Seed Packet Cost
Find the cost per viable plant from a seed packet.
About Seed Packet Cost
Only the germination-adjusted seeds are worth counting, so the cost per plant divides the packet price by the viable seed count. Comparing this per-plant cost to transplants reveals when starting from seed is worth it and when it is not.
Formula
Seed Packet Cost
Cost per plant = packet price ÷ (seeds x germination)
- viable seeds
- Seeds expected to actually germinate
Worked example
With the default values below, Seed Packet Cost returns Cost per Plant of $0.082. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Packet price
- 3.5
- Seeds per packetminimum 1 seeds
- 50 seeds
- Germination rateaccepts 0–100 %
- 85 %
- Plants plannedminimum 1 plants
- 30 plants
Results
- Cost per Plant
- $0.082
- Viable Seeds
- 43 seeds
- Packets Needed
- 1 packets
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Seed Packet Cost
- 3Cost per Plant= 0.082 /plant
- 4Viable Seeds= 43 seeds
- 5Packets Needed= 1 packets
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Seed Packet Cost calculated?
Cost per plant = packet price ÷ (seeds x germination) Only the germination-adjusted seeds are worth counting, so the cost per plant divides the packet price by the viable seed count.
Why does Seed Packet Cost matter?
Comparing this per-plant cost to transplants reveals when starting from seed is worth it and when it is not.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Packet price, Seeds per packet, Germination rate, Plants planned. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.