A 4 x 4 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 4 ftSize
11 inSoil depth
14 sq ftPlanting area
13 cu ftSoil
1 to 2 hrBuild time
$118.27Materials
Drawings All dimensions in inches
3D viewfinished3D view, framingtop course removedFront elevationlong sidePlan viewfrom above
Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted
Qty
Stock
Length
Part
Cut
2
2x6 GC
48
Side front
on edge
2
2x6 GC
48
Side back
on edge
2
2x6 GC
45
End left
on edge
2
2x6 GC
45
End right
on edge
4
4x4 PT
17
Post
Cut list: sheet goods
Part
Stock
Size
Note
Bed mesh 1
cloth
48 x 25
lay flat under the boards, overlap 2 in
Bed mesh 2
cloth
48 x 25
lay 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
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Side front 1 48Side back 1 48End left 1 45
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Side front 2 48Side back 2 48End right 1 45
2x6 GC x 8 ft
End left 2 45End right 2 45
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Post 1 17Post 2 17Post 3 17Post 4 17
Shopping list $118.27 checked / $0.00 estimated
Item
Store
Qty
Each
Line
Note
2x6x12 ground-contact pressure-treated
Home Depot
2
$14.18
$28.36
see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x8 ground-contact pressure-treated
Home Depot
1
$9.78
$9.78
see lumber cutting diagram
4x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treated
Home Depot
1
$11.28
$11.28
see lumber cutting diagram
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 3 ft x 25 ft, 19-ga
Home Depot
1
$38.88
$38.88
uses about 96 in of the roll
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb box
Home Depot
1
$29.97
$29.97
Total before tax
$118.27
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
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.
Pick a level spot with at least 6 hr of sun. Lay out the footprint with string and check both diagonals for square.
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.
Stack the second course, staggering the corners, and screw each into the posts.
At this length the boards need no cross-ties.
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.
Cover the mesh with cardboard to smother the weeds, then fill with soil to the top.
Before you start
The 4 ft width keeps every spot within 24 in of an edge, so you never need to step on the soil.
Ground-contact pressure-treated lumber is rated for soil contact and food crops. Line the inside with plastic only if you want to slow the leaching of the lumber.
Fill with about 13 cu ft of soil. A mix of topsoil and compost is cheaper than bagged raised-bed mix.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.