Building and Selling Wooden Planters and Window Boxes From Your Garage
A planter is one of the simplest products to build in a garage: a few boards, a saw, a drill and screws. It is also one of the easiest to get wrong, because wood, soil and water are a hard combination. This guide covers what buyers want, which wood to use and how to price your boxes.
Who buys wooden planters
Apartment and townhouse gardeners, people with patios and porches, and anyone who wants herbs or tomatoes near the kitchen door. Buyers often care about three things: size, drainage and whether the wood is safe for edible plants.
Choose the wood carefully
Cedar is the most common choice for outdoor boxes. It has a pleasant look and aroma and is widely used outdoors. Redwood resists rot and insects too; choose heartwood over sapwood, which does not hold up as well. Black locust and a few other very hard woods last for decades but are tougher to find and to nail.
Pressure-treated lumber deserves a clear warning. It is not fully rot-proof, and metals used in the treatment can leach into soil and reach plants, especially root crops. If you sell boxes for vegetables, use untreated wood and say so in your listing. Whatever you choose, check the current formulation and labels with your lumber supplier.
Design details buyers notice
- Depth: herbs and annuals can do well with 6 to 8 inches of soil, while tomatoes and carrots generally need about 12 inches.
- Board thickness: at least 3/4 inch, and 1 inch lasts longer.
- Drainage: drainage holes, slatted bottoms or small gaps between boards.
- Liners: a liner keeps soil off the wood and stops it washing out through gaps.
What to charge
As of October 2026, one HGTV roundup of cedar planters listed prices from about $85 to $250, with most between $110 and $200. Prices change, so check current listings yourself. Add up lumber, hardware, finish or liner and your time, then compare the total with that range. If ready-made boxes undercut you, sell something they do not: custom sizes, matching sets or boxes sized for a specific porch.
Where to sell
Local craft fairs, garden clubs, spring plant sales and your own listings work well, since heavy boxes are costly to ship. Start with a small batch of three sizes and see which sells.
Safety notes
Wear eye and hearing protection and a dust mask when cutting wood, and keep sawdust cleaned up. Planters get heavy once filled, so design handles and stable bases carefully. Rules on selling at markets and any business license vary by city and state, so check locally.
More on Garage Business Blueprint
- Building and Selling Raised Garden Beds: A Garage Business Idea
- Selling Vegetable and Flower Seedlings From Your Garage
- How to Price Handmade Products: A Simple Formula for Garage Makers
