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Outdoor & Yard
How to build a raised garden bed
A raised bed is a box. The box is easy. The decisions that make or break the garden — wood choice, soil mix, location, drainage — those are where to spend your thinking time.
The Honest Read
What this job actually involves
Standard size for a first raised bed: 4 ft × 8 ft × 12″ deep. The 4 ft width matters — you want to reach the middle from either side without stepping into the bed. Length is flexible. Depth of 12″ is the minimum for most vegetables; root crops like carrots want 18″+.
Wood choice is the biggest decision. Cedar lasts 7–10 years untreated and is the standard. Standard pressure-treated lumber is safe for vegetable beds in modern formulations (no more arsenic since 2003), but some people still avoid it for edibles. Redwood is great if you can get it locally. Untreated softwoods (pine, spruce) rot fast — 2–3 years.
Location: 6+ hours of direct sun for most vegetables. Near a hose. Out of the way of dogs and kids' play areas. Level enough that water doesn't pool on one side.
What you need
Tools & materials
Shop the supply side here. The big-ticket stuff and the brand-restricted items, we'll point you local further down.
Tools
- Tape measure
- Drill driver and bits
- Saw (circular or miter — if cutting boards to length)
- Square (combination or speed square)
- Shovel and rake (for site prep)
- Wheelbarrow (for moving soil)
Materials
- Cedar or other rot-resistant lumber (2×8, 2×10, or 2×12)
- Corner posts (4×4 cedar or pressure-treated, cut to bed depth + 4″ for ground anchor)
- Exterior-grade deck screws (3″ or 3-1/2″)
- Landscape fabric or hardware cloth (for the bottom)
- Garden soil mix (1/3 topsoil, 1/3 compost, 1/3 aeration like vermiculite or perlite)
- Cardboard (lay under the bed to smother existing grass)
The Steps
Build, place, fill, plant
01
Pick the site and prep it
Mark out the footprint with stakes and string. Mow the existing grass as short as possible. Lay 2–3 layers of cardboard over the entire footprint (this kills grass underneath without herbicide). Wet the cardboard down so it stays in place while you work.
02
Cut your lumber
For a 4×8 bed with two 2×10 boards stacked (about 19″ deep), you need: 4 long boards (8 ft), 4 short boards (4 ft), and 4 corner posts (22″ long — 19″ for bed height + 3″ in the ground). Cut everything before assembly so your measurements stay consistent.
03
Assemble the frame
Build it upside down or on its side. Attach a long board to a corner post with 3 deck screws (top, middle, bottom). Add the matching short board. Repeat for the other corner of the short board, then the other long board. Stack the second course of boards on top of the first and screw them to the same corner posts. You now have a four-sided box.
04
Set the bed in place
Move the assembled bed onto the cardboard. Level it — check both directions with a 4-ft level. Add or remove soil under the corners to get it close. Bed doesn't need to be perfectly level, but obvious tilt looks bad and drains unevenly.
05
Line the bottom (optional but recommended)
Hardware cloth (1/2″ mesh) stapled to the bottom of the frame keeps voles, moles, and gophers out — important if you have them in your area. Landscape fabric helps slow weeds from creeping in but isn't strictly necessary if you cardboarded well.
06
Fill with soil and plant
Don't use just topsoil — it compacts and drains poorly. Mix 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 compost, 1/3 aeration (vermiculite, perlite, or coarse sand). Fill to about 2″ from the top to leave room for mulching. Water deeply before planting. Settle for a few days if you can, then plant.
Try local first · We'll wait
Why local wins on garden materials
Lumber, soil, and bulk materials don't ship well — they're heavy, oversized, and expensive to deliver. Local hardware and garden centers carry what you need at prices online can't match once shipping is factored in.
- Cedar, redwood, and rot-resistant lumber sized for the project, not for a pallet
- Bulk soil and compost from local sources — way cheaper than bagged
- Seeds, starts, and varieties suited to your hardiness zone
- Garden soil mixes specific to vegetables vs. flowers vs. natives
- Real expert advice on what grows well in your area — and when to plant it
When to call a pro
Hire help if: you want a built-in stone or brick raised bed (masonry job); you're building a series of beds over 100 sq ft total (the labor adds up); the site is sloped enough to need real grading or terracing; or you have mobility issues that make digging and heavy lifting hard. Many landscapers will build a bed system and fill it for less than people expect.
Keep going
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