With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right raised garden bed. Comparing some of the key features most garden beds offer, such as materials, dimensions, and assembly requirements, and considering your gardening goals, space, and design options can make wading selection easier.

Material

Raised garden beds are traditionally made of rot-resistant woods such as cedar or fir. Today, loft beds are also made from stone, wicker, plastic, and concrete. The material chosen will depend on personal preference.

However, for vegetable gardens, it is recommended to avoid pressure-treated wood because it can leach heavy metals into the soil. Fortunately, most easy-to-assemble loft beds tend to be made from food-safe, rot-resistant wood or plastic.

size

Consider space constraints when it comes to the length and width of your loft bed. Length is limited by yard size and building materials. Width, on the other hand, depends on how far the user can reach. Gardeners need to be able to reach the center of the bed from either side of the frame without stepping into the bed, which compresses the soil. The ideal width for most people is 4 feet.

Most loft beds are between 6 and 12 inches high. Bed heights can be as high as 36 inches or more. High-sided beds require more soil, but are easier on the user's back because there is no need to bend over to reach the plants.

easy to assemble

Assembly is where raised garden bed kits trump DIY raised garden beds. Building one requires buying materials and cutting them to size. However, raised garden bed kits come with everything you need to put them together, and some can be ready in minutes. Depending on the workload required, there is a kit to match almost any skill level.

Some raised garden beds don't require special tools to assemble—they just slide and click—while others require the use of a cordless drill or screwdriver. Some take less than 15 minutes to complete, but others can take an hour or more.

special function

Raised garden beds can be equipped with a variety of functions. Some have wheels for easy portability; others have built-in trellis, removable greenhouse covers, storage shelves, legs for raised beds, or built-in irrigation systems.

Another unique feature is stackability. Some raised garden beds can be stacked to provide more depth or different configurations. Raised garden beds can be used in most situations, regardless of the growing environment.

Best Raised Garden Bed Options

our top picks

The following models have passed our rigorous performance tests to earn their place in our range of the best raised garden beds. They must be durable enough to support the weight of the soil mixture, and they must be designed so that the plants have both root space and adequate drainage. In most cases, each must also meet the seller's requirements.

While the raised beds below vary in size, material, and design, making some more suitable for specific growing situations, each one performed well in our tests and holds its own among the best raised bed gardens available today.