Plants that require loose, nutrient-dense soil thrive in raised-bed growing conditions, points out McKenzy Winkler, a master gardener and herb farmer based in Pennsylvania. “This includes vegetables like garlic, onions, carrots, and potatoes—anything with a tap root,” she says. While researching the best raised garden beds, we evaluated products based on their size, material, assembly requirements, and sturdiness, in addition to special features. Our best overall pick, the Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed, is a spacious, solid, and sturdy unit that brings your growing space to a comfortable standing height. Here are the best raised garden beds. Assembling this raised garden bed is straightforward and fairly painless. You should be able to connect the boards easily via dovetail slots, though a mallet might come in handy if you encounter any resistance. The company also provides eight screws and pre-drilled holes you can use to fasten the pieces together for added stability. Plus, the package includes a liner separating the wood from the potting soil, which improves the planter’s longevity. Though the cedar wood is untreated, it seems to hold up well over time—we found very few reports of warping or sagging. We also appreciate that it is available in two other sizes: a smaller version, measuring 34 x 18 x 30 inches, and a larger bed that measures 72 x 24 x 30 inches. Finally, this sturdy garden bed can support up to 200 pounds but lacks wheels and is hard to move once filled, so keep that in mind when considering placement. Price at time of publish: $120 The City Pickers planting box is only about 9 inches deep, which is rather shallow, especially if your plants require ample water and root space. However, the tub’s mulch cover reduces evaporation and prevents the soil from drying out. Minimal assembly is required—all you do is attach the wheels and insert the fill tube and screen. Even though the City Pickers planting box is one of the least costly options on the market, this small garden bed exceeds expectations with its thoughtful and functional design. Price at time of publish: $50 Another great feature of the Vegepod is the built-in sprayer, which can connect to a garden hose and evenly water all the plants. A stand or trolley, sold separately, brings the Vegepod to waist height, so you can comfortably water your plants without having to bend down. Compared with other models, the assembly process is notably more complicated. No tools are required, but you need to align and bolt together over a dozen pieces. Since the instructions are lacking, putting it together likely involves some trial and error. Despite a few flaws, the Vegepod is still a solid, high-end choice for enhancing your gardening experience. It comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large, so you can choose the bed that best suits your needs. Price at time of publish: $230 Measuring 40 inches across with a 16-inch depth, the Sunnydaze is ideal for growing an assortment of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs. It’s also deep enough to grow vining plants such as pumpkins, watermelons, and squash. This bed is open on the bottom, so water drains freely into the ground. You may notice some water draining out the sides where the metal pieces meet the supports. To prevent that, try repacking the soil in those areas. In case you’re not completely satisfied, this product is backed by a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. Price at time of publish: $50 This raised garden bed has an open base, which effectively protects plant roots by preventing excess water from accumulating. Measuring 48 inches across and 12 inches deep, it’s suitable for growing deep-rooted plants such as watermelons, pumpkins, and squash. There’s plenty of room to grow larger crops of vegetables or multiple vining plants. You can order it in two larger sizes—6 x 3 x 1 feet or 8 x 4 x 1 feet (both options consist of two pieces)—as well as five colors: silver, gray, green, brown, and blue. Price at time of publish: $80 For increased protection against the elements, this herb planter is made of weather-resistant cedar and treated with a preservative. The slotted upper shelf allows adequate drainage for herbs. Pre-formed cloth liners in each compartment contain the soil and allow water to seep through. (You can order replacement liners from the manufacturer, but they are on the pricey side.) The lower storage shelf is an excellent feature, allowing you to keep gardening tools and supplies within arm’s reach. Price at time of publish: $150 Made of galvanized steel with a rust-resistant coating, this unit is less prone to rotting than its wooden counterparts. And the dark steel frame gives it a more modern aesthetic. Helping to prevent overwatering, a drainage hole and line located in the middle of the cart allows excess water to escape. The only hitch is water drains directly onto the lower storage shelf, so avoid storing any items you don’t want to get wet. Assembly is fairly easy, with included hardware (but not the necessary pliers and screwdriver), but expect it to take longer than the manufacturer’s 5-minute claim. Price at time of publish: $110 The assembly seems incredibly easy and straightforward, with all the necessary hardware included. We recommend using a power drill rather than a screwdriver to save you a significant amount of time. The posts feature decorative end caps, which add a bit more style to the finished product. Note that this bed has taller sides: The second and third tiers are over 20 inches high. Therefore, you need more soil to fill it. You should be prepared to add anywhere from 15 to 20 bags of standard topsoil. Price at time of publish: $65 The raised garden bed, which stands about 30 inches, eliminates the need to bend or crouch while gardening. Offering a 31.7-gallon growing space, the planter is spacious enough to accommodate an assortment of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. As an added bonus, the Keter Really Garden Bed is very easy to assemble, requiring only a screwdriver to attach the legs. This planter’s classic rattan pattern pairs well with most outdoor patio furniture, and you can buy the product in dark brown or dark gray. We’ve seen some reports of products arriving damaged, so be sure to give yours a thorough inspection. Price at time of publish: $230

Materials

You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of galvanized steel is a solid option.

Extra Features

Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience. If you aren’t committed to having a garden in an exact spot, look for a model with wheels. Storage drawers or shelves come in handy to hold trowels, bags of potting soil, and other tools and supplies. If you find your plants are getting too much sun, a removable cover can solve the problem. Multi-tiered raised garden beds allow you to arrange plants in various configurations, and you can stack some to increase the depth.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Sage McHugh, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce who specializes in the home and garden sector. To select the best raised garden beds, Sage considered dozens of products, carefully evaluating their size, material, assembly requirements, and special features. For expert insight, she interviewed McKenzy Winkler, a master gardener and herb farmer based in Pennsylvania.