Shelf for Window Plants: 3 Types Compared

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A shelf for window plants adds growing space where the light is, without using the sill or the floor. In a small flat the window is usually the only bright spot, and floor space near it is also needed for a desk, a bed or a sofa. This guide compares three kinds of window shelf from Amazon listings: a wall-mounted rotating shelf, a suction cup acrylic shelf and a hanging rope shelf. We have not tested them. Every figure comes from the listings as we read them, and where a listing does not say, we say not stated.

Quick answer

Choose by mounting method first. A wall-mounted rotating shelf holds the most pots and shares light fairly, but it needs screws. A suction cup acrylic shelf needs no drilling and stays on the glass, but it carries little weight: the Lifewit listing states 10 lb per shelf. A hanging rope shelf adds five levels in front of the glass using a hook. Then size the shelf to your pots. The GENTINGBRO listing gives 12 in between levels and says that fits 6 in nursery pots.

Comparison table

Why a window shelf helps plants and small rooms

A deep sill holds a few pots. A shelf stacks them. A shelf puts plants at eye level in front of the light and leaves the floor free. A plant three feet back from the glass gets far less light than one right at it, so lifting pots into the window frame gives plants more of what they need. We cannot state a precise light value for your room. Watch the plants: stretching stems mean more light is needed.

The three shelves

GENTINGBRO 3-Tier Rotating Window Plant Shelf, wall mounted

What it is: A three-tier wall-mounted shelf with wood boards on a black iron bracket. The listing says the tiers swing 180 degrees together, so you can turn the unit and every plant gets time in the brightest position. It says the gap between levels is 12 in, tall enough for 6 in nursery pots, that leveling screws are included, and that it mounts to drywall in about 15 minutes with the supplied anchors.

Who it suits: A larger collection, where you can drill into the wall.

• Pros: Three tiers. Rotating. Leveling screws and anchors included. Uses no floor space.
• Cons: The size is given only as Large, so check the product page for width and depth. No load limit is stated. Mounting needs holes, so renters should ask the landlord.

Skip it if: you cannot drill, or you need a stated weight limit before buying.

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Lifewit Window Plant Shelves, 2 pack, acrylic suction cup

What it is: A transparent plastic shelf pair that sticks to the window glass. The 2 pack lists as 14.96 x 3.9 x 1.89 in, without saying which side faces the room. Each shelf has three 2.4 in suction cups, a 1 in front lip and side guards to stop pots sliding. The listing says each shelf holds up to 10 lb. No drilling is needed: clean the glass and press the cups on.

Who it suits: Renters with herbs, succulents and cuttings in small pots.

• Pros: No tools. The only one of the three with a stated weight limit. Lip and side guards.
• Cons: A 5 in pot with wet soil can weigh 3 to 5 lb (a rough guide), so one shelf holds two small pots at most. Suction cups need smooth, clean glass and a pane that does not move.

Skip it if: you have large or heavy pots, or a window you open often.

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Bamworld Hanging Shelves Plant Hanger, indoor window

What it is: A five-tier hanging shelf of cotton rope and wood, listed as a window mount. The listing says that if the boards are not level you loosen the knots and adjust them, and that all hanging hardware is included.

Who it suits: A narrow but tall window, since it uses height instead of width.

• Pros: Five tiers. Hardware included. Level can be adjusted at the knots.
• Cons: No weight limit or size is stated in the facts we have. Hanging shelves swing, so keep the plants light and away from doors and curtains.

Skip it if: you need to know how much each board holds.

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Sizing example: a 36 in wide kitchen window

Say a kitchen window is 36 in wide and 48 in tall, and you want herbs and four small plants.

• Suction option. The Lifewit pack lists 14.96 x 3.9 x 1.89 in. If the 14.96 in side runs along the glass, two shelves side by side use 14.96 x 2 = 29.92 in, which leaves about 6 in of glass. Each shelf holds 10 lb. Two 4 in herb pots at about 3 lb each is 6 lb, so one shelf carries two pots with 4 lb to spare. Total: four pots on two shelves. If the 3.9 in side runs along the glass instead, the numbers change, so check the diagram on the listing.
• Rotating shelf option. Three tiers at 12 in spacing need about 3 x 12 = 36 in of height, which fits in a 48 in window with 12 in left over. The listing gives no width or load limit, so confirm the size before you count on a number of pots.
• Floor space. Both options use no floor area. A floor stand of 20 x 20 in would use 400 square inches, about 2.8 square feet.

For four herb pots, the suction shelves are enough. For a collection of eight or more, the rotating shelf is the better choice, if you can drill.

Which plants suit a window shelf

Light, small and shallow-rooted plants are the safest. Herbs such as basil or mint, succulents, small pothos cuttings and young seedlings all sit well in 4 to 6 in pots. Trailing plants look good on the top tier of a rotating or hanging shelf. Put a saucer under each pot, since a shelf has no built-in drip tray. These are general plant-care habits, and none of them come from the listings. Leaves touching cold single-pane glass in winter can be damaged, so keep a small gap.

Buying checklist

• Glass or wall space. A suction shelf needs clear, flat glass wider than the shelf. A wall shelf needs wall space beside the window.
• Vertical gap. Measure the tallest plant on each level and add 2 to 3 in.
• Weight. Add up the pots, weighing a watered pot on a kitchen scale. If the listing gives no limit, treat the capacity as unknown. Of these three, only the Lifewit states a number.
• Depth. If the longer side of a suction shelf faces the room, it sticks out and can catch curtains.
• Level. An uneven shelf tips water out of pots. Use the leveling screws or the knots to adjust.

For more plant shelf ideas, see Wall-Mounted Plant Shelves: 3 Listed Options to Check and Three Tier Plant Shelf: Sizes and Layouts.

Frequently asked questions

How much weight can a suction cup window shelf hold?

The listing we read states 10 lb per shelf for the Lifewit acrylic shelf. Do not assume a higher number for other brands. If a listing does not state a limit, treat it as unknown.

Do I need to drill for a window plant shelf?

Only for the wall-mounted type. The suction shelf needs no tools, and the hanging rope shelf needs a hook, which the listing says is included.

How far apart should shelves be for potted plants?

Allow the height of the tallest plant plus 2 to 3 in. The rotating shelf listing gives 12 in as the gap and says this fits 6 in nursery pots.

Can I put a window shelf on any window?

Not always. Suction needs smooth, clean glass and a pane that will not move. Hanging and wall shelves need a place to fix the hardware.

Which is best for a small apartment?

For a fixed window and a few light plants, the suction shelf. For a larger collection and a wall you can drill into, the rotating shelf.

Closing note

Decide how you can fix the shelf, then match the pots to the weight. Specifications come from the Amazon listings as we read them for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.

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