Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Season yield (lb)
120
Grocery-equivalent value
$408
Net savings
$228
Value per hour worked
$5.70
Net per square foot
$2.28
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter growing area (sq ft).
- 2Enter yield rate (lb/sq ft).
- 3Enter grocery price ($/lb).
- 4Enter season input cost ($).
- 5Enter hours worked this season.
- 6Read your season yield (lb) on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Estimate seasonal yield from bed area and typical per-square-foot production, then value it at grocery prices minus what you spent on soil, seed, and water.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Growing area: 100 sq ft
- Yield rate: 1.2 lb/sq ft
- Grocery price: 3.4 $/lb
- Season input cost: 180 $
- Hours worked this season: 40
Results
- Season yield (lb): 120
- Grocery-equivalent value: $408
- Net savings: $228
- Value per hour worked: $5.70
- Net per square foot: $2.28
What each field means
Inputs
- Growing area (sq ft)
- The growing area used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 100 sq ft so you have a working example on load.
- Yield rate (lb/sq ft)
- The yield rate used in the calculation, measured in lb/sq ft. Starts at 1.2 lb/sq ft so you have a working example on load.
- Grocery price ($/lb)
- The grocery price used in the calculation, measured in $/lb. Starts at 3.4 $/lb so you have a working example on load.
- Season input cost ($)
- The season input cost used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 180 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Hours worked this season
- The hours worked this season used in the calculation. Starts at 40 so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Season yield (lb)
- Returned as a decimal number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Grocery-equivalent value
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Net savings
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Value per hour worked
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Net per square foot
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
What yield rate is realistic?
Intensively planted raised beds average 0.5–2 lb per square foot per season depending on crop. Tomatoes and squash sit at the high end; root crops lower.
Why does year one look bad?
Beds, soil, and irrigation are one-time costs amortized over many seasons. Re-run it with only consumables to see the ongoing picture.
Accuracy and limitations
- Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
- Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
- Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Vegetable Garden Yield & Savings Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/garden-yield
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/garden-yield" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vegetable Garden Yield & Savings Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Vegetable Garden Yield & Savings Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/garden-yield) (2026).