What Size Elevated Cedar Garden Bed Do You Need?
By Greenes Fence Company: Cedar Raised Garden Beds ... | Published: 2026-10-19
Category: Buying Guides
Choosing the right elevated cedar garden bed size depends on your space, back health, and what you plan to grow. This guide helps you decide between compact and spacious options.
Quick answer
Choose a compact 16x32 elevated cedar bed for small patios or tight corners, and a spacious 24x48 model if you have room and want to grow more vegetables or herbs without bending.
Space and portability trade-offs
A smaller elevated bed fits on balconies, narrow decks, or beside a door without overwhelming the area. A larger bed demands more floor space but gives you a real harvest from a single planter.
If you might move the bed later, the compact size is easier to relocate when empty. The larger bed is heavier and more of a permanent fixture once filled with soil.
Soil depth and root room
Both models sit 31 inches tall, so you never need to stoop. The main difference is the planting area: 9 3/4 inches of soil depth on the 16x32 versus a deeper unspecified depth on the 24x48 Premium version.
Shallow-root crops like lettuce, radishes, and herbs do fine in the compact bed. For tomatoes, peppers, or carrots, the larger bed's extra soil volume gives roots more room to spread.
How to choose your elevated cedar bed size
- Measure your available space: Clear a rectangle on your patio or balcony. Add 2 feet of walking room around the bed for comfortable access. If you can fit a 24x48 footprint plus that clearance, go large. If not, the 16x32 works.
- Match soil depth to your crops: Use the 16x32 (9 3/4 inch depth) for shallow-root plants: lettuce, spinach, radishes, strawberries, and most herbs. Choose the 24x48 for deeper-root crops: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, carrots, and beans. If you want both shallow and deep crops, the larger bed gives you more flexibility.
- Consider your physical needs: Both beds are 31 inches tall, so you can garden standing or sitting. The smaller bed lets you reach the center from either side easily. The larger bed may require you to reach farther or walk around. If mobility is a concern, the 16x32 keeps everything within easy arm's reach.
Product facts
- Original Cedar Elevated Garden Bed 16 in x 32 in x 31 in RCEV1632: The Original Cedar Elevated Garden Bed measures 16 in x 32 in with 9 3/4 inches of soil depth. This shallow depth is ideal for leafy greens and herbs but limits deep-rooted vegetables.
Original Cedar Elevated Garden Bed 16 in x 32 in x 31 in RCEV1632 - Premium / Original Cedar Elevated Garden Bed 24 in x 48 in x 31 in (3/4 in Thick or 11/16 in Thick) RCEV2448 RCEV2448NF: The Premium / Original Cedar Elevated Garden Bed is 24 in x 48 in with deep soil depth. The larger footprint and deeper soil let you grow a wider variety of plants, including tomatoes and peppers.
Premium / Original Cedar Elevated Garden Bed 24 in x 48 in x 31 in (3/4 in Thick or 11/16 in Thick) RCEV2448 RCEV2448NF
Which size fits you?
Best for
- Small patios, balconies, or narrow decks where every inch counts
- Gardeners who mainly grow leafy greens, herbs, and shallow-root vegetables
- Anyone who wants a lightweight bed that's easier to move if needed
Not ideal for
- Gardeners who want to grow a mix of deep-root vegetables like tomatoes and peppers in one bed
- Spacious yards where a larger planter would be more productive without wasting space
