DIY Raised Garden Bed from Cedar

The 4x8 Raised Bed: The Garden Workhorse

A 4x8-foot raised bed is the standard for a reason — you can reach the center from either side without stepping in, and it holds a serious amount of soil. Built from cedar, it'll last many seasons without chemical treatments.

This plan makes a bed 4 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 11 inches deep (two 1x6 boards stacked). That's deep enough for most vegetables.

Tools You'll Need

  • Miter saw or circular saw
  • Drill/driver with bits
  • Tape measure, pencil, speed square
  • Level
  • Shovel and rake (for site prep)

Materials

  • 4 — 2x6 x 8 ft cedar boards (for the long sides)
  • 4 — 2x6 x 4 ft cedar boards (for the short sides — or cut from 8-footers)
  • 4 — 4x4 x 12 in cedar posts (corner stakes)
  • 3 1/2 in exterior wood screws
  • Landscaping fabric or cardboard (for the bottom)
  • Soil mix (see below)

Cut List

PartQtySize
Long sides42x6 x 8 ft (two per side, stacked)
Short sides42x6 x 45 in (two per side, stacked)
Corner posts44x4 x 12 in

The short sides are 45 inches (48 minus twice the 1 1/2-inch thickness of the long-side boards) so the finished bed measures a true 4 x 8 feet outside.

Step-by-Step Build

1. Prep the site

Choose a spot with 6+ hours of sun. Level the ground roughly — the bed will settle, but starting level matters. Lay cardboard or landscaping fabric to smother grass underneath.

2. Build the first layer

Assemble one rectangle: long sides outside, short sides between them. Drive screws through the long sides into the ends of the short sides (two screws per joint). Check square with diagonal measurements.

3. Add the second layer

Stack the second layer on top, staggering the corner joints if possible. Screw the layers together at the corners with long screws.

4. Install corner posts

Drive or set the 4x4 posts inside each corner, flush with the top. Screw through the side boards into the posts — this locks everything together and anchors the bed.

5. Fill with soil

A 4x8x11-inch bed holds about 24 cubic feet of soil. A good mix: roughly 60% topsoil, 30% compost, 10% aeration (perlite or coarse sand). Fill to about an inch below the top edge — soil settles.

Raised Bed Tips

  • Don't use treated lumber for food. Cedar costs more but is safe and lasts.
  • Line the inside, not the bottom. Staple fabric to the inside walls to keep soil in; leave the bottom open for drainage and earthworms.
  • Mulch the top. Two inches of mulch after planting cuts watering dramatically.
  • Leave paths. Space multiple beds 2–3 feet apart so you can walk and wheel a barrow between them.

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