Grow Herbs, Vegetables, Flowers, and More With a Raised Garden Bed—Here Are the Best Ones (2025)

Raised garden beds have numerous advantages over growing in the ground: they elevate the garden space so there’s less need for bending and they help the soil warm up faster in spring so you can get an early start on the gardening season.

They can also help keep weeds and pesky critters, like moles or deer, at bay. Plus, they allow you the opportunity to have decent soil, says Lindsay Miller, horticultural writer for Gardener’s Supply Company. “Since it’s not being compacted by foot traffic, raised bed soil stays fluffy and aerated, and it’s also much easier to amend the soil to meet your specific growing needs,” she says.

When you’re shopping for raised beds, Viveka Neveln, senior garden editor at Better Homes & Gardens, offers some advice. "You want something that allows you to easily reach all parts of the bed without having to step on the raised bed, but you also want it large enough for all the plants that you want to grow."

The Bottom Line

The best raised garden beds should be durable, stylish, and fit your garden space. We chose the Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kit because it is made of high-quality metal. If you prefer to purchase a wood raised garden bed, the Greenes Fence Cedar Raised Garden Bed offers a classic look and is very easy to assemble.

Our Testing Process

We tested all of the raised garden beds in a residential setting to see how they would work in the real world. We placed the raised garden beds either on a deck or patio or in the yard, as appropriate for the raised bed’s intended use.

We evaluated how easy or difficult each raised garden bed was to assemble and set up prior to use, comparing each garden bed based on how easy the instructions were to follow, how long each took to put together, and whether we needed tools or additional help with assembly. We then filled each raised garden bed with soil and planted either vegetables or flowers in each bed, placing them in a sunny location.

We tested the products over a two-week period, evaluating whether the raised bed frames were able to hold the weight of the soil without bowing, whether the height and width of the bed allowed easy access to the plants inside, and whether the garden bed showed any signs of wear or damage during the testing period.

Throughout the testing period, we evaluated the quality of each raised bed and its overall style and design. We took into consideration whether the raised garden bed enhanced the look of the yard or patio, and we considered whether the price of the product seemed to match its features and perceived value.

What to Know About Raised Garden Beds Before Shopping

Size

To figure out what size of raised garden bed you should buy, first take a look at the available space in your yard. “Measure out the available space and be sure to allow space for pathways to provide easy access to all sides of the beds,” Neveln says. “Then pick a size of raised bed that will fit in the remaining area.”

You also may want to avoid a raised garden bed that is too wide—remember, you’ll have to reach across it to tend to your fruits and vegetables.

“Choose a width that allows you to reach all plants without stepping into the bed,” Miller says. “If you can reach plants from both sides, a width of 3 to 4 feet is fine.”

The length of the bed can be determined by your personal preference and the size of your space. You’ll commonly find raised garden beds that are between 4 feet and 10 feet long.

For small patios and yards, the Vegepod Small Raised Garden Bed with Garden Cover offers an excellent way to grow abundant produce in a limited space—plus its cover helps protect your plants from bugs and wildlife. If you have plenty of space, the Greenes Fence Original Cedar Raised Garden Bed offers a generous 4 x 8-feet of growing space. Its design also allows you to easily add on to the raised garden bed later.

Material

Wood and metal are the most popular options for raised beds. You can easily customize the size of your bed if you build one from wood and this material offers a timeless look. Metal will give you a more modern look and it will stand up well for many years to come.

“Wood tends to be an economical choice, and metal is very durable and less likely to warp than wood,” Neveln says. “Either makes a good material for a raised bed, depending on your budget and style needs.”

The Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kit is made with zinc, magnesium, and aluminum-coated steel for extra durability and offers a modern look. The Gardeners Supply Company Raised Garden Bed Elevated Cedar Planter Box is made from cedar wood that offers a classic look and is durable enough to withstand the elements for multiple gardening seasons.

Some beds are also made from vinyl or resin, which are strong plastic materials. “In my experience, resin is a good middle ground between wood and metal,” Neveln says. “It’s more durable than wood but less expensive than metal. It may not look as lovely for your Instagram shots, but resin raised beds will work very well.”

Fabric beds are also rising in popularity since they offer a very easy way to get started: just unfold the bag and you’re ready to go. They’re very economical, although they may not last as long as some other materials, Neveln says.

“Fabric makes an especially good choice in rental situations where you might not want to install a very long-lasting bed,” Neveln says.

You can also make a raised garden bed with brick or stones. If you want to create a vegetable garden in your raised bed, look for a material that is food safe.

Drainage Holes and Liners

Many raised beds that are designed to sit directly on the ground don’t have a bottom or liner; the plants will just grow into the soil below the raised bed if they need more growing space. However, you may want to add a liner if you are placing the raised garden bed on top of an existing lawn, Neveln says.

“That barrier helps avoid inadvertently surfacing weed seeds as you dig in your raised beds,” she says. “A liner can also be helpful if you have burrowing creatures.”

Some taller raised beds that stand on legs come with a liner. For example the, Gardeners Supply Company Raised Garden Bed Elevated Cedar Planter Box includes a fabric liner that promotes drainage while holding the soil in place.

If you’re using a liner, it’s important that you allow water to drain out the bottom. “Add small drainage holes to prevent water from pooling in the bottom of the bed, or use a liner material that is permeable to water,” says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed’s From Seed to Spoon app.

Ease of Assembly

Building your own raised beds or even assembling one can sometimes be a bit tricky and take some time. To ensure that set-up will be easy, look for a kit that doesn’t require tools to put together.

Spoonemore also recommends looking for pre-cut/pre-drilled pieces, interlocking designs, and lightweight materials. If you really want to make assembly easy, you can also opt for fabric grow beds. The Greenes Fence Original Cedar Raised Garden Bed features a tongue-and-groove system that makes the wood bed easy to assemble.

Other Raised Garden Beds we Tested

Gardener’s Supply Company Recycled Plastic Raised Bed

Although we appreciated the quick and easy setup of the Gardener’s Supply Company Recycled Plastic Raised Bed, the utilitarian black plastic material was not as attractive as the other raised bed options we tested. We also discovered that the sides bowed out once the raised garden bed was filled with soil, which made us question the quality and integrity of the product.

Your Questions, Answered

What is the best depth for a raised garden bed?

The best depth for your raised garden bed depends on what types of plants you want to grow and what’s underneath the bed.

“A soil depth of 6-8 inches is fine for shallow-rooted plants like radishes and leafy greens,” Miller says. “Tomatoes, squash, peppers, and other deep-root crops require at least 18 inches of soil.”

It's always best to err on the side of deeper beds if you’re not sure what plants you’ll be growing. Plus, tall beds offer additional benefits. “Tall raised beds allow you to garden in them without having to bend over, which can be a great back saver,” says Justin Hancock, a horticulturalist with Costa Farms.

It's also important to consider what’s underneath the raised garden bed because many don’t have a bottom. “Raised bed depth doesn’t matter much if you have tons of nutrient-rich, fluffy soil underneath. But if the surface under your raised bed is compacted clay or an impermeable patio, you’ll need to be more conscious of height,” Miller says.

However, be aware that deeper beds will be more expensive to fill. “Keep in mind that a raised bed is a bit like a large, flat container, so you’ll need to add a mix rather than garden soil, and that can get pricey,” Neveln says. You may want to opt for a shallower bed to save money if you have good soil underneath or are growing flowers that don’t require as deep of soil as root vegetables.

What is the lifespan of a raised garden bed?

In general, the more durable the material used, the longer a raised garden bed will last. “Metal or resin generally will last longer than wood,” Neveln says. “I’ve had a resin raised bed last more than 10 years and a wooden one that started to fall apart on me after about three years,” she says.

Some metal beds that are made from high-quality steel that resists rust and corrosion can last as long as 20 years. That said, wood beds are often less expensive so they are less costly to replace—and they may be able to be repaired if needed. “If you have some basic carpentry skills, you could repair a wooden raised bed more easily than one made from other materials,” Neveln says.

How much do raised garden beds cost?

The cost of a raised garden bed varies depending on the size and the material that’s used to make it. More durable materials often come with a higher price tag—but they are also likely to last longer in the garden.

You can find some small raised beds made of cheaper materials for much less than $100, especially if they are made out of fabric. Higher quality beds made of more durable materials may cost $200 to $300 or more. Some wood options can also be inexpensive; for example, the Best Choice Mobile Raised Garden Bed offers a patio-friendly growing area with convenient storage space for just over $100.

If you want a larger raised garden bed or higher-quality materials, you’ll usually end up spending more. The Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kit is made of a durable metal—a mixture of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum-coated steel— and is priced closer to $200.

The Gardener’s Supply Company Raised Bed Garden Bed Elevated Cedar Planter Box, with a generous 2 x 8 feet of growing space, is constructed of rot- and weather-resistant cedar and aluminum corners for added stability. This extra space and durability increases the price to $350.

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

Who We Are

Renee Freemon Mulvihill is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in home and garden topics. To research this article, she researched a variety of raised garden beds online, comparing features, price, and user reviews. She also checked in with several gardening experts: Lindsay Miller, a horticultural writer for Gardener’s Supply Company, Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed’s From Seed to Spoon app, Justin Hancock, a horticulturalist with Costa Farms, and Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens senior garden editor, to get their advice about choosing the best raised garden beds for any space.

Brandi Fuller is a shopping editor for Better Homes & Gardens. She has also written about topics such as pest control, gardening, and outdoor products.