Flower Arrangement Calculator
Plan a full arrangement by width, depth and height, with a stem count for each level and a cost per arrangement.
A vase is one shape, but a table arrangement, a centrepiece or a pedestal piece has a footprint and a height, and both decide how many flowers it takes. This calculator plans an arrangement in three dimensions: the base width it has to cover, the depth it has to fill, and the height it has to build, with a stem count for the focal, second and third levels and the mechanics and foliage that hold it together.
At a glance
- What you enter
- Width the arrangement must cover, Depth the arrangement must cover, Finished height, How full you want it, How much of it is seen, Diameter of one flower head, Focal flowers as a share of the flowers, Foliage stems per flower stem, Price per flower stem, Price per foliage stem, Foam, container hire and mechanics, How many arrangements
- What you get
- Flower stems, Flower stems for all the arrangements, Focal flowers, Second level flowers, Third level flowers, Foliage stems, Foliage stems for all the arrangements, Total stems per arrangement, Height of the focal level, Height of the second level, Height of the third level, Cost of the flowers, Cost of the foliage, Cost of the mechanics, Cost of the arrangements, Cost per arrangement, Flowers as a share of the cost
- Formula shown
- Yes, every step, right below your results.
- Cost and privacy
- Free, no account needed, and nothing you type is stored.
See worked examples ↓ Read the FAQ ↓ Share this calculator ↓
Results are estimates for general information only, always verify with a professional or official source before acting on them.
How to use the Flower Arrangement Calculator
- 1 Enter Width the arrangement must cover (cm), The base plus the spread, so a 30 cm centrepiece is planned across 30 to 36 cm.
- 2 Enter Depth the arrangement must cover (cm)
- 3 Enter Finished height (cm), From the top of the container to the highest flower.
- 4 Enter How full you want it (times), One is standard, 0.8 for a loose garden style, 1.3 for a dense domed arrangement.
- 5 Enter How much of it is seen (times), One for a centrepiece seen from all round, 0.6 for a mantelpiece seen from the front only.
- 6 Enter Diameter of one flower head (cm), Rose 8 to 10 cm, carnation 5 to 6, hydrangea 15 to 20, dahlia 10 to 15.
- 7 Enter Focal flowers as a share of the flowers (%), The largest and most expensive blooms. Twenty five percent suits a mixed arrangement.
- 8 Enter Foliage stems per flower stem (stems), Foliage is cheap and fills space. A generous base of greenery can cut the flower count by a fifth.
- 9 Enter Price per flower stem, Your own figure.
- 10 Enter Price per foliage stem, Usually bought by the bunch. Divide the bunch price by the stems to get this.
- 11 Enter Foam, container hire and mechanics, Per arrangement. Foam, a liner, wire, tape and any hire charge.
- 12 Enter How many arrangements
- 13 Press Calculate. You get Flower stems, Flower stems for all the arrangements, Focal flowers, Second level flowers, Third level flowers, Foliage stems, Foliage stems for all the arrangements, Total stems per arrangement, Height of the focal level, Height of the second level, Height of the third level, Cost of the flowers, Cost of the foliage, Cost of the mechanics, Cost of the arrangements, Cost per arrangement, Flowers as a share of the cost, and every intermediate step stays visible under "How is this calculated?"
- 14 Change one number at a time to see what moves the result, that is usually the most useful thing a calculator can tell you.
Worked examples
Real numbers run through this calculator. Open any example to load it into the form above and change it.
A dining table centrepiece
A 30 by 25 centimetre footprint at 35 centimetres tall, seen from all round.
You enter
- Width the arrangement must cover
- 30 cm
- Depth the arrangement must cover
- 25 cm
- Finished height
- 35 cm
- How full you want it
- 1 times
- How much of it is seen
- 1 times
- Diameter of one flower head
- 8 cm
- Focal flowers as a share of the flowers
- 25%
- Foliage stems per flower stem
- 0.80 stems
- Price per flower stem
- $1.40
- Price per foliage stem
- $0.40
- Foam, container hire and mechanics
- $3.00
- How many arrangements
- 1
You get
- Flower stems
- 33
- Flower stems for all the arrangements
- 33
- Focal flowers
- 9
- Second level flowers
- 14
- Third level flowers
- 12
- Foliage stems
- 27
- Foliage stems for all the arrangements
- 27
- Total stems per arrangement
- 60
- Height of the focal level
- 21.00 cm
- Height of the second level
- 14.00 cm
- Height of the third level
- 8.75 cm
- Cost of the flowers
- $46.20
- Cost of the foliage
- $10.80
- Cost of the mechanics
- $3.00
- Cost of the arrangements
- $60.00
- Cost per arrangement
- $60.00
- Flowers as a share of the cost
- 77.0%
About 34 flower stems and 27 foliage stems, with the flowers at 9 focal, 14 second and 11 third level, costing around 62 all in.
A mantelpiece arrangement in winter
A 60 by 20 centimetre footprint at 45 centimetres tall, seen from the front only.
You enter
- Width the arrangement must cover
- 60 cm
- Depth the arrangement must cover
- 20 cm
- Finished height
- 45 cm
- How full you want it
- 1.10 times
- How much of it is seen
- 0.60 times
- Diameter of one flower head
- 10 cm
- Focal flowers as a share of the flowers
- 20%
- Foliage stems per flower stem
- 1.20 stems
- Price per flower stem
- $1.60
- Price per foliage stem
- $0.50
- Foam, container hire and mechanics
- $4.00
- How many arrangements
- 1
You get
- Flower stems
- 23
- Flower stems for all the arrangements
- 23
- Focal flowers
- 5
- Second level flowers
- 11
- Third level flowers
- 9
- Foliage stems
- 28
- Foliage stems for all the arrangements
- 28
- Total stems per arrangement
- 51
- Height of the focal level
- 27.00 cm
- Height of the second level
- 18.00 cm
- Height of the third level
- 11.25 cm
- Cost of the flowers
- $36.80
- Cost of the foliage
- $14.00
- Cost of the mechanics
- $4.00
- Cost of the arrangements
- $54.80
- Cost per arrangement
- $54.80
- Flowers as a share of the cost
- 67.2%
The one sided view factor holds the count at about 31 flowers even though the arrangement is twice the width, and heavy foliage at 1.2 stems per flower fills it out.
Twelve pew ends
Small 18 by 12 centimetre arrangements at 25 centimetres tall, front only.
You enter
- Width the arrangement must cover
- 18 cm
- Depth the arrangement must cover
- 12 cm
- Finished height
- 25 cm
- How full you want it
- 1 times
- How much of it is seen
- 0.60 times
- Diameter of one flower head
- 6 cm
- Focal flowers as a share of the flowers
- 20%
- Foliage stems per flower stem
- 1 stems
- Price per flower stem
- $0.90
- Price per foliage stem
- $0.35
- Foam, container hire and mechanics
- $1.50
- How many arrangements
- 12
You get
- Flower stems
- 11
- Flower stems for all the arrangements
- 132
- Focal flowers
- 3
- Second level flowers
- 5
- Third level flowers
- 4
- Foliage stems
- 11
- Foliage stems for all the arrangements
- 132
- Total stems per arrangement
- 22
- Height of the focal level
- 15.00 cm
- Height of the second level
- 10.00 cm
- Height of the third level
- 6.25 cm
- Cost of the flowers
- $118.80
- Cost of the foliage
- $46.20
- Cost of the mechanics
- $18.00
- Cost of the arrangements
- $183.00
- Cost per arrangement
- $15.25
- Flowers as a share of the cost
- 64.9%
About 13 flowers and 13 foliage stems each, so 156 flowers in total: small repeated arrangements are where buying in bulk really pays.
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Frequently asked questions
How many flowers for a table centrepiece?
A 30 by 25 centimetre centrepiece with 8 centimetre roses takes about 34 flower stems: roughly 9 focal, 14 second level and 11 third level, plus around 27 foliage stems. The footprint and the height both contribute, so a taller centrepiece needs more stems even at the same width. A generous base of foliage is what makes it look full, and it costs a fraction of the flower budget.
How tall should an arrangement be compared with its container?
A classic proportion puts the finished height at one to one and a half times the width of the base, and about one and a half to two times the height of the container. Much above twice the container height and the arrangement needs structure, because the stems cannot hold the heads upright on their own. Much below and the arrangement reads as flat, which is fine for a low dining table centrepiece where guests need to see over it.
How much foliage should I use?
About 0.8 to 1 foliage stems for every flower stem, and more for a loose arrangement or one where the mechanics need hiding. Foliage is much cheaper than flowers, so a generous base of greenery fills the same space for less money and usually looks better. The calculator reports flowers as a share of the cost: if that figure is above about 80 percent, more foliage would fill the same footprint for less.
Does it matter whether the arrangement is seen from all sides?
A great deal. A centrepiece on a dining table is viewed from every direction, so its depth is close to its width and it needs stems through the middle as well as at the edges. A mantelpiece, an altar or a windowsill arrangement is seen from the front only, which lets it be built against a backing with perhaps 60 percent of the stems for the same apparent size. Set the view factor to match how it will actually be seen.
What about fixing a large arrangement to a wall or a ceiling?
That is a structural question rather than a floral one, and it is outside what any stem count can answer. A wall, arch, ceiling or suspended installation has to be fixed so it carries the weight of the wet foam, the water and the flowers, and outdoors it also has to resist wind. Follow the venue requirements, use fixings and a support rated for the load, and have a qualified person design anything overhead or load bearing.