Container Size Calculator

Choose a pot size and what you're growing. Get soil volume, fertilizer & water estimates, a root-bound timeframe, plant count guidance, and a realistic container-yield estimate.

Inputs

Container diameter (inches)

Container depth

Custom depth (inches) optional

Used only if “Custom depth” is selected.

Extra soil to buy (percent)

Helps cover settling, spill, and topping off.

What are you growing?

Planting method

Transplants Seeds

Seeds can be started denser, but you usually thin to the final count.

Heat level (for watering guidance)

Container yield factor (vs in-ground)

Default 0.25 (≈ 4× less than in-ground). Adjust for your setup.

The Gardening Network: Where Gardeners of All Ages Learn, Share, and Grow Together

Click to explore guides, stories, planting calendars, and more helpful garden calculators.

The Gardening Network is a welcoming community for gardeners of all ages—kids, seniors, beginners, and experts—sharing forgotten wisdom, new discoveries, planting guides, calendars, stories, and practical tools like garden calculators for containers, backyards, patios, and community gardens.

The Gardening Network: Discover the Root Tube Container Size Calculator

Compare Root Tube results—higher plant capacity (inside + around the tube), ~90% reduced watering guidance, multi-year root growth, and boosted yields.

Assumes a round pot (cylinder). If you use fabric grow bags or tall nursery pots, choose “Deep” or set a custom depth.

Results

Soil needed

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Suggested plant count

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Fertilizer estimate

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Water guidance

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Time until root-bound (typical)

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Expected container yield

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Choose your container size and plant type, then click Calculate.

Tip: If you’re growing in extreme heat (like desert summers), containers often need daily attention. Mulch + shade cloth + drip emitters can dramatically improve yields.