Edging Calculator: Length and pieces needed

Q: What types of edging are there?

Steel: Thin, strong and nearly invisible. Bends into smooth curves. Best for lawns and gravel. Aluminium: Light and rust free. Comes in longer lengths. Best for long straight runs. Plastic: Cheap and easy to install from a roll. Best for simple bed edges. Brick or paver: Laid end to end on a sand bed. No stakes needed. Best for a classic, mowable edge.

Q: How does the calculation work?

Pieces = edge length × 1.05 ÷ piece length. A bed 20 ft by 8 ft has a 56 ft edge. With 5% extra, 59 ft of steel edging in 4 ft strips is 15 pieces, held by about 21 stakes at 3 ft apart.

How do I measure for edging?

Lay a hose along the edge, mark it, then straighten it out and measure.

For a rectangle, add the four sides. For a circle, multiply the diameter by 3.14.

Leave out sides that butt against a wall or patio.

Add about 5% for overlaps, joins and cutting.

Planning the rest of the job? Use the Landscape fabric calculator and the Garden bed calculator too.

What types of edging are there?

Steel

Thin, strong and nearly invisible. Bends into smooth curves.

Best for lawns and gravel

Aluminium

Light and rust free. Comes in longer lengths.

Best for long straight runs

Plastic

Cheap and easy to install from a roll.

Best for simple bed edges

Brick or paver

Laid end to end on a sand bed. No stakes needed.

Best for a classic, mowable edge

How does the calculation work?

Pieces = edge length × 1.05 ÷ piece length

A bed 20 ft by 8 ft has a 56 ft edge. With 5% extra, 59 ft of steel edging in 4 ft strips is 15 pieces, held by about 21 stakes at 3 ft apart.

Edging Calculator

Calculate your edging

How do I measure for edging?

What types of edging are there?

How does the calculation work?