What scale should I use for a garden plan?

1:50 is the most common for small to medium gardens (fits most gardens on A3). For larger plots, use 1:100 or 1:200. For detail areas, use 1:20.

How do I draw a garden plan?

Start by measuring your garden boundaries. Choose an appropriate scale, then convert all measurements to drawing dimensions. Use graph paper for accuracy.

What does 1:50 scale mean?

At 1:50 scale, 1mm on the drawing represents 50mm (5cm) in real life. So 1cm on paper equals 0.5m in the garden.

Can I use these measurements with design software?

Yes. Most garden design software accepts dimensions in millimetres. Simply enter the real measurements and set the scale within the software.

What scale should I use for a garden plan?

1:100 is the most common (1cm = 1m). For small gardens, 1:50 gives more detail. For large plots, 1:200 keeps the plan manageable on A3 paper.

GardenCalcs

Garden Scale Drawing Calculator — Real to Plan Dimensions

Convert real garden measurements to scale drawing dimensions.

Conversion Direction

Scale

Real Measurement

How We Calculate This

Real to Drawing: Drawing mm = (Real m x 1000) / Scale Factor. For example at 1:50, 10m = 200mm on paper.

Drawing to Real: Real m = (Drawing mm x Scale Factor) / 1000.

Paper size recommendations are based on the largest dimension of your drawing at the chosen scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.