Finished kit raised beds cost between 70 and 700 EUR, depending on the material used and size. However, all the necessary utensils are included, which you just have to assemble. The costs for self-built raised beds also range from a few euros to several thousand euros - depending on the material you use and how much effort is involved.
How much does it cost to build a raised bed yourself?
The costs for a self-made raised bed vary depending on the material, size and effort. For a classic raised bed made of larch boards (90x80x150 cm) the cost is around 180 EUR. Cheaper alternatives are Euro pallets, gabions, wooden composters or recycled materials such as old boards and stones.
Costs depend on the material used
Raised beds can be built from many different materials, which of course vary greatly in terms of price. Naturally, a raised bed made of simple wooden slats is much cheaper than one with a foundation and natural stone walls. While with the first option you only have to nail boards together and cover them with foil, with the second option the construction machinery should roll in - not to mention the appropriate use of materials. But there are also savings opportunities in these examples: For example, you can collect field stones instead of expensive natural stones or use old paving slabs, use old Euro pallets instead of expensive larch boards, or use a manhole ring instead of individual shaped stones. Such recycling helps immensely in saving costs – and also creates unique raised beds.
Cost examples for self-built raised beds
There are many ideas for wooden raised beds: you can use boards, but also woven willow branches, planks or processed or unprocessed tree trunks, old magic posts, wooden palisades and much more. All of these materials have very different costs, which is why it is basically impossible to give specific numbers.
Classic raised bed made of wooden slats
Nevertheless, we would like to provide you with a setup for a classic raised bed made of larch boards. For a bed measuring 90 (H) x 80 (W) x 150 (L) you need:
- 6 square wooden posts, 90 centimeters long: 30 EUR
- 12 boards for side cladding (larch): approx. 100 EUR
- Foil for lining: approx. 15 EUR
- Rabbit wire: approx. 5 EUR (at least two running meters)
- Nails and wood screws: approx. 15 EUR
In this way you can get around 180 EUR for a simple wooden raised bed - delivery and assembly are of course not included.
Cheap alternatives to raised wooden beds
If you want it to be cheaper, we recommend these materials instead:
- Europallets (four per raised bed, plus foil and screws)
- old boards, palisades or paving slabs, paving and planting stones, field stones, roof tiles
- Gabions filled with the above. Fractions or stones
- a wooden composter (available at hardware stores for around 15 EUR)
Tip
Vegetables can also be grown in old potato sacks: simply fill them with soil and grow potatoes, zucchini (or other fruit vegetables), beans in them
