than these guidelines, but they require regular, deliberate pruning to keep trees within bounds. For a low-maintenance backyard planting, the spacing here gives each tree room to reach its natural mature size.
Educational tool only. Actual mature size varies by cultivar, soil, and pruning — check your nursery's tag or catalog listing for the specific rootstock you're planting.