Plastic raised garden beds

Plastic (resin) raised beds and planters on legs compared by the sizes, soil capacity and load figures their makers publish.

What to know first

The plastic beds we list are Keter’s, made of resin: three planters on legs, the Urban Bloomer, the Splendor and the Darwin, and the Maple, a 4 × 4 ft bed for the ground with metal reinforcement. Keter gives each one’s outside size and its capacity in gallons, but no planting depth, so the soil figure on each page is Keter’s own.

The Urban Bloomer and the Splendor have a water gauge and a water reservoir, and the Darwin a drainage and self-watering system. Keter gives a loading capacity of 105 lb for the Urban Bloomer and 264 lb for the Splendor, and a limited 2-year warranty on all four.

4bed families from Keter

4published sizes and layouts

12.6 to 31.4 inpublished heights

1.7 to 15.6 ft³stated soil capacity

The beds

All raised beds

For a 4 × 4 ft bed in resin, not wood

Keter Maple 4 × 4 ft resin bed

12.6 in tall · 15.6 ft³ · 1 size

Plastic · Open-bottom bed · 2-year warranty

A wood-look resin bed with metal reinforcement, 48 × 48 inches outside and 12.6 inches tall. Keter states 117 gallons of soil.

12.6 inHeight, below the knee on an adult

PlasticWarranty: 2 years

15.6 ft³Stated soil capacity

Open-bottom bedPlastic2-year warranty1 size

117 gallons is about 15.6 cubic feet, 11 bags of 1.5 ft³. In a 4 × 4 ft bed the middle is about 2 feet from every side.

For a small planter at standing height

Keter Urban Bloomer resin planter on legs

30.7 in overall · 1.7 ft³ · 1 size

Plastic · Elevated planter · 2-year warranty

A resin planter on legs, 32.3 × 14.7 inches and 30.7 inches tall, with a water gauge, a drainage tap and a reservoir. Keter states 12.7 gallons of soil.

30.7 inOverall height, hip height on an adult

PlasticWarranty: 2 years

1.7 ft³Stated soil capacity

Elevated planterPlastic2-year warranty1 size

12.7 gallons is about 1.7 cubic feet, two bags of 1.5 ft³ of potting mix. Keter gives a loading capacity of 105 lb.

For a planter at standing height with a reservoir

Keter Splendor resin planter on legs

29.8 in overall · 4.2 ft³ · 1 size

Plastic · Elevated planter · 2-year warranty

A rattan-look resin planter on legs, 44.88 × 19.41 inches and 29.8 inches tall, with a water gauge, a drainage tap and a reservoir. Keter states 31.7 gallons.

29.8 inOverall height, mid-thigh on an adult

PlasticWarranty: 2 years

4.2 ft³Stated soil capacity

Elevated planterPlastic2-year warranty1 size

31.7 gallons is about 4.2 cubic feet, three bags of 1.5 ft³ of potting mix. Keter gives a loading capacity of 264 lb.

For a planter at standing height with a tool shelf

Keter Darwin resin planter on legs

31.4 in overall · 3.9 ft³ · 1 size

Plastic · Elevated planter · 2-year warranty

A resin planter on legs, 44.5 × 18.7 inches and 31.4 inches tall, with a drainage and self-watering system and a tool shelf. Keter states 29 gallons of soil.

31.4 inOverall height, hip height on an adult

PlasticWarranty: 2 years

3.9 ft³Stated soil capacity

Elevated planterPlastic2-year warranty1 size

29 gallons is about 3.9 cubic feet, three bags of 1.5 ft³ of potting mix. Keter’s Signature planter is the same size and capacity in another finish.

From gallons to bags

A US gallon is 231 cubic inches, so 12.7 gallons is about 1.7 cubic feet, two bags of 1.5 ft³; 31.7 gallons is about 4.2 cubic feet, three bags; and the Maple’s 117 gallons is about 15.6 cubic feet, 11 bags. Before a filled planter goes on a balcony or deck, work out its weight: the hard-surface guide shows how.

Plastic, wood or metal?

The materials guide compares cedar, composite, metal and fabric beds, and the elevated planters page sets every planter on legs we list side by side, Keter’s among them.

References

Urban Bloomer 12.7 Gallon Elevated Garden Bed - Graphite, Keter.
Splendor 31.7 Gallon Elevated Garden Bed - Brown, Keter.
Darwin 29 Gallon Elevated Garden Bed - Graphite, Keter.
Maple Garden Bed - Brown, Keter.