Landscape Edging Calculator

A landscape edging calculator returns the edging sections and stakes needed to border a bed or lawn area. It finds the perimeter from the shape, 2 × (length + width) for a rectangle or π × diameter for a circle. It divides that by the section or roll length, rounds up, then multiplies by the stakes per section.

Last reviewed September 2026Method & sources Report an error

Not to scale.

Bed Perimeter

60.00 ft

Shopping list

Edging Sections8 sections
Stakes24 stakes

Breakdown
Bed Perimeter	60.00 ft
Edging Sections	8
Stakes	24

How to Calculate Landscape Edging

The bed's perimeter comes from its shape: `2 × (length + width)` for a rectangle, `π × diameter` for a circle. Dividing that perimeter by the edging product's section or roll length, and rounding up, gives the number of sections needed. Multiplying that by the stakes used per section gives the total stake count.

Example: 20 ft × 10 ft rectangular bed

A 20 ft × 10 ft rectangular bed, using 8 ft edging sections with 3 stakes each: 1. Perimeter: 2 × (20 + 10) = 60 ft 2. Sections: ceil(60 ÷ 8) = 8 3. Stakes: 8 × 3 = 24. That bed needs 8 sections of edging and 24 stakes.

Landscape Edging: Compare Scenarios

Scenario	Bed Perimeter	Edging Sections	Stakes
Small (10×6 ft bed)	32.00 ft	4	12
Medium (20×10 ft bed)	60.00 ft	8	24
Large (40×20 ft bed)	120.00 ft	15	45

What Is Landscape Edging?

A landscape edging calculator converts a bed or lawn area's shape and dimensions into the edging sections and stakes needed to border it, for planting beds, mulch borders, or a lawn-to-gravel transition.

Landscape Edging: Pros and Cons

Pros

Handles both rectangular and circular bed shapes with their exact perimeter formula
Section length and stakes-per-section are both adjustable, since edging products vary in roll/section length and staking requirements
Works for any bed size, from a small planting bed to a large lawn border

Cons

Doesn't handle an irregular bed shape directly. Break it into rectangular and circular sections, find each section's perimeter, and add them together
Doesn't account for overlap at seams (some edging products need a small overlap between sections). Add a section if your specific product requires it
Rigid edging (like metal or paver edging) may use fewer, longer sections than flexible edging, which typically uses more stakes at closer spacing

Landscape Edging: What a Pro Checks

Check whether your edging product needs overlap at the seams. Some do, and this calculator doesn't add a section for it, so budget one extra section if yours requires it.
Rigid edging like metal or paver needs fewer, longer sections, but flexible edging typically needs more stakes at closer spacing. Match the stakes-per-section input to your actual product.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much landscape edging do I need?

Find your bed's perimeter (2 × (length + width) for a rectangle, or π × diameter for a circle), then divide by your edging product's section or roll length and round up. A 20 ft × 10 ft bed needs 8 sections of 8 ft edging.

How many stakes do I need for landscape edging?

It depends on the product, but a common guideline is about 3 stakes per 8 ft section for flexible edging. Multiply your section count by your product's recommended stakes-per-section figure.

What is the best edging for a garden bed?

It depends on the look and durability you want. Flexible plastic or rubber edging is inexpensive and easy to curve for irregular beds. Rigid metal, paver, or brick edging holds a cleaner line and lasts longer but costs more and is harder to install around curves.

Do I need edging for a straight border?

Not necessarily. A straight, simple lawn-to-bed transition can sometimes use a cut trench edge instead of a physical edging product, but a physical edge holds its line longer and better resists grass creeping into the bed.

How do I measure a curved or irregular bed for edging?

Break the bed into simpler rectangular and circular sections, calculate each section's perimeter separately, then add them together for the total. The same approach used for an irregular area in the Perimeter calculator.

Measurement