Raised garden beds are on an upwards trend in the UK, with more and more people keen to give home growing a try. By raising your bed above ground level, you're suddenly not limited by the less-than-desirable soil in your garden – or its lack of it. You can even grow your own fruit, veg and flowers on a patio or balcony depending on the size of the planter. A planter offers your plants a huge range of benefits, ensuring a better chance at survival.
We have narrowed down the massive range of planters on offer, and there is sure to be one to suit every budget, garden and style. From raised garden beds on legs, that are ideal for those with bad backs, to large low-level raised beds perfect for growing delicious root vegetables we have the best of the bunch from VegTrug, Vegepod and more.
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of raised garden beds available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Ruddings Wood | 2 ![]() VegTrug | 3 ![]() Vegepod | 4 ![]() Garden Store Direct | 5 ![]() VidaXL | 6 ![]() TecTake | 7 ![]() Outsunny | 8 ![]() Yaheetech | 9 ![]() GardenSkill | 10 ![]() Selections |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Heavy-Duty Wooden Planter | Grey Raised Bed | Self-Watering Planter | Mobile Raised Bed | Galvanised Steel Garden Planter | Stackable Wooden Beds | 6-Piece Raised Garden Bed | 3-Tier Raised Garden Bed | Plastic Raised Bed | Metal Raised Bed |
Features | Heavy-Duty and Hand-Made Sustainably-Sourced Wooden Raised Bed | A Raised Bed With Legs and Ample Height, Saving You From Back Problems | Clever Self-Watering System to Promote Rapid Growth With Plenty of Useful Features | A Charming Mobile Planter Featuring Wheels and Drainage Holes for On-The-Go Growing | Sturdy and Durable Galvanised Steel Planter in Silver or Grey, Available in 10 Sizes | Stackable Beds With a Foolproof Assembly System and a Choice of 1, 2 or 3 Tiers | A Modern Option of Six Individual Planters With Legs, Providing a Versatile Grow | A Versatile Trio of Wooden Tiered Beds With the Option to Stack or Place Ground Level | Easy-To-Assemble Plastic Ground-Level Beds in 14 Different Sizes | An Inconspicuous Buy in Green Powder-Coated Steel That Sits at 30 cm Tall |
Price | £59.99 | £180.99 | £324.00 | £54.95 | £89.00 | £96.99 | £79.99 | £74.99 | £45.99 | £39.99 |
Material | Wood - treated, sustainably sourced | Wood - treated, sustainably sourced | Plastic, iron | Metal | Galvanised steel | Pine - untreated | Plastic | Wood - untreated | Plastic | Metal |
Type | Raised with mini legs | Raised with legs | Ground level/base with legs sold separately | Raised with legs | Ground level | Ground level | Raised with legs | Ground level | Ground level | Ground level |
Sizes | 102 x 39 x 35 cm only | 180 x 76 x 80 cm only | 100 x 200 x 33 cm only | 95 x 80 x 40 cm only | 10 to choose from | 3 stackable tiers | 40 x 44 x 40 cm total size | 120 x 120 x 56 cm total size | 14 to choose from | 89 x 32 x 6 cm only |
Bed Height | 30 cm | Not stated | 33 cm | 17.8 cm | 44, 81 cm | 20, 40, 60 cm | 18 cm | 20.5, 38, 53.5 cm | 15 cm | 30 cm |
Assembly | Fully assembled | Flat-pack | 20 minute assembly | Flat-pack | Flat-pack | Easy to assemble | Flat-pack | Flat-pack | Easy to assemble | Flat-pack |
Shelf/Wheels | No | No | No | Both | No | No | No | - | - | No |
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One of the most influential aspects when it comes to a raised bed is the material that it's constructed from. Wood is widely considered the best material for beds as it's incredibly durable, looks great and suits the natural vibe of a garden perfectly. Look for sustainable timber that has been treated and is thick enough (at least 3 cm thick) to withstand the pressure that your plants and soil will put on it.
Plastic beds are very versatile pieces of kit; self-watering planters, beds with legs and just about every other variation has been created in plastic. Metal beds are the least popular of the three materials for their unnatural look and lack of flair in design. Although with zero chance of rotting or breaking, there's no denying metal takes the cake on longevity.
Choosing how high you want your bed to be is an important decision to make. Higher beds give people who struggle to work at floor level the chance to garden without fear of putting their back out. Having your plants on legs also helps to minimise the chance of any pesky slugs. Their downside is they're often smaller when compared to the sizes that ground-level raised beds can be produced at.
Ground-level raised beds give maximum growing potential. Due to their often basic designs, you'll often be able to choose from a wide range of sizes, but more on that soon. If your garden's soil is already workable, then a ground-level bed could be a good idea as your deeply-rooted winter veg will benefit from it, lining your ground-level bed is a good idea to prevent unwanted weeds.
Without an adequate height, your veg will struggle to receive the full benefits such as promoting warmer soil in spring, which in turn, encourages your plants to grow. The expert-recommended height for raised beds grown on soil is at least 15 cm but preferably around 20-30 cm. If you're looking to place a ground-level bed over a hard surface, you'll need 45 cm to ensure your plants' roots have enough room to grow.
For beds with legs, a height of 15 cm is essential for short-root plants like strawberries, while other plants like asparagus, beans and parsnips will require a height of 60 cm. So, be sure to factor in where your bed will go and the plants you intend to grow in it and then shop the height accordingly.
Pertaining toward raised beds with legs specifically, a dedicated storage shelf and/or wheels are two features that make your growing experience easier. Often included along the entire width of the bed and sitting just below it, shelves can provide easy access to gardening essentials like spades, forks, gloves and watering cans.
Wheels, meanwhile, allow people with awkward sunlight times to swiftly wheel their planter around to the other side of the patio for an afternoon of sun-basking. Wheels are always featured in a pair on one side, so you should check for a sturdy handle on the opposite side to make it easy to lift and wheel along.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£59.99
Material | Wood - treated, sustainably sourced |
---|---|
Type | Raised with mini legs |
Sizes | 102 x 39 x 35 cm only |
Bed Height | 30 cm |
Assembly | Fully assembled |
Shelf/Wheels | No |
£180.99
Material | Wood - treated, sustainably sourced |
---|---|
Type | Raised with legs |
Sizes | 180 x 76 x 80 cm only |
Bed Height | Not stated |
Assembly | Flat-pack |
Shelf/Wheels | No |
£324.00
Material | Plastic, iron |
---|---|
Type | Ground level/base with legs sold separately |
Sizes | 100 x 200 x 33 cm only |
Bed Height | 33 cm |
Assembly | 20 minute assembly |
Shelf/Wheels | No |
£54.95
Material | Metal |
---|---|
Type | Raised with legs |
Sizes | 95 x 80 x 40 cm only |
Bed Height | 17.8 cm |
Assembly | Flat-pack |
Shelf/Wheels | Both |
£89.00
Material | Galvanised steel |
---|---|
Type | Ground level |
Sizes | 10 to choose from |
Bed Height | 44, 81 cm |
Assembly | Flat-pack |
Shelf/Wheels | No |
£96.99
Material | Pine - untreated |
---|---|
Type | Ground level |
Sizes | 3 stackable tiers |
Bed Height | 20, 40, 60 cm |
Assembly | Easy to assemble |
Shelf/Wheels | No |
£79.99
Material | Plastic |
---|---|
Type | Raised with legs |
Sizes | 40 x 44 x 40 cm total size |
Bed Height | 18 cm |
Assembly | Flat-pack |
Shelf/Wheels | No |
£74.99
Material | Wood - untreated |
---|---|
Type | Ground level |
Sizes | 120 x 120 x 56 cm total size |
Bed Height | 20.5, 38, 53.5 cm |
Assembly | Flat-pack |
Shelf/Wheels | - |
£45.99
Material | Plastic |
---|---|
Type | Ground level |
Sizes | 14 to choose from |
Bed Height | 15 cm |
Assembly | Easy to assemble |
Shelf/Wheels | - |
£39.99
Material | Metal |
---|---|
Type | Ground level |
Sizes | 89 x 32 x 6 cm only |
Bed Height | 30 cm |
Assembly | Flat-pack |
Shelf/Wheels | No |
Written and researched by Connor Macanally
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