Raised Garden Bed Cut List: 4×8 Bed from 2x6 Boards
A 4×8 raised garden bed, two boards high (11"), built from 8-foot 2x6s with 2x4 posts inside the corners. This is a lumber project, not a sheet project, so the layout below is a linear one. It shows which cuts come out of each board and what is left over.
- Finished size
- 96" L × 48" W × 11" H
- 2x6, 8 ft
- 6 boards · 98% yield
- 2x4, 8 ft
- 1 board · 69% yield
Assumptions behind every number
- Dimensional lumber is the standard actual size: 2x4 = 1-1/2" × 3-1/2", 2x6 = 1-1/2" × 5-1/2".
- Every layout uses a 1/8" saw kerf on every cut, run through the same optimizer as the app.
Cut list
2x6, 8 ft
| Part | Qty | Length | How it's sized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long side board | 4 | 96" | full length |
| End board | 4 | 45" | 48 − 2 × 1-1/2 |
2x4, 8 ft
| Part | Qty | Length | How it's sized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post | 6 | 11" | 2 × 5-1/2" courses |
Sheet and board layouts
This is the optimizer's output for exactly this list: 6 boards of 2x6, 8 ft, 1 board of 2x4, 8 ft.
2x6, 8 ft: 6 boards
2x4, 8 ft: 1 board
Materials list
- 6 boards of 2x6, 8 ft
- 1 board of 2x4, 8 ft
- 3" exterior screws (coated or stainless, rated for treated lumber), about 50
- Optional: hardware cloth under the bed against burrowing animals
How it goes together
The long sides are 2x6s used at their full 96". The end boards fit between them: 48" minus two 1-1/2" board thicknesses is 45". So the outside of the bed is a true 4 × 8 ft.
Each corner has an 11" 2x4 post on the inside, screwed through both courses from outside. Two more posts at the middle of each long side stop the 8-foot sides from bowing out under wet soil.
Use rot-resistant lumber: cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact. Check the stamp on the board. 8-ft boards are often a little over 96" long, so square one end and leave the length as bought.
Build order
- Square one end of each 96" side board. These are not cut to length.
- Cut four 45" end boards (two per 8-ft 2x6) and six 11" posts from one 2x4.
- Build each end panel: two end boards stacked, screwed into two corner posts.
- Screw the long boards to the end panels, then add the mid-span posts.
- Set the bed on level ground, line it with cardboard, and fill it.
FAQ
How many 2x6 boards do I need for a 4×8 raised bed?
Six 8-foot 2x6s for a two-board-high (11") bed: four used whole for the long sides, and two cut into the four 45" end boards. Add one 8-foot 2x4 for the six 11" posts.
Why are the end boards 45" and not 48"?
They fit between the long boards. Each long board is 1-1/2" thick, so 48" − 3" = 45" keeps the outside dimension at exactly 4 feet. Cut them at 48" and the bed ends up 51" wide.
Can I make it taller?
Yes. Each extra course adds two 96" boards, two 45" end boards and 5-1/2" to every post. Add them in the optimizer to see the new board count.
Change a size, add a part or use up offcuts. The optimizer re-nests it in seconds.
Open this plan in EZNESTING →