Design trellises that fit your garden space. Choose panel, grid, or string styles with ease. Get material totals, waste allowances, and cost estimates fast.
Sample inputs and typical outputs for a small climbing-plant trellis.
| Run length | Height | Spacing | Style | Posts | Rails | Infill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.00 m | 1.80 m | 2.00 m posts | Wire grid (mesh) | 3 posts | 2 rails | ~7.2 m2 mesh |
| 8.00 ft | 6.00 ft | 4.00 ft posts | Panel slats | 3 posts | 2 rails | Slats by spacing |
Actual totals vary with footing depth, waste, and chosen spacing.
Counts and ties are practical estimates to support ordering.
A trellis is a simple structure, but small input changes shift material totals quickly. Run length sets rail length and overall infill area. Height controls post length and the number of horizontal lines in a grid or net. Post spacing controls post count; for many garden trellises, 1.8–2.4 m spacing (6–8 ft) balances stiffness and cost.
Posts carry wind loads and plant weight. A common embed depth for small trellises is 0.40–0.60 m, but rocky soils or heavy vines may require more. Concrete volume grows with the square of footing diameter, so increasing diameter from 0.20 m to 0.30 m raises volume by about 2.25 times for the same depth.
Panel slats work well for espalier and privacy, and the calculator totals slat length from your vertical spacing and height. Wire grids can be modeled as welded mesh (area-based) or individual wires (length-based). For a 4.0 m by 1.8 m trellis, the face area is 7.2 m2, which helps estimate mesh sheets and overlaps.
Waste allowance covers overlaps, offcuts, and on-site adjustments. Many builds use 5–12% waste depending on complexity. Tie points approximate clips, staples, or zip ties needed at intersections and attachment locations. For outdoor life, consider corrosion resistance, UV-stable ties, and treated or rot-resistant posts.
Use linear totals to choose stock lengths and minimize cuts. If your supplier sells posts in fixed lengths, round up each post length to the next available size. For mesh, order enough area to cover the full face plus overlaps and trimming. Pricing fields allow quick what-if comparisons between materials.
For straight runs and simple grids, 5–8% is common. For angled cuts, gates, or tight fitting around beds, 10–12% is safer. Increase waste if you expect many offcuts.
Closer spacing reduces span length and improves stiffness, especially with heavy vines or wind exposure. Wider spacing reduces cost but may flex more. Adjust spacing and rails together for a balanced frame.
Mesh is faster to install and easy to estimate using area. Individual wires give flexible spacing and can be repaired line by line. Choose mesh for speed, wires for custom patterns and tensioning.
The calculator uses a cylinder: pi times radius squared times embed depth. It multiplies by the number of posts and then applies your waste allowance. Real footings may vary with bell shapes or soil conditions.
A tie point is an estimated attachment location for clips, staples, or ties. It helps you order hardware for wire intersections, net nodes, or mesh anchoring. It is a planning estimate, not an exact count.
Linear members like posts, rails, slats, wire, and string are priced per meter. Mesh is priced per square meter, and concrete per cubic meter. This keeps the cost model consistent across styles.
You can approximate by using the developed length and average height. For strong curves or complex geometry, split the design into straight segments and calculate each segment separately, then add totals and waste.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.