Beyond that, choosing the best gardening bench—something of a misnomer, because it’s more table than bench—comes down to your particular needs. Do you want something with a removable dry sink, so you have a place to mix soil neatly? What about wheels, to move the plant bench around? Are you a sucker for heavy metal, or would you prefer something whittled out of wood? And would you like something that folds up neatly so it can be stowed in the garage or shed during colder months or inclement weather? The best outdoor potting bench for you comes down to your particular needs and wants, including how much you’re comfortable spending.
Best overall: Best Choice Products Outdoor Garden Potting BenchBest for big yards: Best Choice Products Outdoor Mobile Garden Potting BenchBest budget: Topeakmart Potting Bench Table with Metal TabletopBest premium: YAHEETECH Outdoor Potting Bench TableBest for apartments: Merry Garden Foldable Potting Bench
What to consider when shopping for the best potting benches
A garden workbench is valuable gardening equipment. It’s a place to consolidate all your tools, so you can work more efficiently; it also doubles as a space to work from a comfortable height without having to get down on the ground, which is good news for anyone with a bad back or knees.
How much storage space do you want?
A potting bench could be as simple and minimalist as a flat surface with a ledge below. But if you have more gear to store year-round, there are plenty of options with cabinets, drawers, and other places to hide your stuff in plain sight.
Do you prefer a plant bench with a dry sink?
A sink comes in handy when you’re working with messy stuff like soil or want to water potted plants. A removable basin makes cleanup much easier than, say, brushing dirt off the flat surface of your bench or getting water everywhere. When you’re done, just pop it out, wash it, and put it back.
How tall should your potting bench be?
The ideal height of a potting bench depends on the height of the people using it. You don’t want to have to stoop, strain, or reach too much—after all, the whole point of the bench is to make your life easier. Thirty-six inches high is standard, though some models come in other heights, and others still are adjustable—perfect if more than one person in your household will be using it. Rule of thumb: Your potting bench should be level with your elbows.
Should your potting bench be wood or metal?
Dealer’s choice! The main thing to consider is whether it’s weatherproof since you’ll likely be leaving it outside come rain or shine. As long as the material is weather-treated or naturally -resistant, it all comes down to personal taste.
Best overall: Best Choice Products Outdoor Garden Potting Bench
This assembly-required option has it all: a dry sink for mixing soil and potting plants, multiple tiers for a total of 8 square feet of storage, and optional hooks. When looking at product specs, be clear about what they mean. For example, this one is 55.25 inches high—but the tabletop is much lower (as it should be, unless you’re incredibly tall).
Best for big yards: Best Choice Products Outdoor Mobile Garden Potting Bench
Nice wheels! The expandable tabletop slides back and forth to reveal and cover a dry sink. Stained fir resists warping and rot, and the entire bench can support up to 150 pounds. When it’s not loaded with gardening gear, it weighs just 32 pounds, so it’s easy to push around.
Best budget: Topeakmart Potting Table with Metal Tabletop
The features you sacrifice for a lower price point may not even be important to you: wheels, a dry sink, cabinet doors. This one is made of the same fir of other styles and even has non-slip foot covers to help keep the unit in place. It can support up to 44 pounds per shelf.
Best premium: YAHEETECH Outdoor Potting Bench Table
You get an easy-access drawer and a roomy cabinet with a drawer (with an extra-secure latch—perfect if you’ve got chemicals inside). In addition, this pick comes with side hooks and a slatted shelf, which will let extraneous bits of soil just fall away to the ground, minimal cleanup required.
Best for apartments: Merry Garden Foldable Potting Bench
Kiln-dried stained wood isn’t just easy on the eyes, it’s also durable: The top shelf can hold up to 150 pounds, the bottom can take another 100. The addition of a hanging bar gives you another place to stow your gear. All the hardware you need for assembly comes included.
The final word on shopping for the best potting benches
If your garden is your happy place, a potting bench can make it even happier. Having a dedicated potting station means there’s a place for all your garden tools to go, and a potting bench with sink means that even when you’re dealing with water, you’ll be able to contain the mess. A planter bench is a must-have for anyone who’s serious about gardening or even thinking about getting serious!
