The 9 Best Raised Garden Beds for Growing Plants, Tested

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Raised garden beds simplify gardening and give the yard a tailored, finished look. We evaluated top models on the market—find out how they fared in our hands-on tests.

Raised-bed gardening is a popular option for many backyards. It allows users to put a garden practically anywhere, even if the yard isn’t suitable for installing a traditional ground-level garden. Raised beds are touted as back savers since they reduce the distance the gardener needs to bend to tend to the plants. But how helpful are they, really? Without personally testing the beds, we couldn’t tell whether they contained quality materials, were designed for optimal plant growth, or if they would be overly challenging to assemble.

So, we decided to test them. We assembled nearly a dozen raised garden beds (no, they don’t come assembled), and then we put them through a battery of gardening-specific tests. Unfortunately, not all the raised garden beds survived our stringent testing; you can find out about one that didn’t make it just ahead.

We interviewed other garden experts to get additional insight, and in general, we discovered that raised beds offer several advantages. They provide better drainage than ground-level gardening. They also are less prone to soil compaction, but this depends on the soil mix used to fill the raised bed.

Since every garden can be different, there is no “standard” when it comes to raised garden beds. Picking the best raised garden bed will depend on space limitations, physical comfort, design, and the type of plants grown. Keep reading to learn how to pick the best raised garden bed for your backyard, and find out why the following models all earned a spot in this lineup of some of the best raised garden beds for backyard plants.

1. BEST OVERALL: Greenes Fence Cedar Raised Garden Bed
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: City Pickers Patio Raised Garden Bed
3. BEST WITH COVER: Vegepod Raised Garden Bed 
4. BEST FOR PATIO: Jumbl Raised Canadian Cedar Garden Bed
5. BEST HERB GARDEN: Kdgarden Raised Garden Bed Kit 
6. BEST FOR BEGINNERS: Keter Urban Bloomer 12.7-Gallon Raised Garden Bed
7. BEST WITH WHEELS: Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed
8. BEST FOR TALL SPACES: Outland Living Vertical Raised Garden Bed
9. BEST FOR BACKYARDS: Sunnydaze Raised Metal Garden Bed Kit 

How We Tested the Best Raised Garden Beds

We spoke to David Angelov, a master gardener and founder of PlantParenthood, a gardening design and maintenance service based in Newton, Massachusetts. He recommends springing for a robust construction such as hardwood: “Other than longevity for the beds and sustainability of the materials, there’s impact on the health of your crop and the ability to eat your crop. This may be most often more expensive, but it’s worth it in every case I’ve used.” He adds that “if you use something like pressure-treated wood loaded with chemicals, there is a risk of that seeping into the water that feeds your food.” We took this advice in mind when choosing the products to test.

Our goal in testing the raised garden beds was to cut through the hype and determine each bed’s real pros and cons so readers could take advantage of our results before buying.

We used a rubric and awarded points for each feature we tested on the garden beds. The individual tests included noting the ease of assembly, judging the overall stability and quality of the materials of each raised bed, filling the beds with potting soil, and then testing to see how well they drained.

Filling them with soil and then watering them was essential because wet soil is heavy and creates a substantial amount of lateral pressure. A flimsy raised bed is a waste of our readers’ money no matter how attractive it is. We added a few plants here and there, mainly for photos, but we tested the beds in late winter when nighttime temps were still too cold to permanently plant the beds.

We also analyzed the design of the beds and awarded extra points for helpful features, such as the water-level indicator on the Keter raised bed that made it especially helpful for those who are new to raised bed gardening.

After the testing was complete, we added the scores and used the results to assign relative awards for each product. We detailed both the pros and the cons, so our readers would have a heads-up on what to expect if they purchase one of these top-performing raised garden beds.

Our Top Picks

The following models passed our stringent performance tests to earn a spot in this lineup of some of the best raised garden beds. They had to be durable enough to support the weight of the soil mix, and they had to be designed so that plants had both root space and adequate drainage. Each one also had to live up to the seller’s claims, for the most part.

While the following raised beds differ in size, material, and design, making some better suited for specific growing situations, each one was a standout in our tests and has earned its place among the best raised bed gardens available today.

Best Overall

Greenes Fence Cedar Raised Garden Bed

Product Specs 

• Estimated assembly time: 25 minutes
• Material: Cedar wood
• Drainage: Excellent

Pros

• Cedar is naturally insect- and water-resistant; perfect for gardening
• Boards are sturdy enough to support the weight of wet soil easily
• Attractive and well designed; looks great in most gardens

Cons

• Included screws are too wide for end caps; makes installation more difficult

We were excited to open the box that the Greenes Fence cedar raised garden bed came in and put it together. Cedar is a naturally weather-resistant wood, and there was no question that it was natural cedar—the fresh aroma of the wood confirmed it.

The side and end boards slide into the corner posts via dovetail-type slots. Most went in fairly easily, although a few required tapping with a mallet to get them to slide in the slots. Cedar caps added a nice finishing touch to the tops of the posts—and the screws are included—but we found they were slightly large and prone to split the wood, so we used #8 self-tapping screws to reduce the risk of the wood splitting.

The kit features durable 11/16-inch-thick boards, which we found to be about the right thickness. We placed the 4-foot-by-8-foot Greenes garden bed on a level section of the yard and then filled it with potting soil. The bed held up well to the pressure of the soil even after we wet the soil, which increased its weight and lateral pressure.

Since this raised bed is open on the bottom, it drains freely, making it well suited for fruits, vegetables, and flowers that require ample drainage. The sides are 14 inches high, which is just about right for pulling an occasional weed or picking a ripe green pepper without back strain. We were impressed with the quality of this raised bed, and it looks sharp, too.

Get the Greenes Fence raised garden bed at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Tractor Supply Co.

Best Bang for the Buck

City Pickers Patio Raised Garden Bed

Product Specs 

• Estimated assembly time: About 2 minutes
• Material: High-density polyethylene
• Drainage: Drains well from holes on sides

Pros

• Budget-friendly option; ideal for beginner gardeners
• Compact size is small enough for patio or balcony
• Mulch cover reduces evaporation; great for delicate plants

Cons

• Only one mulch cover comes with the bed; will likely require more over time

The City Pickers Patio raised garden is designed for growing a couple of tomatoes, a few lettuce plants, or a handful of herbs. Right off the bat, we loved the price, which is very affordable compared to the other beds we tested, and the design is well thought out. Even better, there’s minimal assembly with this raised bed.

The City Pickers garden bed comes with a one-piece molded-polyethylene tub that holds a drain rack in the bottom and has a spot for a watering tube on one inside corner (rack and tube included). The only actual assembly involved attaching the caster wheels to the bottom, but a quick push and they were in place. They roll smoothly, and it was simple to push this garden bed from one spot on the patio to another.

Next, we filled it with potting soil and saturated it. The bottom of the tub holds 2 gallons of water, and the rack keeps the soil mix from falling into the water reservoir. At first, we were unsure whether the tub had drainage holes, but then we saw water trickling out the sides, near the bottom. The holes are there—the tub design just camouflages them.

The City Pickers tub is 2 feet long by 20 inches wide and 9.5 inches deep. That’s a bit on the shallow side when growing plants that require ample water (because it can evaporate quickly), but the manufacturer figured out a way to reduce evaporation—with a fiber-mulch liner that fits neatly over the top of the tub and ties to secure it in place. The fiber keeps the soil from drying out quickly, which is a big plus. While it’s the least expensive of the models we tested, we were impressed by the level of detail that went into designing the City Pickers garden bed.

Get the City Pickers raised garden bed atThe Home Depot or BuildClub.

Best with Cover

Vegepod Raised Garden Bed

Product Specs 

• Estimated assembly time: 35 minutes
• Material: High-density polyethylene
• Drainage: Tiny holes we felt were inadequate

Pros

• With the top installed, it creates a microclimate
• Cover helps keep plants protected on chilly nights
• The misting hose connects to a garden hose for spraying plants

Cons

• Does not drain quickly enough after it rains; may need additional drain holes

The Vegepod is more like a mini-greenhouse than a simple raised bed. While it claims to be “self-watering,” it isn’t. At the bottom of the bed is a water reservoir that is made to be filled with perlite. The perlite acts as a wick to transfer the water to the soil above, which is what the company means by “self-watering.” We were concerned about plants getting “wet feet” due to soggy soil at the bottom because the Vegepod doesn’t drain well. We found only a couple of tiny drain holes.

Assembly is relatively complex on this one. No tools are needed, but the product comes in more than a dozen sections that must be aligned and connected. The instructions are pretty inadequate, so we had to use some trial and error until we finally got it right.

Buyers should know that the legs that elevate the bed to waist height must be purchased separately—they were not included with the small model we tested. However, it’s still a robust raised bed, and with the protective cover, it can easily extend the growing season.

The Vegepod is a high-end raised bed that would be well suited to growing late fall or early spring produce. However, we recommend keeping it under a protected patio cover. We put it on an open section of the patio, and it rained. The perforated cover let quite a bit of the rain in, resulting in soppy wet soil that took hours to drain. We ended up drilling a couple of drain holes along the side to help the water drain out.

A handy feature on this model is a misting hose that installs along the inside top of the cover. We connected the misting hose to our garden hose, and when we turned it on, the mister evenly sprayed the plants inside. The Vegepod is 20 inches long, 13 inches wide, and with the cover installed, stands 40 inches high. It weighs 22 pounds, which was heavy enough to keep it from sliding across the patio during a storm with high winds.

Get the Vegepod raised garden bed at Amazon, The Home Depot (large size), or Gardener’s Supply Company.

Best for Patio

Jumbl Raised Canadian Cedar Garden Bed

Product Specs 

• Estimated assembly time: 20 minutes
• Material: Cedar wood
• Drainage: Natural, between wood slats

Pros

• Longer legs brings this bed even higher; great for people with back issues
• Made from high-quality cedar; sturdy and durable
• Wood could be painted to match a particular outdoor design

Cons

• Some slats were too long and had to be cut to fit

Our impressions of the Jumbl raised garden bed are that it is made of solid, quality cedarwood and is well designed. Some assembly is required, and, unfortunately, a couple of the bottom bed slats were slightly too long, so we had to shave off just a bit to get them to fit. All in all, though, this is a good-quality raised bed for the price. Be aware that natural wood can swell or contract slightly due to humidity changes, and this is normal.

The legs are milled from a single post of cedar, which eliminates joints between the bottom of the bed and the legs. This makes the unit sturdy and solid. We positioned it on the paved patio, and it didn’t wobble, not even a little bit. The Jumbl bed is 18 inches wide and is 34 inches long. The inner bed depth is just under 9 inches, offering satisfactory room for root development of herbs, many types of flowers, and leafy-type veggies.

The bed came with a fiber-mulch liner that helps retain the tiny bits of potting soil that would have otherwise washed out the bottom between the wood slats when the water naturally drains away. One of the nicer features is the dowel assembly that holds the top post caps on. Without the need to insert screws, there is less risk of the screws corroding and discoloring the cedar. The Jumbl bed is large enough to grow various small veggies or flowers, and it looks good enough to put out in the open.

Get the Jumbl raised garden bed at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Target.

Best Herb Garden

Kdgarden Raised Garden Bed Kit

Product Specs 

• Estimated assembly time: 5 minutes
• Material: High-quality PVC
• Drainage: Naturally, under the bottom of the side rails

Pros

• Easy to assemble in as little as 5 minutes
• Made using rot and insect resistant materials
• Top grid for separating small plants helps keep things organized

Cons

• The bright white is quite noticeable (some may like this)

The Kdgarden raised garden bed is slightly different from the other beds we tested in that it’s made from heavy-duty white PVC, and all the pieces have been manufactured to fit together perfectly. Assembling this raised bed was refreshingly straightforward.

The Kdgarden measures 48 inches long by 48 inches wide and stands 13.3 inches high, offering plenty of room for flower and vegetable plant-root development. We positioned it on a level section of ground, and excess water drained out without a hitch from under the bottom side rails.

This raised bed could be used to grow a large crop of lettuce or other vegetables, but we found it better suited to growing smaller plants, such as herbs. It comes with a grid that fits along the top edge that provides 16 smaller growing spaces. The PVC material will not rot, and it’s impervious to insect infestations. The white color is rather bright and visually stands out in the yard, but it would be right at home in the yard of a white house or a house with white trim.

Get the Kdgarden raised garden bed at Amazon.

Best for Beginners

Keter Urban Bloomer 12.7-Gallon Raised Garden Bed

Product Specs 

• Estimated assembly time: 15 minutes
• Material: High-density polyethylene
• Drainage: Plug located at the bottom of the bed

Pros

• Good height for mobility challenged gardeners
• Water-level indicator helps prevent overwatering
• Drainage plug great during particularly dry seasons to lock in moisture

Cons

• Would be nice if it had wheels; difficult to move if required

One of the biggest challenges for newbie gardeners is learning when and how much to water their plants. With some raised beds, that can be an issue even for seasoned gardeners if they can’t determine how much moisture is in the bottom of the bed.

The Keter Urban raised bed takes all of the guesswork out of watering. It features a vertical tube that runs from the top of the bed to the bottom of the water tray. Inside the tube is a cute little plastic flower that rises with the water level. We found this to be an ingenious way of letting the gardener know when it is time to water or when the water reservoir is full and needs draining. After we filled up the bed with potting soil, we watered, and, sure enough, the little plastic flower poked its head out of the tube to let us know we could stop.

A drainage plug is located on the bottom of the bed, which makes it easy to drain away excess water. Another handy feature is the molded plastic seed-starting tray that can be filled with potting soil and then positioned on the top of the bed.

The Keter Urban raised bed stands 30 inches tall, is 32 inches long, and is