Raised Bed Vegetable Garden Layout Ideas

A well-planned raised bed layout maximizes your harvest while minimizing wasted space. Whether you're working with one 4×8 bed or designing a full backyard garden, the right arrangement makes planting, watering, and harvesting easier.

Want a custom layout for your space? Get your free AI garden plan →

Quick Answer

The most efficient raised bed size is 4 feet wide (reachable from both sides) by 8 feet long. Space beds 2-3 feet apart for walking paths. Orient beds north-south for even sun exposure. Use square foot gardening spacing to fit more plants per bed.

Best Raised Bed Dimensions

Width: 4 Feet Maximum

You should reach the center from either side without stepping in
If bed is against a wall/fence: 2-3 feet wide instead
Wider beds = compacted soil from reaching across

Length: 4-8 Feet

4×4: Perfect for beginners, easy to manage
4×8: Most popular size, fits standard lumber
4×12: Great for row crops, but harder to water evenly

Height: 6-12 Inches

6 inches: Minimum for most vegetables
10-12 inches: Better for root crops (carrots, potatoes)
18-24 inches: Ideal for bad soil or accessibility needs

Layout Patterns That Work

Single Bed Starter

Best for: First-time gardeners, small spaces

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│         4×8 BED             │
│  Tomatoes | Peppers | Herbs │
└─────────────────────────────┘

Plant tall crops (tomatoes) on the north side so they don't shade shorter plants.

Two-Bed Kitchen Garden

Best for: Feeding 2 people year-round

┌─────────────┐   ┌─────────────┐
│   4×8 BED   │   │   4×8 BED   │
│   Greens    │   │   Fruiting  │
│   + Roots   │   │   Crops     │
└─────────────┘   └─────────────┘
      ↑ 2-3 ft path ↑

Bed 1: Lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, beets Bed 2: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash

Four-Bed Rotation System

Best for: Serious gardeners, crop rotation

┌─────────┐  ┌─────────┐
│ Bed 1   │  │ Bed 2   │
│ Leaves  │  │ Fruits  │
└─────────┘  └─────────┘
     2-3 ft path
┌─────────┐  ┌─────────┐
│ Bed 3   │  │ Bed 4   │
│ Roots   │  │ Legumes │
└─────────┘  └─────────┘

Rotate crops each year: Leaves → Fruits → Roots → Legumes → Leaves

Spacing Between Beds

Path Width	Best For
18 inches	Tight spaces, stepping only
24 inches	Comfortable walking
36 inches	Wheelbarrow access
48 inches	Wheelchair accessible

Grass paths are cheapest but need mowing. Mulch or gravel paths stay cleaner.

Sun Orientation

North-South orientation is ideal:

Sun travels east to west
All plants get equal light throughout the day
Tall plants on north end don't shade others

East-West works if:

Your only sunny spot requires it
You're growing all same-height crops

Sample 4×8 Bed Layouts

Layout A: Salad Garden

┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ Lettuce  │ Lettuce │ Spinach  │  Row 1
│ Radish   │ Radish  │ Arugula  │  Row 2
│ Carrots  │ Carrots │ Beets    │  Row 3
│ Onions   │ Onions  │ Herbs    │  Row 4
└───────────────────────────────┘

Yield: Fresh salads for 2 people, spring through fall

Layout B: Salsa Garden

┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ Tomato │ Tomato │ Tomato     │  Row 1 (caged)
│ Pepper │ Pepper │ Pepper     │  Row 2
│ Onion  │ Onion  │ Cilantro   │  Row 3
│ Jalapeño│ Garlic │ Lime*     │  Row 4
└───────────────────────────────┘
*Lime in container nearby

Yield: Enough for weekly fresh salsa all summer

Layout C: Beginner's Best

┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ Tomato │ Tomato │ Cucumber   │  Row 1 (trellised)
│ Pepper │ Zucchini│ Beans     │  Row 2
│ Lettuce│ Lettuce │ Lettuce   │  Row 3
│ Basil  │ Carrots │ Radish    │  Row 4
└───────────────────────────────┘

Yield: Variety for a family of 4, easy crops only

Common Layout Mistakes

Mistake 1: Beds too wide

Can't reach the middle without stepping in
Compacted soil = poor drainage = sad plants

Mistake 2: Paths too narrow

You'll step on bed edges
Can't kneel comfortably to weed

Mistake 3: Ignoring sun patterns

Tall plants shading short ones
Beds in afternoon shade (worst for fruiting crops)

Mistake 4: No room to expand

You'll want more beds next year
Leave space in your layout for growth

How Many Beds Do You Need?

Beds	Square Feet	Feeds
1 (4×8)	32 sq ft	Supplements 1-2 people
2 (4×8)	64 sq ft	Supplements 2-4 people
4 (4×8)	128 sq ft	Significant harvest for family
6+ (4×8)	192+ sq ft	Near self-sufficiency in summer

Assumption: Intensive planting, succession sowing, 6+ hours sun

Get Your Custom Layout

Planning bed placement is just the start. You also need to figure out:

Which vegetables fit your growing zone
How many of each plant to grow
When to plant each crop
How to space plants within beds

Our free AI Garden Planner does all of this for you. Enter your bed size, location, and preferences—get a complete planting plan with spacing, timing, and a shopping list.

Create Your Free Garden Plan →