Metal vs wooden raised beds
Find out which raised bed option is best for you and your garden
If you’ve arrived at this page to find out about the differences between metal vs wooden raised beds, then you’ve come to the right place! Whilst we only supply beautiful and long-lasting wooden raised beds, we’re going to tell you about the pros and cons of metal and wooden raised garden beds so that you can make the best decision when it comes to buying kits for your garden.
The different types of metal and wooden raised beds
Wooden raised beds
There are many different types of wooden raised beds. Our modular system, WoodBlocX, is one of the easiest to build, the longest lasting and the most accessible. However, you can build wooden raised beds using wooden boards, and there are lots of wooden board raised bed kits available, which include everything you need to build one. These will not hold large volumes of soil and tend to be on the small side. You can also build raised beds using railway sleepers, however this involves lots of measuring, cutting and drilling (and can be a costly option if you hire a garden landscaper!).
Metal raised beds
Similar to wooden raised beds, there are lots of different options when it comes to metal raised garden beds, including corrugated metal raised beds, galvanised steel and zinc, powder-coated, and corten steel options. The designs generally feature either curved or straight corners and are supplied as DIY kits, as they could be very tricky to try and create yourself unless you have the skills and tools! Metal raised bed kits are very similar to the wooden-board varieties we've mentioned and are widely available.
Pros of wooden WoodBlocX raised beds
DESIGN - Endless shapes and sizes, including angular and circular - add tiers, seats, ponds, create borders, walls and more thanks to our Free Design Service.
HEIGHT - WoodBlocX raised beds can be built at nine heights between 0.25m and 1.05m and are perfect for accessible growing.
ACCESSIBILITY - Tendering is made easy as you can perch or sit on the edge of the bed due to the strength of the design. WoodBlocX kits can also be designed to allow easy access for wheelchairs.
LONGEVITY - Pre-drilled and then treated wood has a lifespan of 15 + years. No cracking, rotting or warping, over time - the wood takes on a beautiful silver appearance. WoodBlocX timber blocks are 75mm wide and 100mm tall.
BUILDING - Quick and easy to build. No nails, screws or saws are needed to build; layer-by-layer instructions are provided with every kit. Build on any surface, including slopes. Take a look at our How to Build video.
GROWING - Wooden raised beds warm up quicker in the spring and take longer to cool in autumn helping to extend the growing season. Plus they can be built deep to accommodate deeper rooted plants and even trees.
STYLE - WoodBlocX raised beds suit all styles of garden from contemporary to traditional thanks to flexible design and different final capping options.
COLOURS - WoodBlocX can be painted - use a good quality wood paint and create any colour you like for your garden.
MOVEABLE - Our clever dowel system that keeps our raised beds strong, can be unscrewed and dismantled for rebuilding somewhere else if needed.
MADE IN BRITAIN - Using locally sourced (within 30 miles of our sawmill), high quality sustainable wood.
Pros of metal raised beds
DESIGN - Rectangles and squares are the most popular shapes for metal raised garden beds, you can also find circles, triangles and hexagons at some retailers.
LONGEVITY - Metal raised beds can be powder coated or colourbond coated to extend their lifespan and prevent rust.
LIFESPAN - Weather-resistant coatings protect against rust and will help the structures to last up to 20 years.
BUILDING - The metal sheets are fitted using a series of bolts to create the shape.
COLOURS - Popular metal raised bed colours include light green, cream, grey and black.
STYLE - Metal raised beds provide a more contemporary style.
RECYCLABLE - Once metal raised beds come to end of their lifespan, most can be recycled.
MOVEABLE - Metal raised beds are small and light enough to move around the garden if needed.
Cons wooden WoodBlocX raised beds
STATIC - WoodBlocX structures are best left in one place but can be dismantled and moved if needed.
COST - Prices are slightly higher than metal kits as there's much more material in a WoodBlocX raised bed - our timber blocks are 75mm thick!
STYLE PREFERENCE - Whilst our wooden raised beds can be designed for all styles of garden you may simply prefer the look of metal raised beds over wood.
Cons of metal raised beds
ACCESSIBILITY - Unlike WoodBlocX, you won't be able to perch or sit on the edge of a metal bed - this means tendering will require more bending and kneeling down.
QUICK COOLING - Metal raised beds don't have the insulating properties that wooden WoodBlocX raised beds provide therefore they cool down quicker in autumn and take longer to warm up in spring.
SHARP EDGES - The multiple corrugated sheets that make up metal raised beds may lose shape/distort over time, leaving sharp edges exposed.
SIZE - Sizes are generally restricted due to the weight of soil that can be securely held, if a metal raised bed is high, it can't be too wide.
When it comes to looking at the cons of metal vs wooden WoodBlocX raised beds it really comes down to style and price, both are excellent options for your garden. You can even mix things up and use a combination of both like our customer photo above!
Using WoodBlocX provides an excellent high quality and professional finish and can be used to create raised beds, garden seats, retaining walls and raised ponds of many shapes and sizes, plus we have a Free Design Service to ensure you get exactly what you need. There are cheaper wooden raised bed options, but none will provide the multitude of benefits that WoodBlocX can.
Metal raised beds are a great practical option to separate your growing space and lower cost so are more likely to be used on an allotment.
Professional opinion on WoodBlocX wooden raised beds vs metal raised beds
National garden writer and author Rob Smith has used both WoodBlocX and metal raised beds in his own kitchen garden. He currently has an L-shape (see it being built here), circular and two rectangular WoodBlocX raised beds and numerous metal raised beds in his Sheffield garden which you can see over on his Instagram page. We asked him to share his thoughts on the benefits of both.
Q. What do you think are the benefits of metal and WoodBlocX raised beds to you as a gardener?
A. Metal beds come in a variety of colours, so can be used to match any design in the garden, they don’t need lining and shouldn’t rust if you buy the powder-coated ones.
WoodBlocX beds are great for bespoke or deeper beds as you can create your own shape, they are also very sturdy and blend into the garden much more.
Q. What about growing conditions, do you notice any differences between the two?
A. I don’t find a difference in the growing conditions, apart from the fact I can grow bigger parsnips and carrots in a WoodBlocX bed as they are deeper!
Q. Do you grow different plants in your metal raised beds compared to your wooden raised beds?
A. I grow most things in both types of bed, with more brassicas in the metal beds as my netting cages fit them more securely. WoodBlocX do offer crop protector rods to hang netting over their raised beds.
Q. Do you have anything else to add about the two types of raised bed?
A. The Free Bespoke Design Service that WoodBlocX offers is a great feature. It’s allowed me to build a large L shaped bed in the garden that would otherwise be unused or have odd fitting metal raised beds pushed together. From a garden style point of view, I think wooden beds also look more “finished”.
WoodBlocX raised beds for all gardens
Our wooden raised beds receive excellent feedback from our customers thanks to the ease of build, the longevity and the natural style they bring to gardens. Take a look at our Feefo reviews to see what they have to say.
We have a wide range of raised bed designs on our website to suit all budgets and garden styles. Our raised bed calculator will visualise your design when you add your own measurements and our Free Design Service will bring any bespoke raised bed idea to life.
