How to Choose the Best Raised Garden Bed for You
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If you’ve been dreaming about starting a vegetable garden, a cutting flower bed, or just a more beautiful backyard, a raised garden bed is the best place to start—and they’re more simple to setup than you might think. As a garden designer and horticulturist based in New York, I’ve helped a lot of people plan their first raised beds, in both small urban spaces and large suburban yards. So, it’s safe to say I know a thing or two when it comes to finding the best raised garden beds for various situations.
A raised garden bed is basically a stylish, self-contained planting box that you fill with your own soil—no tilling, no weeding nightmare, no mystery about what your plants are growing in. Raised beds are easier to maintain than in-ground beds, they look great, and they work everywhere from a small city balcony to a sprawling countryside backyard.
But what makes for the best raised garden beds? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Allow me to explain. There are two major things to consider before you buy: depth and material. Herbs and annual flowers will do fine in a bed that’s 6 to 8 inches deep, but most vegetables need at least 8 to 12 inches for their roots. Your choice of material depends on your space, budget, and plant types. Metal, cedar, and galvanized steel are the most common, all with different pros and cons, which we unpack in further detail in our chart below.
Today, I’m covering everything to consider before taking the plunge into buying a raised garden bed, including material type and who its best for, budget and need, and more. Below, find some of my favorite picks for each type of garden bed, as well as some answers to common questions.
First, Find Out Which Garden Bed Type Fits You
| Metal (Powder-Coated) | Galvanized Steel/Corten | All-in-One Raised Bed Kits | Cedar/Wood Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEST FOR • Moderate to mild climates • Beginner or budget-conscious gardeners • Renters | BEST FOR • All climates—steel is the most resilient to wet climates and freeze-thaw cycles • Long-term, consistent use (can last 20+ years) • Gardeners who are ready to invest | BEST FOR • Beginners, renters, and budget-conscious gardeners • Those looking for a quick & easy setup | BEST FOR • Sustainable-minded gardeners who are ready to invest • Those who prefer a softer, natural aesthetic • People willing to maintain the material, resealing each season |
| PRICE $40 – $150 | PRICE $60 – $300+ | PRICE $50 – $250 | PRICE $80 – $400+ |
| Durable, mobile, cost-effective | Resilient, high-quality, long-lasting | Minimal tools required, affordable | Organic materials, pretty aesthetic, maintenance required |
Now, the Best Raised Garden Beds in Each Category
01
Best Overall
Vego Raised Garden Bed Kit
Amazon
$179.95
No doubt about it: this is the easiest, most customizable, and hands-down best overall raised garden bed on the market. The Vego 9-in-1 kit can be configured into nine different layouts—including the classic slim rectangle, a 5 x 5-foot square, or even a few small circles—meaning it’s pretty much guaranteed to work in your space (and anywhere you live in the future). At 17 inches tall, there’s plenty of depth for flowers and vegetables (even root veggies like carrots), and they make deeper models, too. Assembly requires no tools—the interlocking panels click together in minutes—and it’s available in several colors to suit your aesthetic.
Bonus: Vego offers a variety of accessories to ensure your new product works perfectly in your space—this trellis is great for growing tomatoes and cucumbers, and this netting cover is a life-saver for anyone who’s battling hungry critters. Yet another reason this is the best overall raised bed pick.
02
Best Metal
Latitude Run Metal Planter Box with Trellis and Wheels
Wayfair
$206.99
A raised garden bed that pulls double-duty as a privacy screen? And it’s on wheels? Sold! Place this clever planter-trellis combo on a patio or front porch, fill it with climbing roses or a fragrant vine, and watch our pick for the best metal garden bed transform into a living wall far more appealing than any fence. (Note: It’s perfectly safe for vegetables and herbs, too.) The powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion season after season, lockable wheels let you reposition it to follow the sun, and it comes in several colors to suit your space. Line up a few side by side for extended privacy and maximum impact.
03
Best Galvanized Steel
Land Guard Galvanized Steel Raised Garden Beds (Set of 2)
Amazon
$99.99
The galvanized steel raised bed market is crowded, but this Land Guard two-pack stands out for its no-fuss practicality and its sheer value. And nearly 12,000 five-star reviews agree—two generously sized 8 x 4-foot beds for the price of one is a hard deal to beat! The galvanized steel construction is rust- and corrosion-resistant, holds its shape season after season, and won’t rot or warp the way wooden beds inevitably do. And boy, are these galvanized steel babies durable! As one reviewer said: “To date these have been run over by the ATV, the lawnmower, and an 8-foot fence panel. Slight scratches and dents are all [that happened]!!” Note: At 1 foot tall, it’s best suited for shallow-rooted crops like herbs, lettuce, strawberries, and annual flowers—for deeper root vegetables, Land Guard offers taller, 2- and 3-feet tall versions as well.
04
Best Kit
Vego V-Series Rolling Elevated Raised Garden Bed
Amazon
$269.95
Since we already gave Vego the award for best overall raised bed, it felt right to also highlight their elevated option as the best raised garden bed kit. This elevated V Series brings everything we love about Vego beds—durable coated steel, the thoughtful design, the 20+ year life expectancy—and puts it on legs. Goodbye sore backs and achy knees! The heavy-duty rolling wheels make it easy to reposition for sun or shade and a built-in storage rack keeps soil, tools, and extras within reach. Safe for vegetables, herbs, and edibles, and available in several colors. If you’ve got a patio, a balcony, or mobility issues, this one’s for you.
05
Best Cedar
Infinite Cedar Premium Cedar Raised Garden Bed
Amazon
$193.00
Warning: a lot of beds marketed as “cedar” online aren’t actually cedar. If you want the real thing, you have to do your homework. We did, and that’s why this one is the best cedar raised bed on the market. Infinite Cedar handcrafts all their products in Maine from locally-sourced, naturally rot-resistant North American Western Red Cedar. It’s the real deal—no chemical treatments, no misleading marketing, and safe for all edibles. Yes, it costs a bit more than the imposters, but you’re getting an American-made product built to last, backed by a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects and premature rot. The half-lapped corners with rust-free aluminum pins assemble in minutes with no tools, and won’t work loose over time the way screws and nails inevitably do. Leave it unfinished to weather gracefully to a silvery gray, or stain it to match your space. Stack two kits for extra root depth. A truly gorgeous choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vegetables should not be grown in a raised garden bed?
Trick question! Pretty much any vegetable can be grown in a raised bed. In fact, raised beds are great because you have complete control over the soil mix and what nutrients and fertilizers you add. That said, there are a few crops that are better suited for in-ground growing. Corn needs to be planted in large blocks to produce well. Large, sprawling vines like pumpkins and watermelons can technically be grown in a raised bed, but they’ll quickly take over and are generally better off with more room to roam in-ground. Perennial vegetables like asparagus and artichokes are a long-term commitment that deserve a dedicated in-ground spot, as well.
What’s the difference between a raised garden bed and an elevated garden bed?
Can I build my own raised garden bed?
