Plans / Raised beds
Raised garden bed plans with the soil counted
Ten sizes, three heights. Each plan lists every cedar board cut to length and tells you how many bags of soil, or how many cubic yards, it takes to fill.
30 plans on this rack. Materials run from $179 (2x4, 11 in) to $636 (4x8, 22 in) at typical big-box prices.
Every size, priced
Open a row for its drawings, cut list and build steps. Prices are typical Home Depot and Lowe's shelf prices; yours will differ a little.
| Plan | Bed | Height | Soil | To fill it | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2x4, 11 in | 2 x 4 ft | 11" | 6 cu ft | 5 bags | $179 |
| 2x4, 17 in | 2 x 4 ft | 16-1/2" | 9 cu ft | 7 bags | $231 |
| 2x4, 22 in | 2 x 4 ft | 22" | 12 cu ft | 9 bags | $283 |
| 2x6, 11 in | 2 x 6 ft | 11" | 9.2 cu ft | 7 bags | $209 |
| 2x6, 17 in | 2 x 6 ft | 16-1/2" | 13.8 cu ft | 10 bags | $271 |
| 2x6, 22 in | 2 x 6 ft | 22" | 18.4 cu ft | 13 bags | $333 |
| 2x8, 11 in | 2 x 8 ft | 11" | 12.4 cu ft | 9 bags | $245 |
| 2x8, 17 in | 2 x 8 ft | 16-1/2" | 18.6 cu ft | 13 bags | $333 |
| 2x8, 22 in | 2 x 8 ft | 22" | 24.9 cu ft | 17 bags | $404 |
| 3x6, 11 in | 3 x 6 ft | 11" | 14.5 cu ft | 10 bags | $271 |
| 3x6, 17 in | 3 x 6 ft | 16-1/2" | 21.7 cu ft | 15 bags | $368 |
| 3x6, 22 in | 3 x 6 ft | 22" | 29 cu ft | 20 bags | $466 |
| 3x8, 11 in | 3 x 8 ft | 11" | 19.5 cu ft | 14 bags | $311 |
| 3x8, 17 in | 3 x 8 ft | 16-1/2" | 29.3 cu ft | 20 bags | $418 |
| 3x8, 22 in | 3 x 8 ft | 22" | 39.1 cu ft | 27 bags | $536 |
| 4x4, 11 in | 4 x 4 ft | 11" | 12.9 cu ft | 9 bags | $219 |
| 4x4, 17 in | 4 x 4 ft | 16-1/2" | 19.3 cu ft | 13 bags | $291 |
| 4x4, 22 in | 4 x 4 ft | 22" | 25.8 cu ft | 18 bags | $372 |
| 4x6, 11 in | 4 x 6 ft | 11" | 19.8 cu ft | 14 bags | $311 |
| 4x6, 17 in | 4 x 6 ft | 16-1/2" | 29.6 cu ft | 20 bags | $418 |
| 4x6, 22 in | 4 x 6 ft | 22" | 39.5 cu ft | 27 bags | $546 |
| 4x8, 11 in | 4 x 8 ft | 11" | 26.6 cu ft | 18 bags | $350 |
| 4x8, 17 in | 4 x 8 ft | 16-1/2" | 40 cu ft | 27 bags | $488 |
| 4x8, 22 in | 4 x 8 ft | 22" | 53.3 cu ft | 36 bags | $636 |
| 4x10, 11 in | 4 x 10 ft | 11" | 33.5 cu ft | 23 bags | $426 |
| 4x10, 17 in | 4 x 10 ft | 16-1/2" | 50.3 cu ft | 34 bags | $602 |
| 4x10, 22 in | 4 x 10 ft | 22" | 67 cu ft | 2.5 cu yd | $319 |
| 4x12, 11 in | 4 x 12 ft | 11" | 40.4 cu ft | 27 bags | $486 |
| 4x12, 17 in | 4 x 12 ft | 16-1/2" | 60.6 cu ft | 2.25 cu yd | $293 |
| 4x12, 22 in | 4 x 12 ft | 22" | 80.8 cu ft | 3 cu yd | $359 |
Before you fill it
How tall should a raised bed be?
Two boards (about 11 in) is enough for most vegetables. Three boards (about 17 in) saves your back. Four boards (about 22 in) suits deep roots and gardening from a stool.
How wide can a bed be?
Four feet is the most you can reach across from both sides. Against a fence, keep it to 2 or 3 ft.
Bags or bulk soil?
Small beds fill fine from 1.5 cu ft bags. Once a bed needs more than about 2 cubic yards, delivered bulk soil costs far less than bags, and the plan switches to yards.
Why cedar?
Cedar resists rot without treatment and lasts 10 to 15 years in the ground. The plans list cedar 2x6 boards and 4x4 corner posts.