Planting in raised garden beds minimizes the number of weeds and critters that creep into your garden, and it’s “ergonomically advantageous,” says gardener Lisa Catalano of Our Garden Gig. “They allow you to work in your garden with less bending down, eliminating back and knee joint pain while you seed, water, weed, fertilize, and harvest. The higher the bed, the more you will benefit from less stress on your body.” Raised garden beds that maintain contact with the ground can also act as a sponge that requires less watering than your conventional garden, and depending on the type you opt for, they can also extend your growing season. No matter what kind you choose, a raised bed makes “the surrounding garden landscape neater and easier to maintain,” says Catalano. We scoured the market for the best raised garden beds, our main criteria being durability, or the material’s ability to stand up to inclement weather and heavy soil over time. We included a range of sizes and depths to suit different needs and identified a few picks with special features such as organization racks and latched gates. We also spoke to Catalano to get the scoop on the specs to look out for when shopping for raised garden beds, as well as insider tips on maintaining them. Our top pick, the Vego Garden 6-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit is durable enough to sustain your heirloom tomatoes for decades to come. Constructed with Aluzinc-coated metal, it’s more corrosion-resistant than regular galvanized steel, and it’s thicker too, giving you warp-free walls that won’t detract from your garden’s beauty. While it’s pricier than some of our other picks, it saves you money in the long run. Find more of our raised garden bed recommendations below, and keep scrolling for advice on how to pick, fill, and maintain your raised bed.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall Raised Garden Bed: Vego Garden 6-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit Best Budget Raised Garden Bed: Land Guard Galvanized Raised Garden Bed Kit Best Splurge Raised Garden Bed: Outdoor Living Today Cedar Garden in a Box With Trellis Best Wood Raised Garden Bed: Expert Gardener Cedar Elevated Garden Bed Best Metal Raised Garden Bed: Trent Austin Design Leiter Galvanized Steel Elevated Planter Best Tiered Raised Garden Bed: Eden Waterfall Garden Table Best Raised Garden Bed With Trellis: Gardener’s Supply Company Elevated Planter Box and Trellis Set Best Raised Garden Bed on Wheels: Ohuhu Metal Raised Bed Planter With Wheels Best Raised Garden Bed for Herbs: Veikous Wooden Raised Garden Bed With Greenhouse
Who it’s for: People who want to be able to configure their raised bed to fit their garden plans. Who it’s not for: People who prefer the look of wood planters. Vego garden beds look good and last a long time. Constructed from metal coated with corrosion-resistant Aluzinc, these garden beds are more resistant to corrosion and rust than regular galvanized steel and other corrugated metal beds. Need another reason to love Aluzinc? No soil contamination. Extreme temperatures can accelerate degradation of materials like plastic and wood, while Aluzinc tolerates temperature extremes well and will not leach chemicals into your soil and plants. At 17 inches high, this particular garden bed facilitates strong root growth and minimizes the amount of uncomfortable hunching that accompanies in-ground gardening. The bed’s height also decreases the number of critters that can access your beds (though, to totally prevent rabbit damage, you may need to add a short screen or mesh). Users will also appreciate the bed’s rounded edges and lack of sharp corners, which reduce the likelihood of cuts and snagging and make for safer and more comfortable gardening. This bed features a modular design with six possible configurations and four color options—resulting in plenty of possibilities to elevate your garden. Product Details:
Dimensions: Modular (six possible combinations)Material: Aluzinc-coated metalPlanting Depth: 17 inches
Price at time of publish: $174 Who it’s not for: People who prefer wooden beds or raised beds with integrated storage. For a fully functional and durable bed at a lower price point, we like the Land Guard Galvanized Raised Garden Bed Kit. Like our top pick, it’s made of galvanized metal, and while it does lack the Aluzinc coating, it features anti-corrosive zinc protection that allows it to stand up to the elements and outlast many other popular garden-bed manufacturing materials like wood and composite. This bed also boasts thick sheeting, so you don’t have to worry about stability or easily damaging the facade. Available in three different sizes and five different colors, you’ll find something for every garden setting, and you’ll be happy to know that assembly is a breeze (a consistent “pro” of a steel bed over a wooden one.) Product Details:
Dimensions: Modular (three size options)Material: Galvanized steelPlanting Depth: 12 inches
Price at time of publish: $80 Who it’s for: Serious gardeners who want to protect their produce from critters. Who it’s not for: Beginner gardeners or people not in a position to spend a lot on a raised garden bed. Do you need a raised bed that’s as gorgeous as the vegetation growing in it? Maybe not. But this handsome cedar garden bed is sure to earn its keep in double takes. Aesthetics aside, another thing that sets this raised bed apart from others is the latched front panels that keep pests out. The panels rest on wide throw hinges that allow them to stand vertically to protect your plants or rest completely flat to facilitate easy plant access. The height of this raised bed makes gardening accessible and eliminates the stooping and crouching familiar to those who’ve practiced in-ground gardening. Though pricey, this Outdoor Living Today raised garden bed is made of cedar—a durable, rot-resistant, and insect-repellant wood that can stand up to the elements for decades. Product Details:
Dimensions: 72 x 36 x 33.5 inchesMaterial: CedarPlanting Depth: 20 inches
Price at time of publish: $980 RELATED: The 7 Best Watering Cans, According to Our Testing Who it’s not for: People who prefer a more galvanized, industrial look. If you’re searching for a natural container that will last, opt for redwood or cedar. Cedar beds are attractive to humans, not to pests: The aromatic resin in cedar isn’t just a natural potpourri, it actually provides natural resistance to insects, in addition to moisture and rot. For comparison, untreated cedar beds can last between 15 and 30 years, whereas untreated pine lasts a measly two to four years. This raised bed from Expert Gardener also includes a liner and three drainage holes to protect the wood and your soil from excess moisture, waterlogging, and root rot. At 31 inches tall, this raised bed eliminates the stooping and kneeling required of in-ground gardening, and it also reduces the likelihood of critters availing themselves of your hard work. This model also provides a handy shelf for stashing your garden accessories, too. Product Details:
Dimensions: 48 x 24 x 31 inchesMaterial: CedarPlanting Depth: 8 inches
Price at time of publish: $85 RELATED: The 7 Best Gardening Gloves for All Types of Gardeners, According to Our Tests Who it’s not for: People who want to grow large produce with deep roots. If you like the durability of galvanized steel but want something a bit more stylized than the typical corrugated sheet metal, you can find a few alternatives like this elevated planter from Trent Austin Design. In this raised bed, the drainage holes create an attractive pattern that, combined with the tapered legs and dark brown powder-coated finish, coalesce into a piece with both industrial and rustic charm. Rust- and weather-resistant, this piece can stand up to the elements, and at almost 30 inches tall, it can keep you standing while gardening (i.e. no uncomfortable kneeling or stooping). Another enviable trait of metal beds? Easy installation. To assemble this bed, you’ll need only an Allen wrench! Product Details:
Dimensions: 28.3 x 39.5 x 17.5 inchesMaterial: Powder-coated steelPlanting Depth: 8 inches
Price at time of publish: $162 Who it’s not for: People who struggle with assembly. A tiered container system is highly compatible with urbanites’ small patios and balconies, as it allows you to capitalize on any unused vertical space. (Not to mention, it just looks cool, especially when a few cascading plants are integrated.) Just under three feet wide, this unit has a small footprint but offers 16 square feet of garden bed. Constructed from solid cedar wood, this tiered bed is rot- and warp-resistant, and it comes with a self-wicking liner to keep moisture off the frame. Users will also appreciate the built-in drainage holes, which prevent excess water from accumulating in the beds and mitigate root rot to keep plants healthy. But keep in mind that, due to the more intricate design of this model, assembly will be more involved. Product Details:
Dimensions: 34 x 34 x 37 inchesMaterial: CedarPlanting Depth: 10 inches
Price at time of publish: $150 RELATED: The 6 Best Gardening Shoes, According to Our Testing Who it’s not for: People who want a simple herb garden or a high-yield produce garden. This streamlined planter box is easy on the eyes and easy on your lower back. The waist-high design makes for comfortable gardening free of crouching and stooping. The integrated pivoting trellis serves as a prop for your crops (for a kitchen garden) or as a canvas for climbing flowers. Veggies ripe for trellis gardening include tomatoes, peas, pole beans, and squash. (Even though the company also advertises that the 10-inch bed is deep enough to grow carrots, veggies such as carrots and peppers do best with a container at least 12 inches deep.) Made of cedar or cypress, these planter boxes resist rot and warping, and the fabric liner protects the wood from soil moisture. The steel components comprising the frame and trellis are also powder-coated to resist rust. The trellis supports up to 10 pounds of produce when secured at a 45-degrees angle. Product Details:
Dimensions: Planter box: 48 x 24 x 29 inches; Trellis: 47 x 40 inchesMaterial: Cedar or cypress with powder-coated steelPlanting Depth: 10 inches
Price at time of publish: $429 Who it’s not for: People who intend for their raised bed to become a permanent fixture in their yard. If you’ve got a small patio or balcony that has to suit multiple purposes, a solid wood planter weighing well over 100 pounds when full is probably not the right choice. A smaller cart with wheels and handle, however, can add beauty to your space without sacrificing its usability. Those in small spaces may also lack dedicated yard and tool space and will certainly appreciate the storage integrated into this unit with a bottom grid frame and four additional hooks for hanging your accessories. (Having a dedicated space for tools can also be a boon to gardeners who are apt to abandon their tools in the garden, never to be found again!) Those with plenty of space may simply appreciate the vintage charm of this colorful planter—no other rationale needed. This metal planter has ample drainage holes and gaps to prevent water accumulation, which mitigates the likelihood of root rot and rust, and it has been given an anti-rust coating, which should help to ensure it sees many seasons of gardening. Product Details:
Dimensions: 37.4 x 15.7 x 31.5 inchesMaterial: MetalPlanting Depth: 10 inches
Price at time of publish: $110 RELATED: The 6 Best Hose Nozzles, According to Our Tests Who it’s for: People who want to extend the life of their herbs (and other plants too!). Who it’s not for: People that want a high-yield produce garden. The truth is, you don’t really need a raised bed for most garden herbs. For popular herbs like oregano and thyme—and their six-inch roots—some cute pots around the balcony or patio will do. However, a raised bed cold frame can come in handy if you’re looking to get a springtime jump-start on your herb garden or extend its life beyond early fall. While hearty herbs like rosemary and oregano can withstand a light freeze like champs, other culinary favorites like basil, dill, and cilantro begin to suffer once temps hit 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold frames maintain a temperature that’s between seven and 10 degrees warmer than the air outside, usually extending the life of your plant an extra four weeks during the fall season. They’re also ideal for hardening or acclimatizing plants when you’re trying to transition your indoor plants back to the outdoors. This raised bed from Veikous is made of solid fir, a sturdy, rot-resistant wood, and its slats have been constructed with slight space between them to encourage drainage and ventilation. The unit comes with a liner as well as a removable cross grid that you can either use to organize your plants or forego entirely for a more cottagecore look. Users will also appreciate the ergonomic design (45.6 inches tall), which eliminates the need for bending and stooping. The bottom rack provides ample storage for any gardening accessories, and the unit comes on four casters (two with brakes) for easy movability. Product Details:
Dimensions: 30.5 x 22.8 x 45.6 inchesMaterial: FirPlanting Depth: 9.5 inches
Price at time of publish: $140
How to Shop for Raised Garden Beds Like a Pro
Material
Most raised garden beds are created from wood or metal, but the type of wood and the treatment of the metal determine the safety, quality, and durability of your bed. The best types of wood for constructing a raised garden bed are cedar, redwood, cypress, fir, or black locust. These types are naturally rot-and pest-resistant. Of the types of metal used for garden beds, Aluzinc-coated steel and regular (zinc-coated) galvanized steel deliver superior corrosion resistance. Aluzinc-coated steel boasts a corrosion resistance that is three to seven times greater than even that of regular galvanized steel. It’s also extremely durable—twice the hardness of regular galvanized steel—meaning you won’t see any deformations in your garden bed walls for decades. Regular galvanized (zinc-coated) steel is your next best bet, providing at least 20 years of use in most environments; however, gardeners should beware of using acidic soils without a liner in these beds, as the acids in the soil will accelerate the loss of the zinc coating. When purchasing a metal bed, verify that some effort has been taken to protect the bed from corrosion and rust (e.g. a powder-coated finish).
Size
An average adult can extend their arms about two feet into a raised garden bed. To ensure the greatest accessibility and efficiency (i.e. to ensure someone can easily access all parts of the garden without having to trudge through it and compact the soil), garden beds that can be accessed by all sides should be no wider than four feet across. Garden beds with only one accessible side should be no wider than two feet. All of our product selections adhere to this general principle.
Depth
The ideal depth of a raised garden bed depends on what the gardener intends to grow, where the bed will be placed, and the gardener’s mobility. Most flowers and leafy veggies require around eight inches of soil, while root vegetables like carrots thrive in 12 to 15 inches of soil. If you intend to create a raised bed that remains in contact with the soil (rather than a container garden), depth doesn’t pose a real issue, as roots can continue to grow into the earth below. Users should also consider that deeper beds and raised beds that maintain contact with the soil maintain moisture better and require less frequent watering. Also, elevated garden beds around waist height are the most ergonomic option, requiring less stooping or kneeling than other types.
Questions You Might Ask
How do you fill a raised garden bed?
Filling a raised garden bed with bags of soil is a quick way to empty out your wallet. Luckily, a popular method known as “Hugelkultur” allows you to fill 70 percent of your garden bed with scavenged yard debris. “Generally, people will layer wood branches, organic yard waste materials, and then top off the beds with compost,” says Catalano. With the Hugelkultur method, soil comprises about 30 percent of the final makeup. Because wood debris decomposes slowly, larger logs or branches are placed at the bottom of the bed to provide a steady source of organic matter. Next, place smaller twigs and sticks, followed by other organic yard debris like grass clippings or dead leaves. On the top of this will go compost and soil. As the organic matter decomposes, it facilitates the growth of beneficial fungi and microbes. As the bed settles from the decomposition process, gardeners will need to refill the top with compost. “Twice a year in spring and mid-summer, we top off the beds with our own homemade compost from our vegetable scraps,” says Catalano. “The idea is to mimic nature with the decomposition of forest leaf litter. We also practice ‘No Till’ gardening in our raised beds and on the ground. ‘No Till’ gardening preserves the beneficial life in the soil and prevents weed seeds from germinating.” The Hugelkultur method is beneficial to more than just your bank account. It also improves soil quality, sequesters carbon, retains water, and reduces the amount of weeding.
Where should you put a raised garden bed?
Place your raised garden bed in a location that gets “at least six hours of sun per day,” says Catalano. “Especially if you’re growing vegetables,” she adds. “Most vegetables require a sunny location, so the sunnier, the better!” Gardeners should also avoid low-lying areas prone to becoming water-logged.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Leslie Joblin, a writer with two years of experience writing lifestyle content and a gardener herself. Her work has appeared in The Spruce, MyDomaine, and Brides. To complete this roundup, she dove deep into the research on the best raised garden beds and solicited advice from gardener Lisa Catalano of Our Garden Gig.
