Home & Garden / Guide
Choosing a Raised Garden Bed: Material, Width and Depth
Compare raised-bed materials, inside dimensions and reach before buying a kit or building your first bed.
Start where the bed will sit. Check sunlight, access to water and the space you need to walk around it with a watering can or cart. Plan the width around the distance you can reach from the sides. If only one side will be accessible, try reaching across a mock-up before you buy the kit.
Choose material for the site
Compare wood, metal and other materials around assembly, expected weather exposure and replacement parts. Ask what the maker says about use around food crops, including finishes or liners. On a hard surface, follow the bed maker’s drainage requirements. On soil, check whether the bed is open-bottomed and how the site should be prepared.
Choose depth for what you will grow
Use University of Minnesota Extension’s raised-bed guidance to plan site and soil. Check root depth for your crops and account for the usable soil depth, which can be less than the wall height. If there is soil below the bed, consider its condition as part of the setup.
Check the total project
Measure the assembled outside dimensions and the inside dimensions for soil. Include delivery, soil and the hardware needed to assemble and support the sides. A kit that fits your working reach and water access is easier to care for through the season.
