How much does a flower bed or raised garden bed cost?
How much does a flower bed or raised garden bed cost?
$300 – $900 pre-made DIY garden bed kit cost (5’ x 12’)
$1,200 – $4,000 custom raised garden bed cost (5’ x 12’)
$1,400 – $3,700 dig flower bed installation cost (5’ x 12’)
$900 – $2,700 plant flowers only cost (5’ x 12’)
Flower bed installation cost
Flower bed installation costs $20 to $65 per square foot. The cost to install a 5’x12’ dig flower bed is $1,400 to $3.700. Building a 5’x12’ custom-built raised garden bed costs $1,200 to $4,000. A 5’x12’ DIY raised garden bed kit costs $300 to $900.
The cost to plant flowers is $10 to $30 per pot, including the plant price.
Landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour for flower bed installation.
| Type | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| DIY pre-made raised garden bed kit | $5 – $15 |
| Custom-built raised garden bed | $20 – $65 |
| Install dig flower bed (in-ground) | $25 – $60 |
| Buying & planting flowers in existing bed only | $15 – $45 |
*Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.
Average cost to install a flower bed by size
The average cost to install a 5’x12’ flower bed is $1,200 to $4,000, depending on if it’s a raised custom-built bed or an in-ground bed. This price includes all materials, plants, and labor. For comparison, a pre-made DIY raised garden bed kit costs $300 to $900 for materials alone.
| Flower bed size | Average installed cost* | Average DIY kit cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2' x 4' | $150 – $500 | $40 – $120 |
| 2' x 8' | $300 – $1,000 | $80 – $240 |
| 3' x 6' | $350 – $1,200 | $100 – $270 |
| 3' x 10' | $600 – $2,000 | $150 – $450 |
| 4' x 4' | $300 – $1,000 | $80 – $240 |
| 4' x 8' | $650 – $2,100 | $150 – $480 |
| 5' x 10' | $1,000 – $3,200 | $250 – $750 |
| 5' x 12' | $1,200 – $4,000 | $300 – $900 |
| 8' x 8' | $1,300 – $4,200 | $320 – $960 |
| 8' x 10' | $1,600 – $5,200 | $400 – $1,200 |
| 8' x 12' | $1,900 – $6,200 | $480 – $1,400 |
| 8' x 16' | $2,600 – $8,300 | $650 – $1,900 |
*Installed prices for custom-built raised or hand-dug flowerbeds.
Cost to build a raised garden bed
Custom-built raised bed cost
A custom-built raised bed costs $20 to $65 per square foot of ground space, depending on the material. A 5’x12’ custom-built raised bed costs $1,200 to $4,000 installed. Charges for flower beds decrease when using scrap wood from sawmills or recycled construction materials.
| Type | Average cost (5’x12’ bed size) |
|---|---|
| Raised wooden garden bed | $1,300 – $3,800 |
| Raised brick planter box | $1,400 – $3,500 |
| Raised natural stone planter box | $1,800 – $4,000 |
| Cinder-block planter box | $1,200 – $3,300 |
| Raised metal planter box | $1,300 – $3,800 |
| Poured concrete garden bed | $1,300 – $3,600 |
| Rammed earth garden bed | $1,300 – $3,300 |
*For materials, flowers, and installation labor.
Related projects include:
A retaining wall costs $40 to $300 per linear foot.
A cinder block wall costs $60 to $240 per linear foot.
A poured concrete wall costs $90 to $320 per linear foot.
A brick or stone wall costs $80 to $480 per linear foot.
Pre-made raised garden bed kit prices
Raised garden-bed kits cost $5 to $15 per square foot on average for materials. The pre-made kits require minimal installation and come in wood, plastic, and metal types. Additional costs include soil preparation and plants.
| Garden bed size | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 2' x 4' | $40 – $120 |
| 2' x 8' | $80 – $240 |
| 3' x 6' | $100 – $270 |
| 4' x 4' | $80 – $240 |
| 4' x 8' | $150 – $480 |
| 5’ x 12’ | $300 – $900 |
| 8' x 8' | $320 – $960 |
| 8' x 12' | $480 – $1,400 |
| 8' x 16' | $650 – $1,900 |
*Material prices only.
Pre-made raised garden beds come in the following types:
Framing materials – Wood, metal, plastic, vinyl, concrete, or bricks
Shapes – Square, oval, circle, star, diamond, rectangular, triangle, and freeform
Features – Multiple tiers, elevated bed, wheels, self-watering, expandable, or trellis edges
Cost to install a dig flower bed
The cost to install a dig flower bed is $25 to $60 per square foot total. Installing a 5’ x 12’ dig bed with flowers costs $1,400 to $3,700 on average. Landscapers must remove old grass, and other prep work like fertilizing and tilling is sometimes necessary.
| Flower bed size | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 2' x 4' | $180 – $480 |
| 2' x 8' | $380 – $950 |
| 3' x 6' | $420 – $1,100 |
| 3' x 10' | $700 – $1,800 |
| 4' x 4' | $380 – $950 |
| 4' x 8' | $750 – $1,900 |
| 5' x 10' | $1,150 – $3,000 |
| 5' x 12' | $1,400 – $3,700 |
| 8' x 8' | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| 8' x 10' | $1,800 – $4,900 |
| 8' x 12' | $2,200 – $5,900 |
| 8' x 16' | $3,000 – $7,800 |
Additional prep work in difficult soil conditions includes:
Old grass removal – Lawn removal costs $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot, including hauling and disposal.
Rototilling – Machine tilling costs $50 to $100 minimum for residential jobs.
Loosening compacted soil – Lawn aeration costs $75 to $250 as an alternative to tilling the ground.
Soil testing – Professional lab testing of soil costs $10 to $50 to select the right fertilizers needed for this area.
Replenishing soil – Compost costs $20 to $50 per cubic yard to add nutrients to depleted soil.
Cost to plant flowers
The cost to plant flowers is $10 to $30 per pot on average or $15 to $45 per square foot of flower bed, depending on the plant type and size. Planting a 5’x12’ garden bed costs $900 to $2,700 on average, including minimal soil prep.
| Flower bed size | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 2' x 4' | $120 – $350 |
| 2' x 8' | $250 – $700 |
| 3' x 6' | $270 – $800 |
| 3' x 10' | $450 – $1,300 |
| 4' x 4' | $250 – $700 |
| 4' x 8' | $500 – $1,400 |
| 5' x 10' | $750 – $2,200 |
| 5' x 12' | $900 – $2,700 |
| 8' x 8' | $950 – $2,900 |
| 8' x 10' | $1,200 – $3,600 |
| 8' x 12' | $1,400 – $4,300 |
| 8' x 16' | $1,900 – $5,700 |
*Price includes plants plus installation.
Most flowers come in pot sizes from 2.5 quarts to 2.0 gallons.
Annual flowers last only one growing season and typically cost less than perennials that bloom annually.
Companies don’t include flower planting in most garden installation estimates.
Landscapers may charge 2 to 3 times the price of plants for installation, or they may charge bulk rates per flat of flowers planted.
Flower and garden bed installation cost factors
Landscaping costs $50 to $100 per hour on average. The following cost factors can change these rates:
Consultation – Initial fees cost $75 to $150 on average for onsite planning and building an estimate.
Designer – A landscape designer costs $50 to $150 per hour to create new garden layouts.
Border vs. island – An island garden bed requires more edging materials on all 4 sides than a 3-sided border garden.
Bush and shrub removal – Pre-existing shrub removal costs $25 to $150 per bush on average.
Re-sloping yard – Regrading or leveling the ground costs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot and prevents drainage issues in a lawn or garden bed.
Bed depth – The amount of soil and materials needed varies for common flower bed sizes of 6”, 12”, or 18” deep.
Flower bed liner – Weed-barrier fabric prices are $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot depending on the material type.
Soil amendments – Tilling-in compost and fertilizer replenishes depleted soil with the nutrients it needs to make flowers bloom.
Topsoil – Filling a garden bed with new topsoil costs $10 to $50 per cubic yard.
Plant delivery – Some companies charge a $25 to $100 delivery fee. Extra costs per mile apply for homes outside their standard service area.
Mulch – Garden mulch costs $35 to $70 per cubic yard with installation.
Landscape stones – Landscaping rocks cost $85 to $310 per cubic yard with delivery and installation.
Fencing – Installing a fence costs $20 to $60 per linear foot to keep animals out of the new flower bed.
Sprinklers – Installing a drip-irrigation system costs $300 to $1,200 per zone on average for automatic watering.
Cost to redo a flower bed – Cleanups of existing beds include $50 to $100 per hour for hand-pulling weeds, plus soil amendments, mulch, or edging repairs.
Add-ons – Custom garden-bed installations may include trellises, wood-finish treatments, lighting, pathways, or cold-frame tops for winter insulation.
Warranty – Companies that offer plant warranties may triple the retail cost of the plants or charge a percentage of overall costs.
Flower-bed maintenance:
Weed pulling costs $50 to $100 per hour.
Leaf removal costs $125 to $250.
Yard cleanup costs $125 to $400.
Cost to edge flower beds
Concrete landscape edging costs $5 to $18 per linear foot installed. Prices for landscape-edging borders increase for replacing old landscaping trim with new materials.
The best edging for flower beds depends on the material:
Vinyl/plastic is the most affordable.
Wood is durable and eco-friendly.
Aluminum, iron, and steel bend well and offer good durability.
Rubber edging sometimes contains recycled materials and bends well.
Brick, concrete, and stone are labor-intensive to install but last the longest.
DIY raised garden bed cost
DIY raised garden beds cost $250 to $350 on average for materials and $270 to $450 for soil from a retail hardware store. These prices are for building a 5’x12’ cedar bed that’s 1’ deep.
Tools and materials needed to build a wooden garden bed include:
Circular saw
Drill and bit set
Tape measure
Pencil
2”x4” lumber
Deck screws
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Garden tools
Gloves
60 cubic feet of soil
Garden flower bed FAQs
What is the cheapest raised garden bed?
Wood is typically the cheapest raised-garden bed framing material. Of all woods, cedar has the best value over time because it resists rot and insects.
Other budget-friendly framing types include:
Pressure-treated wood is cheap but contains chemicals that can leach into the soil.
A galvanized-steel stock tank is an affordable no-build option.
Salvaged wood or bricks from demolition sites and recycling centers are free.
How wide should a flower bed be?
The ideal flower bed is 6’ to 8’ wide for at least three rows of short, medium, and tall flowers. Alternatively, a 3’ to 4’ width is best if you want to avoid walking in the bed, need to weed often, and wish to plant annuals.
How deep should a raised flower bed be?
A raised flower bed should be 6” to 12” deep depending on the size of the plant roots. Vegetable beds should be at least 18” deep to accommodate root vegetables. Raised beds more than 12” deep often need cross-supports to prevent the sides from bowing.
What should I plant in a flower bed?
You should plant a mix of tall, medium-height, and short flowers in a flower bed to create variety.
The best plants for flower beds include:
Colorful flowering perennials and annuals
Shrubs
Flowering vegetables
Herbs
Ornamental grasses
Plants with sunlight requirements matching this bed’s location
Native flowers that feed pollinators
Drought-resistant flowers for dry climates
Can you put a flower bed around a tree?
Yes, you can put a flower bed around a tree. However, a raised flower bed will kill the tree over time because the tree’s surface roots need oxygen. To avoid harming the tree, dig carefully to plant flowers between the tree’s roots for an in-ground flower bed.
Fill in spaces between flowers with a mulch layer no more than 2” to 4” deep. Mulch looks more attractive than soil and allows tree roots to breathe better.
Getting estimates from landscapers & flower bed installers
Before hiring a landscaping company near you, be sure to:
Compare at least 3 different estimates from different companies.
Choose companies with 5 or more years of experience.
Read online reviews from sites like Google and HomeGuide.
Ask to see references and the company’s portfolio.
Request a licensed landscape architect, experienced landscape designer, or someone certified by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
Look for companies with a business license, insurance, and a surety bond.
Remember that low quotes may indicate low-quality work standards.
Get a copy of the contract and detailed estimate before work begins.
Set up a payment plan before hiring instead of paying everything up front.
Questions to ask
How long have you been in business?
Do you have horticultural experience or education?
How many people are in your crew?
Do I need to be home for the installation?
How much is your minimum garden-installation price?
What are the biggest cost factors affecting my price?
Will you add new soil or fertilizer in my garden beds?
Can you offer organic options if I want to grow vegetables too?
Does the estimate include flower-planting labor?
Where do you get your flowers?
Can I buy my own plants for the installation, or will that void the warranty?
Is there a way to redesign the plans to lower costs?
What’s the best type of garden for my yard?
Which extras would improve this garden?
How long will it take to finish this project?
What is the best depth for my garden?
Do you offer garden maintenance plans?
Who do I contact if there’s a problem with my garden installation?