Planters Price Comparison 2026
Compare 588 planters from elho, LECHUZA and more — find the best price across top UK retailers, from budget pots to premium self-watering systems.
Planters are one of those purchases where the gap between a £4 pot and a £60 one is genuinely enormous — and not always obvious from a product photo. Our catalogue of 588 planters spans everything from compact indoor orchid pots to large freestanding raised beds, and the price spread reflects that: you'll find decent options from 3 £, while the upper end pushes towards 139 £ for premium self-watering systems and designer resin pieces.
elho dominates this category by sheer volume — over half the catalogue — and for good reason. Their polypropylene planters punch well above their weight on durability and UV resistance, typically sitting well below the category average. If you're furnishing a balcony or patio on a sensible budget, elho's Loft Urban and Barcelona ranges are the obvious starting point. That said, dominance in numbers doesn't mean dominance in every use case. LECHUZA, with an average price around three times higher, targets a different buyer entirely: their integrated self-watering reservoirs and sleek finishes suit indoor spaces or those who travel frequently and can't water daily.
Worth flagging: Fijalo sits at the premium end with an average around 27 £, but their product count suggests a more specialist range rather than a broad catalogue. Similarly, Relaxdays and Umbra offer decorative planters that lean heavily into aesthetics — useful if you're matching a specific interior scheme, less so if raw horticultural performance is the priority.
Material choice matters more than most buyers realise. Polypropylene (PP) is the workhorse — lightweight, frost-resistant down to around -10°C, and easy to clean. Terracotta looks beautiful but chips, cracks in hard frosts, and is heavy to move. Wood, as seen in the VegTrug raised bed, offers excellent thermal insulation for roots but requires treatment to last outdoors. If you're pairing your planter with canes or climbing frames, check out our plant supports range; for displaying your pots at height, plant stands are worth a look too.
One thing our price data consistently shows: buying a planter with an integrated drainage system or self-watering reservoir upfront is almost always cheaper than retrofitting one later. The accessories market exists, but compatibility is patchy. Buy right once.
How to Choose the Right Planter
With prices ranging from 3 £ to 139 £ and materials spanning polypropylene to treated wood, picking the wrong planter is an easy mistake. The questions that actually matter aren't about colour — they're about where it lives, what goes in it, and how often you're willing to water.
Material and weather resistance
For outdoor planters in the UK, frost resistance is non-negotiable — a wet winter will crack unglazed terracotta and warp untreated wood within a season or two. Polypropylene (PP) is the safest all-weather choice: it handles temperatures down to around -10°C, resists UV fading for several years, and weighs almost nothing. Resin composite sits a step up in thermal insulation and aesthetics. Wood (treated pine or FSC-certified hardwood) looks superb but needs annual oiling or staining. Metal galvanised planters are durable but conduct heat rapidly — roots can cook in direct summer sun. For purely indoor use, material durability matters far less, so you can prioritise finish and weight.
Size relative to your plants — not your space
The most common mistake is buying a planter that fits the shelf rather than the root system. Tomatoes, courgettes, and most perennials need at least 30–40 litres of compost to thrive; a 20cm pot will stunt them. As a rough guide: herbs and annuals are happy in 10–20L, shrubs and climbers need 50L+, and vegetables do best in 30–100L depending on the variety. Diameter matters too — a tall, narrow planter looks elegant but dries out faster than a wide, shallow one. If you're unsure, size up rather than down.
Drainage: holes, reservoirs, and everything in between
Poor drainage kills more container plants than underwatering. Any outdoor planter must have drainage holes — full stop. For indoor planters, a built-in saucer or reservoir is preferable to a separate cachepot, which traps water invisibly. Self-watering systems (as found in LECHUZA's range) use a wicking mechanism to draw water up from a reservoir — genuinely useful if you're away for days at a time, but they add cost and complexity. Avoid any planter marketed as 'no drainage' for outdoor use; it's a recipe for root rot.
Mounting type and stability
Freestanding planters are the default, but hanging baskets, wall-mounted planters, and railing-clip designs each solve specific space problems — particularly on balconies where floor space is at a premium. If you're going hanging, check the stated weight capacity when filled with wet compost (a 30cm hanging basket can easily weigh 8–10kg when saturated). Wall-mounted planters need fixings rated for masonry or timber — don't rely on the planter's own hooks. Planters with integrated castors are worth the small premium if you're moving them seasonally to follow the sun.
Self-watering systems: worth it or a gimmick?
Integrated self-watering reservoirs are genuinely useful for Mediterranean herbs, orchids, and any plant that hates inconsistent moisture. LECHUZA's systems are the benchmark here — the reservoir indicator tells you exactly when to refill, and the wicking action prevents both over- and underwatering. That said, they're overkill for drought-tolerant succulents or fast-draining cacti mixes. Budget self-watering planters (under 7 £) often have reservoirs too small to make a meaningful difference. If self-watering is the reason you're buying, spend properly or skip it.
Thermal insulation for roots
This criterion is overlooked by most buyers but matters enormously for overwintering tender plants. Thin-walled metal and ceramic planters offer almost no insulation — roots freeze or overheat rapidly. Thick PP, resin composite, and especially wood maintain a far more stable root temperature. If you're growing citrus, olive trees, or other borderline-hardy plants outdoors in the UK, a well-insulated planter (wood or thick-walled resin) can make the difference between a plant that survives January and one that doesn't.
- Budget picks (From 3 £ to 7 £) : Mostly small PP pots and basic hanging baskets. elho's Brussels and b.for ranges dominate here — perfectly functional for indoor use and sheltered outdoor spots, but don't expect UV resistance beyond a couple of seasons. Fine for annuals and herbs; less suitable for long-term outdoor planting.
- The sweet spot (From 7 £ to 14 £) : Where the catalogue gets genuinely interesting. Mid-size elho freestanding and hanging planters, including the Barcelona and Loft Urban ranges, sit here. You get proper UV stabilisation, drainage systems, and a decent colour range. Our recommendation for most buyers.
- For the serious gardener (From 14 £ to 27 £) : Larger freestanding planters, entry-level LECHUZA self-watering pots, and decorative resin pieces from Relaxdays and Esschert Design. At this level, expect better thermal insulation, more robust construction, and finishes that hold up over multiple seasons outdoors.
- Premium and specialist (Over 27 £) : LECHUZA's full self-watering range, Fijalo's designer planters, and large wooden raised beds like the VegTrug. These are long-term investments — the VegTrug, for instance, is built to last a decade with minimal maintenance. Worth it if you're serious about growing vegetables or want a statement piece for a terrace.
Top products
- elho barcelona allin1 50cm Outdoor Pot planter Hanging Polypropylene (PP) Terracotta (elho) : The most-compared planter in the catalogue and deservedly so — the all-in-one hanging system with integrated water reservoir makes it genuinely practical, not just pretty. The terracotta finish holds its colour well outdoors. Not ideal for very large plants, but for trailing annuals and fuchsias it's hard to beat at this price.
- elho loft urban square high 30 Outdoor Pot planter Freestanding Polypropylene (PP) Anthracite (elho) : A solid all-rounder for patios and balconies. The square format makes efficient use of corner space, and the anthracite finish ages well outdoors. Wall thickness is decent for the price. Our pick for buyers who want a no-fuss outdoor planter without spending over the odds.
- elho loft urban round 50 Outdoor Pot planter Freestanding Polypropylene (PP) Grey (elho) : At 50cm diameter this is a genuinely large planter — enough volume for a small shrub, a standard rose, or a productive tomato plant. The grey finish is neutral enough to suit most garden schemes. It's heavier than it looks when filled, so position it before planting up.
- VegTrug Small 1m Box planter Freestanding Wood (VegTrug) : The outlier in the top 15 — and the right choice if growing vegetables is the goal. The raised design saves your back, the FSC-certified wood insulates roots well, and the V-shaped interior maximises drainage. Expensive relative to PP alternatives, but built to last a decade. Overkill for flowers; essential for serious veg growers.
- elho Green Basics Stack & Grow Large (elho) : An underrated option for small-space gardening — the stackable design lets you grow strawberries, herbs, or salad leaves vertically without sacrificing floor space. Made from recycled plastic and UV-stabilised. The stacking mechanism is more robust than it looks. Worth considering if you're short on patio space.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best material for outdoor planters in the UK?
Polypropylene (PP) is the most practical choice for UK outdoor use — it's frost-resistant, UV-stabilised, lightweight, and easy to clean. Terracotta looks beautiful but cracks in hard frosts unless kept dry over winter. Treated wood offers excellent root insulation and aesthetics but needs annual maintenance. Avoid thin-walled metal planters in exposed positions, as they conduct heat and cold directly to the roots.
Do planters need drainage holes?
Yes — any planter used outdoors absolutely must have drainage holes. Without them, compost becomes waterlogged after rain, starving roots of oxygen and causing rot within weeks. For indoor planters, a built-in saucer or reservoir is a workable alternative, but you must still monitor water levels. 'No drainage' planters are only appropriate as decorative cachepots placed around a nursery pot that already has holes.
Are self-watering planters actually worth the extra cost?
For the right plants, yes — but they're not a universal upgrade. Self-watering systems (like those in LECHUZA planters) work best for moisture-loving plants such as ferns, orchids, and most vegetables. They're particularly useful if you travel or forget to water regularly. However, they're poorly suited to succulents, cacti, and Mediterranean herbs that prefer to dry out between waterings. Also bear in mind that budget self-watering planters with tiny reservoirs offer little real benefit — if you're buying for the self-watering feature, spend enough to get a properly sized reservoir.
How large a planter do I need for growing vegetables?
For most vegetables, you need at least 30–40 litres of compost — more for hungry crops like tomatoes or courgettes, which do best in 50L+. Salad leaves and radishes can manage in 10–15L. Depth matters as much as volume: root vegetables like carrots need at least 30cm of depth. Raised bed planters such as the VegTrug are designed specifically for this and take the guesswork out of sizing.
What traps should I avoid when buying a cheap planter?
The biggest trap is buying a planter that looks the right size in photos but has no drainage holes and paper-thin walls — common with very cheap imports. Check the wall thickness and drainage specification before buying. A second trap: 'UV resistant' claims on budget PP planters often mean one or two seasons before fading and brittleness set in, not the five-plus years you'd get from a quality brand like elho. Finally, watch out for hanging planters with no stated weight capacity — a basket filled with wet compost is far heavier than it looks.
Can I leave polypropylene planters outside all year in the UK?
Generally yes, provided the planter is specifically rated as frost-resistant — most quality PP planters from elho and similar brands handle temperatures down to -10°C or lower. The risk isn't the planter itself but the compost expanding as it freezes; large planters filled with wet compost can crack if the drainage is blocked. Empty or partially empty planters over winter if you're in a particularly cold region, or move them to a sheltered spot during hard frosts.
Is elho really better than cheaper alternatives, or is it just marketing?
elho genuinely earns its reputation — their planters are made from recycled plastic, carry credible UV-resistance ratings, and the quality control is noticeably better than unbranded alternatives at similar prices. That said, they're not infallible: their smaller, thinner-walled pots (under 7 £) are functional but won't last significantly longer than a decent supermarket pot. Where elho pulls ahead is in the mid-range — their Loft Urban and Brussels Diamond ranges offer construction quality that justifies the price premium over no-name alternatives.