Measuring a Planter: Step by Step Instructions

The first step in ordering plants for any planter is measuring. Why? Knowing the surface area of your pot will help you determine how many plants that pot should hold. For round planters, measure the diameter of the opening at the top (straight across from one side to the other). Take care to measure the inside edges of the pot and not the outside lip. To ensure you are measuring through the middle of the pot, hold the ruler down on one side of the pot and then move it back and forth on the other side until you find the widest point. For square and rectangular planters, measure the length and width of the inside opening.

Finally, measure the depth of the planter. Put your ruler inside the pot and measure from the bottom to the top edge of the planter. This is needed to determine the amount of potting mix the pot will hold – it doesn’t generally affect which plants you can use unless the planter is shallow (less than 12 inches deep) or you want to use deep-rooted perennials such as shrubs.

Want help? We have a YouTube video, at the bottom of this post, to guide you through the process.

Visit our Getting Started page for a chart showing how many plants we suggest for your planter.