Trellis Spacing Calculator
Calculate post spacing, wire rows, and total materials for a garden trellis from bed length and plant type.
Returns lumber, wire length, and anchor counts.
Designing a Garden Trellis
A well-built trellis supports climbing plants while allowing good airflow, light penetration, and easy harvesting. The right spacing depends on plant type, expected weight, and how you want to train the vines.
Post Spacing by Plant Type
| Plant | Post Spacing | Wire Rows | Wire Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | 120 cm (4 ft) | 2–3 | 30, 60, 90 cm |
| Cucumbers | 90 cm (3 ft) | 3–4 | 30, 60, 90, 120 cm |
| Beans (pole) | 60 cm (2 ft) | 1 top wire | 150–180 cm |
| Peas | 60 cm (2 ft) | 3–4 | 30, 60, 90, 120 cm |
| Grapes | 180–240 cm (6–8 ft) | 2–3 | 60, 90, 120 cm |
| Berries (cane) | 150 cm (5 ft) | 2–3 | 60, 90, 120 cm |
Post Depth Rule
Posts should be set at least one-third of their total length into the ground. For a 180 cm (6 ft) post, at least 60 cm (2 ft) should be buried. End posts should go deeper — they anchor the entire wire tension.
Wire Tension and Gauge
- Light plants (peas, light beans): 12–14 gauge galvanized wire, or nylon netting
- Medium plants (cucumbers, tomatoes): 12 gauge galvanized or heavy-duty netting
- Heavy plants (grapes, squash, melons): 9–11 gauge galvanized wire with turnbuckles for tension
Metric and Imperial Reference
| Spacing | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Close posts | 60 cm | 2 ft |
| Standard posts | 90–120 cm | 3–4 ft |
| Wide posts (grapes) | 180–240 cm | 6–8 ft |
Materials Formula
Number of posts = (bed length ÷ post spacing) + 1 (always one more post than gaps) Wire length per row = bed length + 10% extra for threading and securing Total wire = wire per row × number of rows
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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