Cedar Planters for less than $20!

Cedar planters are so beautiful - you cannot replicate the natural texture and grain of real wood.  But cedar can be expensive.  Why not use cedar fence pickets (about $2 for 6 feet each) and build your own for a fraction of the cost?

This was a quick and easy project, and I absolutely love how it turned out! Every time I come home, I admire my planters.

Framed Top Modification

Many of our readers have modified this plan to have a mitered framed top, like this one below by Hillary Louise

To do this modification, simply cut the 2x2 legs 22" long (instead of 23-3/4").  Attach the side panels flush to the tops of the legs in step 2.  

You'll need to add a 1x3, 8 feet long, to the shopping list.  Cut four 1x3 @ 21" longest point to longest point - both ends cut at 45 degrees, ends NOT parallel. Nail or screw to the top of the planter after you have completed building. 

Rectangle Cedar Planter

You can also easily alter the size of the planters up to double the width rectangle shape, without having to add additional legs, as done here.

This is an easy modification - just add a couple more cedar fence pickets and 1x3s to your shopping list.  I recommend laying out the cedar fence pickets and measuring how long you need to cut your 1x3s (instead of just doubling the cut list dimensions) because cedar fence pickets can vary in width.

Cedar Fence Picket Planter Plans

The plans for the cedar fence picket planter are below.  Please share a photo if you build - we greatly appreciate brag posts.