Raised beds are quite simply the game-changer for modern gardening, especially in smaller gardens or where the soil is poor. Whether you’re struggling with rocky or sticky soil, want easier access to your plants, or simply fancy a more organised approach to growing your own, raised beds offer the perfect solution. After helping countless gardeners transform their outdoor spaces on BBC1’s Garden Rescue, I can tell you that raised beds are one of the best investments you can make in your gardening journey.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best raised bed kits you can buy and build at home, covering everything from budget-friendly options to premium solutions that’ll last for decades. I’ll share which materials work best, where to find the top-rated options on Amazon, and most importantly, how to choose the perfect raised bed for your garden’s needs.
Before we dive into the best products available, let me quickly remind you why raised beds are such brilliant additions to any garden. Having designed gardens for over a decade, I’ve seen firsthand how raised beds can transform even the most challenging spaces.
Better soil control means you’re not stuck with whatever Mother Nature has given you. Heavy clay that turns to concrete in summer? Poor sandy soil that drains like a sieve? With raised beds, you choose the perfect growing medium for your plants. This control over soil quality is especially valuable when growing vegetables that need specific conditions.
Improved drainage prevents the dreaded waterlogged roots that can kill even the hardiest plants. The elevated design naturally drains excess water whilst retaining just enough moisture for healthy growth. This is particularly brilliant in areas prone to heavy rainfall or where you’re dealing with compacted soil.
Easier access means less backache and strain when tending your plants. At a comfortable working height, you can plant, weed, and harvest without constantly bending over. This accessibility makes gardening more enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities.
Extended growing season comes from the soil warming up more quickly in spring, giving you a head start on the growing season. The improved drainage also means you can work the soil earlier when ground-level beds might still be too wet.
Better pest control is achieved because raised beds create a physical barrier that makes it harder for ground-dwelling pests to reach your plants. You can also easily add protective barriers like netting or cloches when needed.
The material you choose for your raised bed will affect everything from longevity to appearance to cost. Let me break down the main options, having tested most of these in my own garden design projects.
Wood remains the most popular choice for raised beds, and for good reason. It’s natural, relatively affordable, and blends beautifully with most garden styles. However, not all wood is created equal.
Advantages of wooden raised beds:
Disadvantages to consider:
The key is choosing the right type of wood. Pressure-treated softwood is budget-friendly but may only last 5-6 years. Cedar is naturally rot-resistant and can last 15-20 years with proper care. Oak is incredibly durable but comes at a premium price, in fact Oak can last 25-30 years with no treatment!
Galvanised steel raised beds have surged in popularity, and I can see why. They offer a clean, contemporary look whilst being incredibly durable. No more painting, staining or splinters either! I adore the corrugated powder-coated metal raised beds like the ones below, as you can choose a colour to match your garden design needs!
Advantages of metal raised beds:
Disadvantages to consider:
Composite materials made from recycled plastics and wood fibres offer a modern alternative, whilst basic plastic options provide budget-friendly solutions. Composite materials are incredibly durable, almost too durable, as they will last hundreds of years. Recycled models are the best bet as they give a second life to single-use plastic. There’s pretty much zero maintenance with these beds, but sometimes they can look a bit artificial.
Composite advantages:
Composite disadvantages:
Let’s start with the classics. These wooden options offer excellent value and will look fantastic in most gardens.
Conka Garden’s raised bed kits are made from FSC treated timber and come in various sizes with heights ranging from 15cm to 75cm. They’re well-made and substantial, offering good value for money, though assembly experiences can vary. However, the smaller timber sizes make building them easy if you’re on your own or are not the strongest of gardeners!
Available on Amazon UK: Conka Garden Wooden Raised Bed Kit
Key Features:
What customers say: Reviews highlight that these beds are “well-made, substantial, and good value for money,” though some note that assembly instructions could be clearer and the wood can be quite rough.
Best for: Gardeners wanting a traditional wooden look with good longevity at a reasonable price point.
This popular option on Amazon offers good value for money, thanks to its fir wood construction and practical size. I really like the final finishing touches for these beds, which elevate them just from a wooden box to something quite beautiful!
Available on Amazon UK: Yaheetech Raised Beds – Various sizes available with excellent customer reviews
Key Features:
Best for: Budget-conscious gardeners who want a decent-sized wooden raised bed without breaking the bank.
Metal raised beds have really come into their own, offering durability and contemporary style. Here are my top picks.
Harbour Housewares raised beds are forged from galvanised steel, providing an economical alternative to wood that won’t rot, warp, or suffer from insect infestation. They’re available in multiple colours, including silver, anthracite, green, and ivory.
Available on Amazon UK: Multiple sizes and colours available.
Popular sizes and links:
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Customers consistently rate these 4.8/5 stars, praising them as “really nice quality,” “easy to assemble,” and noting they “look very nice in the garden.”
Best for: Gardeners wanting a contemporary look with excellent durability at a reasonable price.
DKIEI raised beds are made from powder-coated steel with reinforcement rods. They offer good value for money and are considered sturdy once assembled, though some customers note the nuts and bolts are quite small.
Available on Amazon UK: Various sizes in different colour finishes
Popular options:
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Reviews are generally positive, with customers noting they’re “sturdy when put together” and offer “great value,” though some mention the hardware is quite small and assembly can be fiddly.
Best for: Budget-conscious gardeners who want metal durability without the premium price tag.
Outsunny offers a comprehensive range of galvanised steel raised beds with powder-coated finishes for outdoor use. They feature extra-deep sides and open bottoms for quick drainage. I love the fact these are much taller than most raised bed options and can add a real statement look to your garden.
Available on Amazon UK: Wide variety of sizes and configurations
Key Features:
Best for: Gardeners wanting reliable quality with plenty of size options to choose from.
Composite raised beds offer the perfect middle ground between natural aesthetics and modern durability. Made from wood plastic composite (WPC), these beds combine recycled wood fibres with plastic to create a material that looks like natural wood but performs like high-quality plastic.
The vidaXL range represents some of the most reliable composite raised beds available on Amazon UK. Made from weather-resistant wood plastic composite, these beds offer the natural appearance of wood with superior durability and minimal maintenance requirements. They are the most expensive offering but I’ve used their products for years now and they never disappoint with their build quality or finish.
Available on Amazon UK: Multiple sizes in sophisticated grey finish
Key Features:
Customer feedback – Reviews consistently praise these beds for their “sophisticated look,” “excellent build quality,” and “straightforward assembly.” Customers note they’re “durable, weather-resistant as well as suitable for outdoor use” and appreciate that they “add a touch of sophisticated style to your outdoor living space.”
What customers particularly appreciate:
Best for – Gardeners wanting the natural aesthetic of wood combined with the durability of modern materials. Perfect for those who love the look of wooden raised beds but don’t want the ongoing maintenance, replacement costs, or environmental concerns of traditional timber.
Sometimes standard raised beds don’t quite fit your needs. Especially if you don’t havetools or the confidence to build them, read detailed iinstructions etc. Here are some clever alternatives worth considering.
The GardenSkill system features unique curved-edge planks for extra stability and a modular design that can be extended upwards and outwards. Assembly takes just minutes with no tools needed.
Available on Amazon UK: 2.5m x 1.25m x 250mm high
Key Features:
Best for: Gardeners who want maximum flexibility and easy installation.
For those with mobility issues or who simply prefer working at waist height, elevated raised beds with legs are brilliant solutions. You can find these online or even make your own by adding a supporting frame to a raised bed, just make sure you use the right calculations for the weight of wet soil!
Key benefits:
With so many options available, how do you choose the right one? Here’s my tried-and-tested approach from years of garden design.
A contemporary metal bed might look fantastic in a modern garden but seem out of place in a traditional cottage garden. Similarly, rustic wooden beds work beautifully in informal settings but might not suit a minimalist design.
Match the material and finish to your garden’s overall aesthetic. If you have existing timber features like decking or fencing, wooden raised beds will naturally complement them. For gardens with modern architecture or metal features, galvanised steel beds can provide the perfect contemporary touch.
This is always a balancing act. A cheap plastic raised bed might seem attractive initially, but if you’re replacing it every few years, the long-term cost adds up quickly. Premium cedar or galvanised steel beds cost more upfront but can last decades with proper care.
Consider your long-term gardening plans. If you’re starting out and want to experiment, a mid-range option might be perfect. If you’re committed to growing your own for years to come, investing in quality makes sense.
Getting the size right is crucial for both plant health and your enjoyment of the space. I recommend raised beds no longer than 2 metres, as anything longer means walking a long distance to get around them. Any beds over 2 metres need internal braces, and beds over 1.2 metres wide become difficult to reach across.
For vegetable growing, I suggest between 90cm and 1.2 metres wide. This gives you space for two rows of plants whilst allowing easy access from either side. Height-wise, 30cm is perfect for most plants, whilst 40-60cm is better if you want to reduce bending.
This is often overlooked, but can be the most expensive part of your raised bed project. A 2m x 1m x 30cm bed needs around 600 litres of soil, that is a lot to buy or make if using home-made compost!
Plan your soil strategy before buying your beds. You might want to start with one or two beds to spread the cost of filling them. Quality topsoil mixed with compost is ideal, though you can reduce costs by layering cheaper materials at the bottom if your beds are deep enough. The handy soil calculator below will enable you to enter your raised bed dimensions and calculate the volume of soil or compost you need.
Calculate exactly how much soil you need for your raised bed project
Enter your raised bed dimensions above to get personalised soil advice and money-saving tips!
I’m a huge advocate of using raised beds in beginner garden designs as they are so much easier to work with when you’re new to gardening. Having assembled countless raised beds in my design work, here are my top tips for getting it right the first time.
Choose your location carefully and prepare the ground properly. The area should be level and, ideally, receive at least six hours of sunlight daily for vegetable growing. You can place raised beds directly on grass without removing turf, as it will break down over time. However, if placed on hard surfaces, ensure proper drainage to avoid a ‘Wet bed’, such as breaking pavers or concrete beneath first.
Most raised bed kits require minimal tools, but having the right ones makes assembly much easier:
Take your time with assembly. I always recommend having a helper for larger beds, as holding panels in place whilst securing them can be tricky single-handed. Check measurements twice and ensure everything is square before tightening all fixings. Why not check out my detailed guide to how to build raised beds here?
For wooden beds, pre-drill pilot holes to prevent splitting. For metal beds, be careful of sharp edges and ensure all panels are properly aligned before securing.
Once you’ve installed and filled your raised beds, here’s how to get the most from them. A little bit of TLC and garden planning each year means your soil stays healthy and rich in nutrients and your raized beds stay in good shape and last for years to come!
Mix loam with good organic matter for the best results. If you’re choosing your own soil, opt for a more sandy, free-draining soil rather than heavy clay, and mix in peat-free compost to improve the texture of heavy clay soil.
Top up your beds annually with fresh compost. The soil level will naturally settle and organic matter breaks down over time, so regular additions keep your plants happy and productive.
Raised beds are ideal for intensive gardening using techniques such as square-foot gardening or succession planting. Plan your crops to maximise the use of space and extend your harvest season.
Consider companion planting to maximise growth and natural pest control. For example, plant basil near tomatoes, or marigolds throughout vegetable beds to deter pests naturally.
In winter, cover empty beds with compost or well-rotted manure this is known as mulch. This protects the soil structure and adds nutrients ready for the next growing season. You can also use the beds for winter crops like kale, Brussels sprouts, or winter salads.
Raised beds are just the beginning of your growing adventure. Once you’ve got your beds established, you might want to explore other aspects of productive gardening.
For comprehensive guidance on crop planning and rotation, check out my crop rotation guide, which explains how to maximise yields whilst maintaining soil health.
If you’re interested in sustainable growing methods, my no-dig gardening guide shows how to grow more with less effort whilst being kind to the environment.
For those wanting to expand into fruit growing, explore my guides on growing fruit and vegetables in shade and beginner vegetable varieties.
Why not consider expanding your plant and garden design knowledge with one of my online gardening courses? My Garden Design for Beginners Course is here to help you transform your garden from average to exceptional with an affordable online course, no matter how little your experience with plants.
This course offers step-by-step guidance from me, Lee Burkhill, award-winning garden designer and presenter on BBC1’s Garden Rescue. In this course, you’ll go from a garden design novice to a confident designer equipped to tackle any green space.
Enrol now for just £199 and start your journey toward garden design mastery!
Garden Design Examples for Small Gardens: 30 Design Templates & Planting Plans: In this online gardening course, I’ll walk you through 30 fantastic garden designs, explaining the logic behind the layout, the plant choices, and take-home tips for applying them in your own garden.
Learn how to transform and design your own garden with Lee Burkhills crash course in garden design. Over 5 hours Lee will teach you how to design your own dream garden. Featuring practical design examples, planting ideas and video guides. Learn how to design your garden in one weekend!
Garden Design for Beginners Online Course: If you want to make the career jump to becoming a garden designer or to learn how to design your own garden, this is the beginner course for you. Join me, Lee Burkhill, an award-winning garden designer, as I train you in the art of beautiful garden design.
Raised beds truly are game-changers for modern gardening. Whether you’re dealing with poor soil, limited mobility, or simply want a more organised approach to growing your own, the right raised bed can transform your gardening experience.
The key is choosing quality materials that suit your garden’s style and your long-term growing ambitions. Don’t be tempted by the cheapest option if it means replacing everything in a couple of years. Similarly, don’t feel you need to buy the most expensive option if a mid-range choice meets your needs perfectly.
Start with one or two beds to get a feel for raised bed gardening, then expand your setup as your confidence and appetite for growing develops. Before you know it, you’ll be harvesting fresh vegetables and herbs right outside your back door, wondering why you didn’t make the switch to raised beds years ago.
Remember, gardening is a journey of discovery and learning. Every garden is different, every season brings new challenges and opportunities, and there’s always something new to try. Raised beds simply make that journey more enjoyable and more successful.
Now get out there and start planning your raised bed adventure. Your plants (and your back) will thank you for it!
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