Seeding rate calculator

Turn a target plant population into planter settings and a seed order: seeds per meter, kg per hectare and bags for the whole field.

Free, no sign-up

Before you use it

Works well for

  • Corn, soybeans, beans, wheat and other row crops
  • Setting seeds per meter on the planter
  • Ordering the right number of bags

Not the right tool for

  • Choosing the population — that depends on variety, region and season
  • Broadcast seeding of pastures by weight only

How it works

Not every seed becomes a plant. Germination (from the seed tag) and field emergence (soil, pests, planter losses) reduce the stand, so the planter must drop more seeds than your target population:

Seeds per hectare = target population ÷ (germination × emergence)

Seeds per meter of row = seeds per hectare × row spacing (m) ÷ 10,000. Seed rate in kg/ha = seeds per hectare × thousand-seed weight (g) ÷ 1,000,000.

Where to get the numbers

  • Target population: from the seed company's recommendation for the variety, region and planting date.
  • Germination: on the bag label or a lab test.
  • Thousand-seed weight: on the label for many crops; or weigh 1,000 seeds.

Frequently asked questions

What emergence percentage should I use?

85–95% is common in good conditions. Use less for cold, wet or crusted soils, or for no-till into heavy residue.

Does it work for corn, soybeans and wheat?

Yes — any crop sown by seed count. For crops bought by weight only, the thousand-seed weight converts count into kg.

Why do I get a different result from the seed company?

Companies may assume different emergence. Adjust the emergence field to match their assumptions.