Raised Bed Gardening
Raised beds warm faster, drain better, and reduce bending. A standard 4×8 ft bed is the sweet spot for reach and yield.
Size and access
Keep beds no wider than 4 ft so you can reach the middle from either side. Length is flexible; 8 ft is common.
Materials
Cedar and composite last longest; untreated pine is cheapest but rots. Avoid treated wood for edible beds. Hardware (corner brackets, screws) adds up.
Fill with the right mix
A 4×8×1 ft bed needs about 1 cubic yard of soil. Use a blend of compost, topsoil, and aeration (perlite/coarse sand) rather than straight topsoil.
Budget it
Use the estimator above to price the build before you buy. DIY with pine is the low end; cedar kits and professional installs are the high end.
Garden Cost Estimator (raised-bed)
Use the free tool below with your own numbers — results are printable.
Lumber, soil, hardware; DIY low end, kit/cedar high end. Range is a U.S. planning estimate (materials, DIY); professional labor is extra. Get local quotes for big jobs.
GardenFig guidance is educational, based on USDA zones and extension guidelines. Confirm local freeze dates, product labels, and regulations with your county extension.