A classic two-course cedar bed with 4x4 corner and mid posts. Square cuts only, one afternoon, and it holds about 24 cubic feet of soil, filled to an inch below the top.
Before you buy anything, it helps to know three things: how big the finished build is, what you’ll bring home from the store, and how the assembly goes. Here they are for the Cedar Raised Garden Bed, straight from the plan.
How big is it?
The finished size is 96 × 48 × 11 in (244 × 122 × 28 cm), width × depth × height. Measure the spot where it will stand before you start.
What you’ll buy
The shopping list comes to about $414 at the prices we saw (Sep 27 – Oct 5, 2026). Prices change, so check your own store.
| Qty | What | At the prices we saw |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2x6 CEDAR, 8 ft | $188.28 |
| 1 | 4x4 CEDAR, 8 ft | $33.57 |
| 2 box | #9 x 3 in tan star flat-head deck screws | $21.94 |
| 16 | Miracle-Gro Organic Raised Bed and Garden Soil | $159.52 |
| 1 | Easy Gardener WeedBlock landscape fabric | $10.47 |
The shopping list names what to buy; the cut list in the plan turns those boards and sheets into parts. Check both before your first cut.
Tools you need
- Tape measure
- Speed square
- Pencil
- Miter saw
- Drill/driver
- Drill bits (1/8 in and 5/32 in for pilot holes)
- T25 star driver bit
- Bar clamps (at least 2, 48 in or longer)
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection
How the build goes
The plan has 6 steps, each with a drawing and the parts it uses. The plan’s own estimate is about 2–3 hours; treat it as an estimate.
- Cut the parts
- Build the first long side flat
- Build the second long side flat
- Stand the sides up and fit one end
- Close the box
- Place and fill
Before you start
- Compare the shopping list with the stock sizes your store actually carries.
- Check every measurement against your own materials before cutting.
- Read the safety notes at the front of the plan and wear the protective gear it lists.
What the plan includes
- Preparation packet PDF (shopping list, cut list, tools), 5 pages
- Build guide PDF, 15 pages
- Preparation packet PDF, metric (mm) (shopping list, cut list, tools), 6 pages
- Build guide PDF, metric (mm), 15 pages
- Offline animated 3D build guide (ZIP; open guide.html in a web browser; guide-metric.html for mm)
It is a digital build plan: nothing physical ships. See the plan.
These plans are for planning and personal use. They are not engineered drawings and do not claim compliance with any building code. Check local rules and use your own judgment on site.
General planning guidance. Follow your chosen plan and tools’ instructions; ask about unclear dimensions or substitutions before cutting.