How Many Bulbs Do You Need?

Bulb calculator

Wondering how many bulbs to buy? Find out with our bulb calculator. Calculate the size of your garden bed here first. Then add that number to the "Square feet" box below. Click "Calculate Bulb Counts for My Bed", check the chart and you’ll see how many bulbs you need to buy for different types of flowers. Each result lists a range of bulbs so you can choose to plant loosely with less bulbs to show off each specimen or pack them in tight for a big block of color.

Bulb planting tips

Ensure a beautiful show by planting bulbs at the proper depth — usually three times the height of the bulb is just fine.

Also, if you’re packing them in tight keep bulbs close but not touching. That way if one rots it’s less likely to spread to its neighbors.

Tools like a bulb auger or hand bulb planter make planting easier.

Add the size of your garden in square feet above, then click the "Calculate Bulb Counts For My Bed" button to populate chart results below.

Plant name Botanical name	No. of bulbs per square ft.	No. of bulbs for my bed
Crocus Crocus spp. and hybrids	10 to 15
Crown imperial Fritillaria imperialis	1 to 4
Daffodil (large) Narcissus spp. and hybrids	4 to 5
Daffodil (small) Narcissus spp. and hybrids	5 to 10
Grape hyacinth Muscari spp. and hybrids	10 to 15
Greek windflower Anemone blanda	10 to 15
Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis	4 to 6
Siberian squill Scilla siberica	9 to 15
Tulip (large) Tulipa hybrids	4 to 5
Tulip (small) Tulipa hybrids	5 to 10

Plant name Botanical name

No. of bulbs
per square ft.

No. of bulbs
for my bed

Crocus Crocus spp. and hybrids

10 to 15

Crown imperial Fritillaria imperialis

1 to 4

Daffodil (large) Narcissus spp. and hybrids

4 to 5

Daffodil (small) Narcissus spp. and hybrids

5 to 10

Grape hyacinth Muscari spp. and hybrids

10 to 15

Greek windflower Anemone blanda

10 to 15

Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis

4 to 6

Siberian squill Scilla siberica

9 to 15

Tulip (large) Tulipa hybrids

4 to 5

Tulip (small) Tulipa hybrids

5 to 10

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