LayoutWise

Raised Garden Bed Planner

Enter your garden area, the bed size and the path width. You see how many beds fit, and get the soil, the boards with a cut list, and the hardware to build them.

Your garden

1. Garden area
Length
ft
in
Width
ft
in
2. Beds
Bed length
ft
in
Bed width
Path between beds
3. Sides and soilBoards stacked

Beds

4

2 x 2

Growing area

116 sq ft

inside the frames

Soil

4.3 cu yd

117 cu ft, +10% settling

Height

11"

2 x 2x6

Garden plan

8' 0" x 4' 0" beds · 2' 0" paths

Each dot is one square foot of planting space. Beds are centered in the garden; the dashed line is the area you entered.

Cut list

Long sides 8' 0", ends 3' 9" (fit between the long sides). Per bed: 4 long + 4 ends.

  • 16 x 8 ft boards: cut 8' 0" (left over 0" each)
  • 8 x 8 ft boards: cut 3' 9" + 3' 9" (left over 6" each)

Shopping list

  • ✓Boards: 24 x 8 ft (2x6, cedar, redwood or untreated — or ground-contact treated lumber)
  • ✓Corner and mid-side stakes: 24 pieces of 2x2 or 4x4, 1' 11" long (12" into the ground)
  • ✓3" exterior screws: about 128
  • ✓Raised-bed soil: 79 bags of 1.5 cu ft — or 4.3 cu yd delivered in bulk
  • ✓Cardboard or landscape fabric under the beds and paths: 280 sq ft

Bagged raised-bed soil is often sold in 1.5 or 2 cu ft bags; check the bag. Bulk soil is usually cheaper above about 1 cu yd.

How wide should a raised bed be?

Four feet is the classic width: you can reach the middle from either side without stepping on the soil, which keeps it loose. Against a wall or fence, where you can only reach from one side, keep beds 2–3 ft wide. Length is up to you; 8 ft matches standard lumber with no waste on the long sides.

How tall?

Two stacked 2x6 boards (11") are deep enough for most vegetables, especially over loosened ground soil. Go 17"–22" for carrots and potatoes on poor or compacted soil, or to save your back. Beds 24" and taller are easier to garden from a seat but take a lot of soil — and tall sides need a brace in the middle.

Paths

Leave 18"–24" between beds to kneel and walk, and 36" where a wheelbarrow or garden cart needs to pass. Cardboard or landscape fabric under wood chips keeps paths weed-free.

How much soil?

Multiply the inside length, width and depth of each bed. A 4' x 8' bed 11" deep holds about 25 cu ft inside its frame; the planner adds 10% because new soil settles. Bagged raised-bed mix is easy for one or two beds; for more than about a cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper. A common home blend is about 60% screened topsoil and 40% compost.

Choosing lumber

Cedar and redwood resist rot without treatment and last 10 years or more. Pressure-treated lumber made since 2004 uses copper-based preservatives instead of arsenic and is rated for ground contact; if you'd rather keep it away from the soil, line the inside with plastic sheeting. Boards are cut so the long sides run full length and the ends fit between them; the cut list packs those pieces into the fewest boards.

Planting by the square foot

The dots in the plan mark one square foot each. Typical spacing: one tomato, pepper or broccoli per square; four lettuce or chard; nine bush beans or spinach; sixteen carrots or radishes.

Mulching the paths? Size it with the gravel and mulch calculator.