homestead.fyi / BED-4X12

4x12 Raised Bed

A 4 x 12 ft raised bed 11 in deep, built from ground-contact 2x6s on 4x4 corner posts with gopher mesh under it.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
4 x 12 ftSize
11 inSoil depth
44 sq ftPlanting area
40 cu ftSoil
1 to 2 hrBuild time
$191.71Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
3D view, framingtop course removed
3D view, framing
Front elevationlong side
Front elevation 144 in 11 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 144 in 48 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
22x4 PT45Cross-tieon edge, screwed through the sides
22x6 GC72Side front 1.on edge, joint on the mid post
22x6 GC72Side back 1.on edge, joint on the mid post
22x6 GC72Side front 2.on edge, joint on the mid post
22x6 GC72Side back 2.on edge, joint on the mid post
22x6 GC45End lefton edge
22x6 GC45End righton edge
44x4 PT17Post
14x4 PT17Mid post front
14x4 PT17Mid post back

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Bed mesh 1cloth144 x 25lay flat under the boards, overlap 2 in
Bed mesh 2cloth144 x 25lay flat under the boards, overlap 2 in

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 PT x 8 ft
Cross-tie 1 45Cross-tie 2 45
2x6 GC x 12 ft
End left 1 45End right 1 45End left 2 45
2x6 GC x 10 ft
Side front 1.1 72End right 2 45
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side front 1.2 72
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side back 1.1 72
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side back 1.2 72
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side front 2.1 72
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side front 2.2 72
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side back 2.1 72
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side back 2.2 72
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Post 1 17Post 2 17Post 3 17Post 4 17Mid post front 17
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Mid post back 17

Shopping list $191.71 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$4.68$4.68see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x12 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$14.18$14.18see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x10 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$12.98$12.98see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot7$9.78$68.46see lumber cutting diagram
4x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot2$11.28$22.56see lumber cutting diagram
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 3 ft x 25 ft, 19-gaHome Depot1$38.88$38.88uses about 288 in of the roll
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Total before tax$191.71
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Cut the boards to length from the cutting diagram. Cut the four 4x4 posts to 17 in, a point on the bottom end helps drive them.
  2. Pick a level spot with at least 6 hr of sun. Lay out the footprint with string and check both diagonals for square.
  3. Screw the first course together at the corners with two screws per joint, long sides over the short ends. Set the four posts inside the corners and screw through the boards into them.
  4. Stack the second course, staggering the corners, and screw each into the posts.
  5. Screw 2 cross-ties through the sides at the top of the boards so the long sides cannot bow.
  6. Level the frame, drive the posts in until the top is level, and lay hardware cloth flat across the bottom to keep out gophers, stapled to the inside of the boards.
  7. Cover the mesh with cardboard to smother the weeds, then fill with soil to the top.

Before you start