Seeding Rate Calculator

Scale a per-acre seeding rate up to your whole field, and see the total number of seeds when you know how many seeds are in a pound.

How it works

The total seed you need is the per-acre rate multiplied by the number of acres. If you also enter the seeds per pound from the seed tag, the tool estimates the total number of seeds and the seeds sown per square foot:

Seed needed (lb) = rate (lb/acre) × field (acres)

Seeds per square foot uses 43,560 square feet per acre. These figures describe seed placed in the ground, not the final stand: real emergence depends on seed quality, moisture, planting depth, and pest pressure, so many growers add a margin above the target population.

Reading a seeding rate

Seeding rates come from your seed tag, variety guide, or Cooperative Extension recommendations and are usually given in pounds per acre for field crops or seeds per acre for row crops. Drilled small grains, broadcast cover crops, and precision-planted corn all use different rates, and rates are often adjusted for row width, planting date, and whether the stand is for grain, forage, or soil cover. Always calibrate your drill or planter to confirm it delivers the rate this calculator assumes.

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This tool is a planning aid and does the math from the numbers you enter. It is not a substitute for a soil test, seed-tag information, or advice from your local Cooperative Extension office. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.