17 Inch vs 24 Inch Raised Garden Bed: Which Height Should You Choose?

When choosing a raised garden bed, most people focus on the length, width, color, and price.

But one detail can make a big difference in your gardening experience:

height.

The height of your raised bed affects how much soil you need, how deep your plants can grow, how often you need to bend, and how comfortable your garden feels over time.

At Tefora Garden, two of the most popular options are the 17" tall raised garden bed and the 24" tall raised garden bed. Both are modular, durable, and designed for real outdoor use — but they serve slightly different needs.

So which one should you choose?

Why raised bed height matters

A raised garden bed is not just a container for soil. It changes the way you garden.

A taller bed can make planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting more comfortable. It also gives plants more soil depth, which can support stronger root growth and better moisture retention.

A lower bed usually requires less soil and may be easier to place in smaller yards, patios, or compact garden layouts.

The best height depends on your body, your space, your plants, and how you want to use your garden.

17" Raised Garden Bed: The balanced everyday choice

The 17" height is a great all-around option for most home gardeners.

It gives you more height than in-ground planting, helping reduce some bending while still keeping the bed easy to fill and maintain. It also provides enough depth for many common vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

A 17" raised bed is especially suitable for:

• lettuce
• spinach
• kale
• herbs
• peppers
• tomatoes
• beans
• cucumbers
• strawberries
• flowers
• seasonal vegetables

For many gardeners, 17" is the "just right" height. It feels practical, balanced, and easy to work with.

It gives your plants enough room to grow while keeping soil volume more manageable compared with taller beds.

When should you choose 17"?

Choose a 17" raised garden bed if you want:

• a practical height for everyday gardening
• a lower soil-filling cost
• a clean look that fits most backyards
• a bed that works well for vegetables, herbs, and flowers
• a good first raised bed for beginners
• a flexible modular layout without feeling too tall

If you are starting your first backyard garden, the 17" height is usually a safe and versatile choice.

It is tall enough to feel easier than ground-level gardening, but not so tall that it requires a large amount of filling material.

24" Raised Garden Bed: More comfort, more depth

The 24" height is designed for gardeners who want more comfort and more growing depth.

At about two feet tall, it helps reduce bending even further, making planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting feel easier — especially during longer gardening sessions.

The extra height also gives plants more room for deeper root development and creates more soil volume. This can help support steadier moisture levels and a more stable growing environment.

A 24" raised bed is especially helpful if you:

• want to bend less while gardening
• prefer a taller, more comfortable working height
• plan to grow deeper-rooted plants
• want more soil depth for long-season crops
• want the bed to feel more like a garden feature
• have a larger backyard or garden area
• care about accessibility and comfort

The 24" height has a stronger visual presence, too. It can make a backyard garden look more structured, elevated, and intentional.

24" raised beds pair well with a rolling garden scooter

If comfort is a priority, a 24" raised garden bed pairs especially well with a rolling garden scooter.

Tefora's Rolling Garden Scooter is designed to help reduce repeated bending, squatting, and kneeling while you plant, weed, prune, and harvest. The 360° swivel seat lets you turn as you work, while the wheels help you move along the side of your raised beds more easily.

This combination works well because:

• the 24" bed brings the soil closer to you
• the scooter lets you sit while working
• the swivel seat helps you reach different angles
• the storage tray and basket keep tools nearby
• you can move along the bed instead of constantly standing, kneeling, and bending

For gardeners who want a more comfortable backyard setup, the 24" raised bed and rolling garden scooter can create a much easier gardening routine.

It is a smart choice for longer planting days, regular weeding, or anyone who wants to enjoy gardening with less strain.

Soil volume: what to consider

One important difference between 17" and 24" beds is soil volume.

A taller bed needs more filling material. That does not mean you need to fill the entire bed with expensive potting mix.

For deeper raised beds, many gardeners use a layered filling method:

• branches or small logs at the bottom
• dried leaves
• cardboard
• compost
• garden soil
• high-quality planting mix on top

This can help reduce soil cost while improving drainage and organic matter over time.

For a 17" bed, the filling process is usually simpler and more affordable.

For a 24" bed, the extra depth can be worth it if you want more comfort, better root space, and a more elevated garden experience.

Which plants work best in each height?

Both 17" and 24" raised beds can support a wide range of plants.

17" is great for:

• leafy greens
• herbs
• peppers
• tomatoes
• beans
• flowers
• strawberries
• seasonal vegetables

24" is great for:

• tomatoes
• potatoes
• carrots
• peppers
• squash
• deeper-rooted vegetables
• long-season crops
• mixed vegetable gardens
• gardeners who want more soil depth

If you mostly grow herbs, greens, and seasonal vegetables, 17" is usually enough.

If you want more root space, more comfort, and a taller garden setup, 24" may be a better choice.

Comfort: which height is easier on your back?

Both heights are more comfortable than ground-level planting, but the 24" bed gives you a more elevated working height.

The 17" bed helps reduce bending compared with traditional in-ground gardening.

The 24" bed reduces bending even more and can feel easier for gardeners who spend more time planting, pruning, watering, or harvesting.

If back comfort is one of your main concerns, the 24" option is usually the better fit — especially when paired with a rolling garden scooter.

Appearance: which one looks better?

This depends on your garden style.

A 17" raised bed has a lower, more classic garden profile. It blends easily into most backyards, patios, and compact spaces.

A 24" raised bed feels more substantial. It creates a stronger visual feature and can make the garden feel more organized and elevated.

If you want a subtle, practical garden bed, choose 17".

If you want a taller, more furniture-like garden feature, choose 24".

What both Tefora heights have in common

Whether you choose 17" or 24", Tefora raised beds are designed with the same core advantages:

• modular 9-in-1 layout
• no-peel assembly design
• rounded corners
• protective rubber safety edging
• sturdy corrugated metal panels
• 0.6mm DC51D steel core
• upgraded Z275 galvanized protection
• extra-thick protective coating system
• approximately 1.0mm total panel thickness
• designed for real outdoor use in Canadian and U.S. gardens

Tefora raised beds are built to feel solid, look clean, and make backyard gardening easier from the start.

Quick comparison: 17" vs 24"

Final recommendation

Choose the 17" raised garden bed if you want a balanced, practical, easy-to-fill option for everyday vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Choose the 24" raised garden bed if you want more comfort, more root depth, and a more elevated backyard gardening experience.

And if you want to make gardening even easier, consider pairing the 24" raised bed with a rolling garden scooter. Together, they help reduce bending, keep tools within reach, and make planting, weeding, and harvesting feel more comfortable.

No matter which height you choose, Tefora Garden raised beds are made to help you grow more with less hassle.

Build. Fill. Grow joy at home.