I usually go with 5 benches. A center unit and then I cover the 4 corners until the corner diameters touch. At the very least, I leave no dead spots within a compound's area. I can repair any wall defences, etc...craft as well. Within that spacing for me, there is more than enough room for large crop fields, smithy and a comfort setup.


...and always a trench surrounding any long-term base, or built in such a way as to use terrain to advantage with some terrain walling/terrain trenching