15-Gallon vs. 24" Box vs. 36" Box: What Hedge Size Should You Buy?

Species gets the attention, but size at install decides both your budget and your wait. Here is what each container actually buys you.

15-gallon — the patient path

3–4 feet tall at install, roughly $105–$120 per foot planted. Real privacy arrives in 2–3 seasons as growth compounds. The right call for long runs, front gardens, and anyone happy to trade time for money.

24-inch box — the sweet spot

6–8 feet on day one: eye-level privacy immediately, full height within a season or two. Most residential lines we quote land here — meaningful screening now without estate-level cost.

36-inch box — instant walls

10–12 feet the day the crew leaves. This is second-story screening with no wait, installed with machine assistance in a single day. Priced accordingly — see the pricing guide for real numbers.

48-inch box — estate scale

13–15 feet, crane-set, the maximum-impact move. Mostly ficus and podocarpus; this is the scale of Bel Air walls.