As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links marked “Affiliate link” may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
- Quick compare: the products in this guide
- What a 3 tier flower planter does
- The three planters we compare
- Footprint, height and soil
- Stability outdoors
- Plastic versus metal
- Worked example: a 60 inch porch wall
- Watering and drainage
- Choosing plants
- Who should buy a 3 tier flower planter
- Who should skip it
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Checklist before you buy
- Keep reading
- Frequently asked questions
- Products worth checking
A 3 tier flower planter stacks three levels of planting space into one tower, so a porch or balcony corner can hold a lot of flowers on a small piece of floor. The three planters compared here are a 40 inch urn-style stack of plastic bowls, a 14 inch tabletop stacking tower, and a 37.7 inch vertical bed made of metal and plastic. They range from about 13 to 17 inches across, so each takes a small patch of floor. Pick by height and by what you plan to grow: the tall urn is for show, the small tower is for herbs near a door, and the vertical bed is for vegetables and flowers that need drainage.
Quick compare: the products in this guide
Sizes come from the Amazon listings as we read them; check the product page for the current details before you buy.
| Product | Listed details | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Gardenised Triple Stacked Flower Bowl Urn Tier Planter for Outdoors, Bronze | 16.75 × 16.75 × 40 in; 3 pieces | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| Stacking Planter Tower- 3-Tier Space Saving Flower Pots- Set of 3… | 13.5 × 13.5 × 14 in; 3 pieces | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| Vertical Raised Garden Bed 3 Tier Elevated Garden Planters Stand Up Garden… | 16.8 × 15.9 × 37.7 in; 5.5 pounds | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
What a 3 tier flower planter does
It turns a flat patch of floor into a column of plants. Each tier holds its own soil, and in most designs water from the upper tier drains down to the lower ones. The result looks full with a small footprint, and the upper tiers lift flowers toward the light.
The trade-off is soil volume. Each tier holds less soil than a single large pot, so it dries out faster and needs more regular watering. Pick flowers and herbs that tolerate a shallow root zone.
The three planters we compare
Gardenised triple stacked urn planter, 40 inches tall
The Gardenised planter is listed at 16.75 inches wide, 16.75 inches deep and 40 inches tall, made of plastic in bronze, weighing 2.95 kilograms. It comes in three pieces that stack as a bowl-on-bowl urn. The listing says it is for outdoor, patio, yard or porch use and that assembly is quick. It is the tallest and the most decorative of the three. Because it is plastic and light, an empty tower can tip in wind, so fill it soon after setting it up. The listing does not say how many liters of soil each bowl holds, so check it.
Pure Garden stacking planter tower, set of 3
The Pure Garden tower is a set of three plastic trays in terracotta color. The listing gives each planter as 13.5 inches long, 10.75 inches wide and 4.75 inches high, with three planting compartments in each tray, and says the stacked height is 13 inches. The item dimensions field says 14 inches high, so the 13 and 14 inch figures disagree and we do not use either as the exact height. The listing says each tray has three pre-drilled drainage holes and a water reservoir, and the set weighs 2 pounds. It can hold up to 9 plants. It is the one to choose for a table or a low step.
BTY vertical raised garden bed, 3 tier
The BTY planter is listed at 16.8 inches deep, 15.9 inches wide and 37.7 inches tall, made of metal and plastic, weighing 5.5 pounds, with a triangular shape. The bullets say it has a stepped, ladder-style design with drainage holes that let extra water flow to the lower boxes, and a stable triangle base. It is the one with the most garden-bed character, with real planting boxes instead of decorative bowls. It does not stack; it is a single assembled stand.
Footprint, height and soil
Footprint
Footprint tells you how many planters fit in your space. The urn takes 16.75 inches of floor in each direction, the BTY takes 16.8 by 15.9 inches, and the Pure Garden tower is about 13.5 inches long. The triangular BTY base is useful in a corner.
Height
At 40 and 37.7 inches, the two tall planters stand well above knee height, so check them against your own rail and doorway. The small tower is only 13 to 14 inches high. A tall planter hides what is behind it; the low one lets you see the wall.
Soil
The Pure Garden listing mentions a “sturdy interior bottom” that holds “ample” soil, but gives no soil volume. If you plan to grow vegetables, plan on frequent watering, because small tiers heat up fast in sun.
Stability outdoors
Light plastic planters are easy to move and easy to tip. A tall, light tower with wet soil in the bottom tier is more stable than one with wet soil only at the top. Fill the lowest tier first, keep it away from a rail edge and put it against a wall or in a corner. The BTY listing says its triangle supports keep it stable in wind and rain, which is the maker’s statement, so test it yourself by pushing on the top.
Heat is the other issue. Black metal and dark plastic get hot in direct sun and can cook roots in the top tier. Place a planter in morning sun and afternoon shade when you can.
Plastic versus metal
Plastic does not rust and can stay outside all year, though UV light can fade and crack it over several seasons. Metal gives a firmer frame, but the listing says the BTY bed is a mix of metal and plastic, so the finish and the boxes need a look. If you use it near a wall, keep the metal away from standing water.
Worked example: a 60 inch porch wall
This is our own planning example. A porch has a wall 60 inches long beside the door. You want the Gardenised urn (16.75 in wide) and the BTY bed (15.9 in wide) side by side. We measure along the wall only.
- The two planters take 16.75 in plus 15.9 in, which equals 32.65 in.
- The wall is 60 in long, so 60 in minus 32.65 in equals 27.35 in of free wall.
- That free wall is a total. With a gap at each end and one between the planters, that is 3 gaps, so 27.35 in divided by 3 equals about 9.1 in per gap.
- Check: 3 times 9.1 in equals 27.3 in, which is close to 27.35 in, and 32.65 in plus 27.35 in equals 60 in.
About 9 inches on each side leaves room to reach the plants for watering. Now the height against the rail. If your porch rail is 42 in high, the urn at 40 in tall stands 42 in minus 40 in, which equals 2 in below the top of the rail, so it does not block the view over the rail. The BTY bed at 37.7 in stands 42 in minus 37.7 in, which equals 4.3 in below it.
Last, the stacked tower. Three trays each 4.75 in high would add up to 3 times 4.75 in, which equals 14.25 in, more than the 13 in stacked height in the listing. That is because the trays nest into each other; this is our reading, so check the listing for the real height.
Watering and drainage
In tiered planters, water flows from the top down. Water the top tier slowly so it soaks in before it drains into the next, and expect the bottom tier to be the wettest. If you put flowers that hate wet roots on the lower tiers, they will suffer. Use drought-tolerant plants high and thirsty plants low.
Check that drainage does not drip onto a neighbor’s balcony or a wooden deck. A tray under the bottom tier catches water. The Pure Garden listing mentions three drainage holes in each tray, and the BTY listing mentions drainage holes in each box.
Choosing plants
Trailing plants such as petunias and lobelia look best on the lower edge of a tier. Herbs such as basil and thyme like sun and well-drained soil. Pick plants that share a light level and a watering rhythm; mixing a desert plant with a water lover on one tower ends badly.
Who should buy a 3 tier flower planter
- Porch and patio owners who want height without a large footprint.
- Balcony gardeners with one corner and many plants.
- Apartment cooks who want herbs close to the door.
Who should skip it
- People who want deep roots. The tiers hold little soil each.
- Windy rooftop owners. A light tall tower can tip.
- Anyone who needs a stand for heavy pots. These are planters, not stands.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Planting all three tiers the same. The top dries first.
- Forgetting the wind. Fill the bottom tier first.
- Trusting one height figure. The Pure Garden listing gives two.
- Skipping the tray. Drainage water stains decks.
Checklist before you buy
- Measure the floor and the wall.
- Decide between decorative bowls and a bed with boxes.
- Check the height against your rail.
- Plan a tray for the drainage.
- Read the material field for outdoor use.
Keep reading
These guides cover related picks and sizing checks for a small space.
- Kitchen Table for Two: Size and Layout Guide
- Two Tier Table: 3 Small Side Tables Compared by Size
- Two Tier Bookshelf: Size, Capacity and Mounting
Frequently asked questions
How tall is a 3 tier flower planter?
The ones here are 13 to 14 inches for the small tower, 37.7 inches for the vertical bed and 40 inches for the urn stack. Measure your rail or window before choosing.
Can a 3 tier planter stay outside in winter?
The listings describe outdoor use, but plastic can crack in a hard freeze when wet. Empty it and store it, or check the listing for guidance.
How many plants fit in a 3 tier planter?
The Pure Garden listing says up to 9 plants, with three compartments in each of three trays. For the others, check the listing.
Does water drain from tier to tier?
The BTY listing says water flows from the upper boxes to the lower ones, and the Pure Garden listing describes drainage holes and a reservoir in each tray.
Will a tall planter tip in wind?
A light plastic tower can. Fill the lower tier first, keep it against a wall or in a corner and push on it to test before you add the upper plants.
Products worth checking
We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as we read them; where a listing does not say, we say so.
Gardenised Triple Stacked Flower Bowl Urn Tier Planter for Outdoors, Bronze
The listing gives 16.75 × 16.75 × 40 in; 3 pieces. We re-opened the page and found these figures; other details are on the product page.
- Good for: comparing against the measurements in the guide above.
- Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
Stacking Planter Tower- 3-Tier Space Saving Flower Pots- Set of 3 Indoor/Outdoor Vertical Herb & Vegetable Garden by Pure Garden
The listing gives 13.5 × 13.5 × 14 in; 3 pieces. Those figures were checked again on the listing; other details are on the product page.
- Good for: lining up these figures with your own space.
- Keep in mind: this card rests on listing data alone, and the listing may show several sizes or finishes, so choose the variant that fits your measurements.
Vertical Raised Garden Bed 3 Tier Elevated Garden Planters Stand Up Garden Planter Box with Drainage Holes
The listing gives 16.8 × 15.9 × 37.7 in; 5.5 pounds. A second look at the listing confirmed these figures; other details sit on the product page.
- Good for: checking the numbers above against your room.
- Keep in mind: no product trial was run here, and the listing may offer more than one size or finish, so pick the option that matches your numbers.
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.
