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About Our Potting Benches
A potting bench gives you a dedicated work surface for potting up, pricking out and mixing compost. Most have a raised back board and a recessed soil tray to keep spillage in one place. We stock 4 potting benches and work surfaces, all in stock, from £45. The range covers free-standing benches, steel work surfaces and add-on shelf kits. Browse related greenhouse staging for displaying plants as they grow on.
Choose your material first. Aluminium and galvanised steel wipe clean after every messy compost job and never rot. Wood looks warmer and feels solid, but needs a coat of preserver each year. Working height sits around 86 to 91cm on most models, which keeps your back straight while you sow. Pair a bench with the right greenhouse accessories, and if you want a separate work building, see our potting sheds.
Why We Chose This Range
"I fit benches in greenhouses every week, and the soil tray is the part people overlook. A bench without a lip just dumps compost on the floor. I kept this range tight on purpose. The Elite Potting Bench has a proper galvanised tray and a slatted lower shelf, so it earns its space in a small greenhouse. The Palram steel bench wipes clean in seconds, which matters when you pot up wet compost in spring. Every bench here can take the weight of a full tray of seedlings without flexing."
— Matt, Founder of Greenhouse Stores
💡 Tip: Set your bench at a height where your forearm rests flat on the surface. That stops you stooping over a long sowing session.
🔧 Matt's Installation Tip: Level the feet first
Greenhouse floors are rarely flat. Pop a spirit level on the worktop and pack thin paving slivers under the low feet before you load it up. A level bench stops compost sliding to one corner. It also stops the frame rocking when you press down to firm in plants.
Matt's Pick for Everyday Potting
Best For: gardeners who want one solid bench that does sowing, potting and storage.
Why I Recommend It: it has a real soil tray, a slatted shelf below, and a frame that does not flex under a loaded seed tray.
Price: from £179
Compare Our Potting Benches and Work Surfaces
| Product | Type | Material | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Potting Bench ⭐ Matt's Pick | Full bench with tray | Aluminium and galvanised steel | All-round potting and storage |
| Palram Canopia Steel Work Bench | Work surface | Steel | Wipe-clean compost mixing |
| Elite Handy Rack | Compact rack | Aluminium | Tight spaces and small greenhouses |
| Palram Canopia Twin Shelf Kit | Add-on shelves | Steel | Extra storage above a bench |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the difference between a potting bench and staging?
A potting bench is a work surface for active jobs. It has a solid top and a soil tray for mixing compost and potting up. Greenhouse staging has slatted shelves for displaying and growing plants, so water and air pass through. Many gardeners use both side by side.
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How high should a potting bench be?
Most benches sit at 86 to 91cm high. That height keeps your back straight while you pot. Shorter gardeners suit benches near 80cm. Taller gardeners want 95cm or more. Stand at the surface and check your forearm rests flat before you buy.
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What material is best for a potting bench?
Aluminium and galvanised steel are best for low upkeep. Both wipe clean and never rot, so they suit damp greenhouses. Wood feels warmer and looks traditional, but needs a coat of preserver every year. Steel work surfaces win for messy compost jobs.
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Will a potting bench fit a small greenhouse?
Yes, a compact bench or rack fits a 6x4 greenhouse. A bench around 90cm wide leaves room to walk past. The Elite Handy Rack suits the tightest spaces. Avoid benches wider than 100cm in a small greenhouse, as they block access to your plants.
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Do potting benches need much assembly?
Most arrive flat-packed and take 20 to 40 minutes to build. You need a screwdriver and a spanner for the bolts. Parts are usually numbered and holes pre-drilled. Build it on a flat surface, then move it into the greenhouse once the frame is square.
- Ready to set up your potting station?
Browse the full potting bench range above, or call our team for help matching a bench to your greenhouse size. We fit these benches ourselves, so we can tell you what works in a 6x4. Add a bench to your basket today and start the next sowing season ready.
- Ready to set up your potting station?