At the traditional 10 m by 10 m spacing used for Alphonso, one acre holds roughly 40 mango trees. Closer spacing fits more: about 160 trees at 5 m by 5 m and about 250 at 4 m by 4 m.
You can compare boxes and sizes in our GI-tagged Ratnagiri Hapus.
If you are planning an orchard, the first number you need is how many mango trees per acre your land can carry. The answer depends on one thing, the gap you leave between trees. This guide shows the arithmetic, the spacings farmers actually use, and why a wide-spaced Alphonso orchard and a dense commercial block give very different counts.
We are a seller of Alphonso mangoes, not an orchard consultancy. The planting figures here are simple geometry plus widely used spacing norms. Before you plant, confirm the spacing for your variety and soil with your state horticulture department or the nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
How to work out mango trees per acre
One acre is about 4,047 square metres. Divide that by the area each tree gets, which is the row spacing multiplied by the gap between trees in a row.
Trees per acre = 4,047 divided by (row spacing in metres x plant spacing in metres)
So a 10 m by 10 m grid gives each tree 100 square metres, and 4,047 divided by 100 is about 40 trees. A grid of 5 m by 5 m gives each tree 25 square metres, which is about 162 trees. These are the maximum counts for a perfect square plot. Real land has boundaries, paths, slopes and rocky patches, so the number you actually plant is usually a little lower.
A common source of confusion is the hectare. Spacing guides are often written per hectare, and a hectare is about 2.47 acres. Ten-metre spacing gives about 100 trees per hectare, which is about 40 per acre. If you see "100 trees" quoted for the 10 m spacing, check whether it means per hectare.
Mango spacing systems compared
| Spacing | Trees per acre (approx.) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 12 m x 12 m | 28 | Very wide, old seedling orchards |
| 10 m x 10 m | 40 | Traditional spacing for Alphonso and other large-canopy varieties |
| 9 m x 9 m | 50 | Slightly tighter conventional orchard |
| 8 m x 8 m | 63 | Conventional, with some canopy management |
| 6 m x 6 m | 112 | Medium density |
| 5 m x 5 m | 162 | High density, pruned |
| 4 m x 4 m | 253 | High density, intensive pruning |
| 3 m x 3 m | 450 | Very high density, dwarfing and heavy pruning |
| 2 m x 3 m | 674 | Ultra-high density, irrigated and tightly managed |
These figures are our own calculations from the formula above, rounded. Recommended spacing for a given variety differs between states and research stations, so treat the table as a planning aid and not as advice for your plot.
Traditional orchards: wide spacing and big canopies
In Marathi, a mango grove is called an amrai. Alphonso trees grown the traditional way spread wide and live for decades. Giving them room helps sunlight reach the canopy and lets air move through, which matters for flowering and for managing disease in humid coastal weather. Named varieties such as Alphonso are propagated by grafting, because mango cultivars of the Indian group are monoembryonic.
At 10 m by 10 m an acre holds about 40 trees. That sounds low compared with modern plantings, and in the early years the land looks empty. A tree that is given space needs several years to fill its canopy and come into good bearing, so wide spacing is a long-term choice.
High-density and ultra-high-density planting
Commercial growers in several states plant mango much closer, using regular pruning to keep the trees small. Dense blocks of 5 m by 5 m or 4 m by 4 m come into fruit sooner and allow more trees to share the land. They need steady attention to pruning, irrigation, nutrition and pest control.
Ultra-high-density systems, around 2 m by 3 m, push the count to roughly 670 trees per acre. They depend on dwarfing or compact varieties and on drip irrigation and tight canopy control. Rainfed laterite hillsides, such as those in much of the Konkan, are not an easy fit for this approach, so a grower there should take local advice first.
Dense planting does not automatically mean more income. More trees means more cost for plants, pruning and inputs, and the fruit grown on a pruned small tree is not the same as fruit from an old wide-canopy tree. Which one is better depends on your market, your water and your labour.
What changes the number you should plant
- Variety. Alphonso and other large-canopy types need wider spacing than compact or dwarf selections.
- Soil depth and type. Deep soils can support closer planting. Shallow laterite soils on slopes usually do not.
- Water. Rainfed orchards compete for moisture in the dry months, so they are usually spaced wider than drip-irrigated ones.
- Pruning and canopy management. If you will prune every year after harvest, you can plant closer.
- Rootstock. Dwarfing rootstock supports higher density than seedling trees.
- Machinery and access. Leave lanes for spraying, harvesting and carrying the crop.
Where our Alphonso comes from
Our fruit is sourced across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt on the Konkan coast. We hold the GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139), and you can read the details on our Brand Facts page. We source fruit and are not an orchard consultancy, so use this page for the arithmetic only.
We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. Fresh Alphonso is harvested from about February to June, with the best supply from March to May, and the 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. You can order authentic Ratnagiri Alphonso or Devgad Alphonso by the dozen once it opens, from Rs 1,849 per dozen. A dozen weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade. If you prefer Kesar, see our Kesar mango boxes.
Outside the season we do not sell fresh Alphonso, but Alphonso pulp tins are available all year, and the full mangoes collection lists everything we sell. Check the product page for the current price.
More from our store
We also sell quinoa seeds and kokum butter; see the product pages.
Quinoa seeds are on the product page, where you can check sizes and the current price.
Kokum butter and kokum oil are on the product page, where you can check sizes and the current price.
People also ask
How many mango trees can be planted in 1 acre?
It depends on spacing. At the traditional 10 m by 10 m, about 40 trees fit in an acre. At 5 m by 5 m it is about 160, at 4 m by 4 m about 250, and ultra-high-density plantings at 2 m by 3 m reach roughly 670.
How many mango plants per acre in India?
Indian orchards range widely. Conventional large-canopy orchards use 8 to 10 m spacing, which is roughly 40 to 63 trees per acre. High-density blocks plant 160 to 450. Recommended spacing differs by state and variety, so check with your state horticulture department or local Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
What is the best spacing for Alphonso mango trees?
Alphonso is a large-canopy variety, and 10 m by 10 m is the traditional spacing, giving about 40 trees per acre. Some growers use closer spacing with regular pruning. The right choice depends on your soil, rainfall and pruning plan, so confirm with a local horticulture expert before planting.
How long does a mango tree take to bear fruit?
Grafted mango trees often start fruiting within a few years, but a wide-spaced tree takes longer to build a full canopy and reach good yields. Dense, pruned plantings tend to fruit sooner. Timing varies with variety, rootstock, soil and care, so ask your local nursery for guidance.
Related searches
- Ratnagiri Alphonso mango by the dozen
- Devgad Alphonso mango by the dozen
- Kesar mango boxes
- Alphonso mango pulp for all-year use
- All mangoes in our store
- Brand facts and GI Authorised User details
Sources and further reading
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.
