Best garden planters

Not everyone has the space around their home to plant a massive garden. Opting for planters or other soil-containing setups can bring verdure to even the tiniest of balconies and porches. The best garden planters will always have adequate drainage, be easy to move if necessary, and require little to no setup. Our best overall garden planter from FOYUEE fits the above description to a T and looks great doing it. It's an elevated, rectangular planter with legs and a pair of wheels that allow you to move it to that perfect spot in the corner. I also included stacked, trellised, and vase-like planters among our collection below—it's time to see which one's right for you.

With the capacity to hold up to 2.5 cubic feet of soil, more than adequate drainage, and wheels for easy repositioning, FOYUEE's raised-bed garden planter is a wise buy. Elevated garden beds and planters require way less bending during maintenance like watering or weeding. This planter is constructed from sturdy galvanized steel and is already treated with an anti-rust coating. Add in a convenient little tool shelf on the bottom for storage, and you have a mobile garden to adorn any part of your home.

You might think I'm kidding when I call Apipi's cube-like raised garden bed portable. Except it really is—thanks to tough, woven polypropylene that's coated for waterproofing and made to be ultra-lightweight. To use this grow-bag style planter properly, you'll need to fill it with soil right to the very top. This allows the plants to get sufficient sunlight and provides ample room for root development. A big downside is the lack of integrated handles for easier repositioning when full of plants and soil. Still, the sheer convenience of Apipi's grow bag makes up for that.

It's easy to take advantage of any empty floor, counter, or porch corner with Amazing Creation's aptly named stackable garden planter. Utilizing vertical space is critical if you want a varied, robust garden but have minimal space to plant it in. It's chock-full of features: it's collapsible for storage, has excellent drainage, and is sold in warm terracotta or off-white. However, in my opinion, this planter setup is a bit on the overpriced side. After all, it's made from polypropylene (plastic), and without good soil and plants to fill, it might tip over in a brisk wind. Granted—I doubt it'd be a deal-breaker for folks needing to use vertical space, especially if used indoors.

La Jolie Muse made such an attractive pair of garden planters that I just had to include them in this collection. Their tapered, modern silhouette complements outdoor and indoor décor alike, and you can choose from three weathered, solid, and speckled colorways. Unfortunately, La Jolie Muse's planters are the priciest pick on our list, and you'll need a saucer below them to catch drainage if you're using them indoors. Still, the features are worth the cost—especially considering that they're made from recyclable material, have drainage, and look equally as good on your porch as they will flanking your couch. 

Have you ever tried to grow tomatoes and failed at the task, finding fallen fruit or bent stems? Keep this year's tomatoes tall and bushy with Hydrofarm's self-watering garden planter. Providing stable, vertical support like stakes or a trellis is critical for maximum yield, as well as upward growth potential. The planter's rear wall has a 4-foot-tall framework attached, and the planter base holds 10 gallons of soil. Hydrofarm also included caster wheels for easier relocation if you need to bring the tomatoes inside or to a safe spot away from heavy rain, high winds, or a sudden drop in temperature.

Bottom line

Ultimately, I think that we've included a nice variety of the best garden planters we could find. You can choose from an elevated cart like our staff pick from FOYUEE—or opt for portable, trellised, or stackable planters. FOYUEE's galvanized metal planter slid into our top spot thanks to its durability, neat appearance, and mobility. 

If you have plants with specific environmental needs, or you need to use up empty vertical space, consider either Amazing Creation's stackable garden planter or Hydrofarm's 4-foot trellised planter. The former has five drainage-equipped tiers, each holding three 5-inch potted plants. Hydroform's planter provides support and climbing space for vining plants and even includes a self-watering base. The tiered planter is appropriate for small, spreading fruits and plants like strawberries or succulents, whereas the trellised planter suits especially vigorous tomato, pepper, or eggplant stalks that need more support. 

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At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.