How to Build a Raised Bed with Benches

Build this raised bed with benches for a garden that's high off the ground, with seating on all four sides. Ideal for people with back or knee issues.

This half-day project makes gardening easier and more comfortable. It's higher than most raised beds, so you don't have to bend over quite as much, plus it has a bench on each side so you can sit while you plant, weed, and harvest. This is an ideal garden set-up for older gardeners, folks with back or knee problems, or anyone simply looking for an attractive, unique style of raised bed to add to the yard.

Estimated Time: 4 hours (less if you have wood pre-cut)

Project Difficulty: Moderate

Building tips

Cut the lumber yourself if you have some woodworking experience, or make it easy by having the boards pre-cut at your local home improvement store.

Be sure to choose a level piece of ground in a well-drained area that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sun per day.

To help prevent weeds, cover the ground inside the bed with newspaper or landscaping cloth before filling with premium quality soil developed especially for raised beds, such as Miracle-Gro® Raised Bed Soil. Also, be sure to feed your veggies and herbs throughout the season with a plant food like Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Plant Food, which is designed to give your edible plants the nutrients they need to grow strong and deliver a big harvest.

To build our Raised Bed with Benches, watch the video, scroll down for instructions, or download our printable PDF guide.

List of Materials

1 – 2 x 2 x 8 board
3 – 2 x 4 x 8 boards
8 – 2 x 6 x 8 boards
2 – 2 x 8 x 8 boards
3 – 1-lb boxes 2½-inch deck screws
1 – 1-lb box 3-inch deck screws
Miracle-Gro® Raised Bed Soil

List of Tools:

miter saw or circular saw*
drill/driver
clamps
square
measuring tape

* or can have lumber pre-cut at home improvement store per dimensions in Parts List

Parts List:

Part	Quantity	Size
Side Slats	8	1½ x 5½ x 45
Bottom Side Slats	4	1½ x 7¼ x 45
Inner Posts	8	1½ x 3½ x 14
Bracket Supports	4	1½ x 5½ x 16
Brackets	8	1½ x 5½ x 15½
Outer Posts	4	1½ x 3½ x 18¼
Seat Slats	8	1½ x 5½ x 24
Seat Cleats	4	1½ x 1½ x 20½

Use this slideshow for step-by-step directions

bed-with-benches slide 1 — Create the **Side Assemblies** by positioning two **Side Slats** and one **Bottom Side Slat** with the ends flush. Place two **Inner Posts** 13½ inches from the ends and 1¾ inches from the edge of the **Bottom Side Slat**, as shown in **Figure 1**. Attach using **2½-inch deck screws**. Repeat to create three more assemblies, using two **Side Slats**, one **Bottom Side Slat** and two **Inner Posts** for each. Divide the four assemblies into two sets of two.

bed-with-benches slide 2 — With one set of **Side Assemblies**, position a **Bracket Support** on each as shown in **Figure 2** and attach using **2½-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 3 — Use **Figure 3** as a guide for creating/identifying the **Brackets**.

bed-with-benches slide 4 — Still working on the first set of **Side Assemblies**, position the **Brackets** as shown in **Figure 4** on each, making sure they are flush against the ends of the **Bracket Support**, and attach using **2½-inch deck screws**.

Working from the opposite sides of these Side Assemblies, drive 2½-inch deck screws through the Side Slats and into the Brackets on each as shown in Figure 5.

bed-with-benches slide 6 — With the second set of **Side Assemblies**, position a **Bracket Support** on each as shown in **Figure 6** and attach using **2 1/2-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 7 — Position the **Brackets** as shown in **Figure 7** on each, making sure they are flush against the ends of the **Bracket Support**, and attach using **2½-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 8 — Working from the opposite sides of these **Side Assemblies**, drive **2½-inch deck screws** through the **Side Slats** and into the **Brackets** on each as shown in **Figure 8**.

bed-with-benches slide 9 — Flip this second set of **Side Assemblies** back over and position the **Outer Posts** on each as shown in **Figure 9**, then attach using **2½-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 10 — Working with the set of **Side Assemblies** without the **Outer Posts**, position a **Seat Slat** on each, flush against the end of the **Side Slats** and against the **Brackets** as shown in **Figure 10**. Mark a line where the **Seat Slat** meets the **Side Slat**.

bed-with-benches slide 11 — Position a **Seat Cleat** on each as shown in **Figure 11** (on the marked line) and attach using **2½-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 12 — Position a **Seat Slat** on each as shown in **Figure 12** and attach to the **Seat Cleat** and **Brackets** using **2½-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 13 — Position a second **Seat Slat** on each as shown in **Figure 13** and attach to the **Brackets** using **2 1/2-inch deck screws**. (Use a quarter-inch scrap piece as a spacer between the **Seat Slats** for this step, if desired.)

bed-with-benches slide 14 — Working with the remaining set of **Side Assemblies** (with the **Outer Posts**), position a **Seat Slat** on each, flush against the end of the **Side Slats** and against the **Brackets** as shown in **Figure 14**. Mark a line where the **Seat Slat** meets the **Side Slat**.

bed-with-benches slide 15 — Position a **Seat Cleat** on each as shown in **Figure 15** (on the marked line) and attach using **2½-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 16 — Position a **Seat Slat** on each as shown in **Figure 16** and attach to the **Seat Cleat** and **Brackets** using **2½-inch deck screws**.

bed-with-benches slide 17 — Position a second **Seat Slat** on each as shown in **Figure 17** and attach to the **Brackets** using **2 1/2-inch deck screws**. (Use a quarter-inch scrap piece as a spacer between the Seat Slats for this step, if desired.)

bed-with-benches slide 18 — Position a side assembly without **Outer Posts** and a side assembly with **Outer Posts** as shown in **Figure 18**. Make sure the ends of the **Side Slats** fit flush against the **Outer Posts**. Attach using 3-inch deck screws. Repeat with the remaining pair of **Side Assemblies**.

bed-with-benches slide 19 — Position both pairs of **Side Assemblies** together as shown in **Figure 19**. Again, make sure the ends of the **Side Slats** fit flush against the **Outer Posts**. Attach using 3-inch deck screws.

Finished Dimensions:

Height: 18¼ inches
Length (not including benches): 48 inches
Width (not including benches): 48 inches
Length (including benches): 67½ inches
Width (including benches): 67½ inches

Design by Chris Hill

DIY Projects How-To Projects Raised Beds

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