2×4 ft raised garden bed

A 2-by-4-foot bed with 2×6 sides and 2×4 corner posts. Narrow enough to reach across.

Beginner2 hours8 parts2× lumber
2×6 · 5½″ × 72″A SideB End2×6 · 5½″ × 72″A SideB End2×4 · 3½″ × 48″CCCC

Cutting diagram

2×6 · 5½″ × 72″A SideB End2×6 · 5½″ × 72″A SideB End2×4 · 3½″ × 48″C Corner postC Corner postC Corner postC Corner post

Bright pieces are your parts; the dimmed wood is left over. Every cut allows ⅛″ for the saw blade.

Cut list

PartQtyWidth × lengthCut from
ASide25½″ × 48″140 × 1219 mm2× lumber
BEnd25½″ × 21″140 × 533 mm2× lumber
CCorner post43½″ × 10″89 × 254 mm2× lumber

How to build it

  1. Cut two sides at 4 ft, two ends at 21″ and four posts at 10″. Cedar or untreated pine is best near food plants.
  2. Screw each end board to two posts, flush at the top, leaving 4½″ of post below the board to push into the ground.
  3. Screw the long sides to the posts so they overlap the ends. The bed is now 2 ft × 4 ft outside.
  4. Set the bed in place, press the posts into the soil and check it's level.
  5. Line the bottom with cardboard to smother weeds, then fill with soil.