Landscaping · updated 2026
Landscape Edging Calculator
Edging is a perimeter with a little waste — the bed's outline plus 5% for cuts and curves. This landscape edging calculator takes your bed's length and width and returns linear feet of edging, stake counts (one every 3 ft), and 2026 costs by edging type. Install it before the mulch or rock goes in — digging through a finished bed is miserable.
Steel looks sharpest and lasts; plastic is cheapest
Show the math
Perimeter = 2 × (20 + 10) = 60 ft
Edging = ⌈60 × 1.05⌉ = 63 ft (5% for cuts and curves)
Stakes = ⌈63 ÷ 3⌉ = 21 (one every 3 ft)
Cost = 63 × $3–$6/ft (steel)
What the numbers mean
The calculator converts your measurements into a practical purchase quantity using a documented coverage or spacing assumption.
Any whole-unit quantity is rounded up so the result does not leave you short during the project.
Use the cost range as a planning baseline and confirm the final quantity, availability, and delivery charge with your local supplier.
2026 material prices
| Material | 2026 average price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Steel edging, per ft | $3.00 – $6.00 / linear ft | Cleanest look; lasts decades |
| Plastic edging, per ft | $1.00 – $2.00 / linear ft | Budget pick; heaves in freeze-thaw |
| Paver edging, per ft | $4.00 – $8.00 / linear ft | Materials; mower-friendly edge |
Wave 1 Batch 3 content price guide, Sep 2026. 2026 U.S. national averages. Prices vary by region and retailer — confirm locally before buying.
Pro tips
- Install edging before mulch or rock — doing it after means digging through your finished bed.
- Steel gives the crispest line and outlasts plastic 3-to-1; plastic is fine for straight, low-visibility runs.
- Set the top ~1 in above grade — flush edging lets grass creep over; 2 in+ starts looking like a fence.
- Overlap joints 4–6 in and stake both sides of every joint — joints are where edging fails.
- On curves, steel bends cleanly while plastic kinks — choose the material by the shape of the bed.
- A 20×10 bed needs 63 ft of steel edging and 21 stakes — about $189–$378.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How much edging for a 20×10 bed?
2 × 30 = 60 ft of perimeter + 5% = 63 ft, with ⌈63 ÷ 3⌉ = 21 stakes.
How about a 30×4 bed?
68 ft + 5% = 72 ft, and 24 stakes.
Steel vs plastic edging?
Steel at $3–$6/ft looks sharper and lasts decades; plastic at $1–$2/ft is cheaper but heaves in freeze-thaw.
How deep should edging sit?
4-in edging with ~1 in above grade — enough to block grass rhizomes without looking bulky.
How far apart are stakes?
Every 3 ft, plus both sides of every joint.
What does 63 ft of steel edging cost?
63 × $3–$6 = $189–$378 in materials.
Related calculators
Planning estimates only. Prices are 2026 U.S. national averages and vary by region — confirm with your local supplier before buying.