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The 15 Best Greenhouse Kits for Year-Round Gardening

Best Greenhouse Kits
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Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIME’s direction and produced in accordance with TIME’s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

updated: September 11, 2024
edited by Amber Katz

You spend a lot of time, money, and hard work tending to your garden. That’s why your plants don’t just deserve a greenhouse—they deserve a quality shelter that reflects your gardening preferences, space, and style. If you’ve never had a greenhouse to protect your beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables from a deluge of rain or plant-munching pests, you owe it to yourself to make the next growing season the best you’ve ever had.

Thankfully, you don’t have to work yourself to the bone hand crafting a greenhouse from scratch when there are conveniently designed, simple-to-assemble greenhouse kits. These kits range from tiny greenhouses to shield a few flower pots from the elements, to massive automated buildings made to last decades. Here’s how to find the best option for your gardening needs.

Our Top Greenhouse Kit Picks

Best budget greenhouse kit: Miracle-Gro Transparent Greenhouse Kit

Miracle-Gro Transparent Greenhouse Kit

Miracle-Gro Transparent Greenhouse Kit

While it’s easy to see the appeal of a huge walk-in greenhouse, they take up a lot of space and are simply not in the budget for many gardeners—so a smaller, reliable model like the Miracle-Gro Transparent Greenhouse Kit from Lowe’s is the perfect solution. At $50, this tall, slim greenhouse is a snap to assemble without tools, features a roomy interior for housing a wide variety of small plants, and is light enough to move.

Its transparent PVC cover is easy to throw over the greenhouse for extra protection from cold weather and pesky insects, and it’s a top pick for smaller properties, propping up against a shed, house, or fence, and while it’s not nearly as wind-resistant as bulkier and pricier options, this slim greenhouse is both a top pick for beginner and budget-conscious gardeners alike for the cooler months.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 2 feet x 1 foot x 5 feet
  • Panel Material: PVC
  • Shelving: Yes, 4
  • Floor included: Yes, bottom shelf
  • Price: $50

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Easy to assemble and move as needed
  • Plenty of shelf space

Cons:

  • No ventilation unless you remove the PVC cover

Best Heavy-duty Greenhouse Kit: Riga Extra Large Greenhouse

Riga Extra Large Greenhouse

Riga Extra Large Greenhouse

Dedicated gardeners searching for a greenhouse designed to endure nature’s worst for years to come will appreciate the thick weather-resistant aluminum frame, ultra-durable polycarbonate paneling, and wind-resistant design of this huge greenhouse. Not only is this large greenhouse rugged, all-season growers will love its premium insulation for a reliably toasty interior, big lockable double doors, and four adjustable roof windows that provide a premium feel to match its durable construction.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 14.2 feet x 20 feet x 10 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $14,000

Pros:

  • Spacious interior
  • Extremely durable frame and paneling
  • Features 2 doors and 4 windows

Cons:

  • Expensive

Best lean-to greenhouse kit: Canopia Lean to Grow

Canopia Lean to Grow

Canopia Lean to Grow

23% offSave $193

If your property is low on space, a lean-to greenhouse that braces itself against your home or shed might be your best bet. Palram’s Canopia greenhouse fits the bill perfectly due to its rugged polycarbonate panels, galvanized steel base, and aluminum frame, water-collecting gutter, and simple-to-assemble kit of sliding doors and panels. Between its minimal square footage, maintenance-free design, and relatively inexpensive price tag, there’s a lot to appreciate about this greenhouse.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 4 feet x 8 feet x 7.4 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $964

Pros:

  • Extremely durable design
  • Integrated gutters collect water
  • Adjustable roof vent

Cons:

  • Not available in larger sizes

Best polycarbonate greenhouse kit: Little Cottage Company Colonial Gable Greenhouse

Little Cottage Company Colonial Gable Greenhouse

Little Cottage Company Colonial Gable Greenhouse

It’s gorgeous, sports a collection of durable polycarbonate panels, and is simple to assemble. But the nearly $16,000 price tag limits this beautiful greenhouse to hardcore gardeners who can afford to go all out. However, if price is no obstacle for you, this charming, cottage-like greenhouse features adjustable windows, a large lockable door, and a sizable area of 120 square feet, allowing you to set up shelves, lighting, plumbing, or whatever you need to make the greenhouse of your dreams.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 10 feet x 16 feet x 11 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: Yes
  • Floor included: Yes
  • Price: $15,773

Pros:

  • Extremely durable and roomy
  • A breeze to assemble
  • Deep shelves
  • Adjustable ventilation

Cons:

  • Expensive

Best greenhouse kit for high winds: Harmony DIY Greenhouse Kit

Harmony DIY Greenhouse Kit

Harmony DIY Greenhouse Kit

If you live in an area known for stormy weather, the thought of a windy day ruining your investment may keep you from buying that greenhouse you’ve always wanted. Harmony’s ultra-sturdy greenhouses are designed to shrug off high-wind gusts, sports a sturdy steel frame, and are made in five sizes to best fit your yard or patio. Beyond the rare threat of wind, these silver-colored aluminum greenhouses are weather, humidity, and rust-resistant, making them a solid option for locations with wild weather and extreme climates.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 7 feet x 4 feet x 7 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $528

Pros:

  • Easily resists wind gusts up to 56 mph
  • Rugged steel frame
  • Available in 5 sizes

Cons:

  • Its instructions could be clearer

Best glass greenhouse kit: Janssens Junior Orangerie Black Greenhouse

Janssens Junior Orangerie Black Greenhouse

Janssens Junior Orangerie Black Greenhouse

Elegant, huge, and featuring a premium construction, Janssens’ European-style greenhouse is sure to impress. Don’t let its old-world charm fool you into believing this is merely a fancy, yet basic model. It incorporates rugged tempered glass into its design, a pair of automatic window openers, the convenience of built-in gutters, and rubberized glass seals for enhanced insulation throughout those chilly winter months.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 7.75 feet x 12.5 feet x 8 feet
  • Panel material: Tempered glass
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $10,100

Pros:

  • Gorgeous classical style
  • Heavy-duty aluminum construction
  • Automatic roof opener

Cons:

  • An even larger size option would be appreciated

Best wooden greenhouse kit: Sunshine Gardenhouse

Sunshine Gardenhouse

Sunshine Gardenhouse

Some gardeners prefer the timeless appeal of a wooden greenhouse, and these models capture that rustic charm while incorporating a roomy interior, durable frame, and a convenient automatic window vent. Designed to resist powerful wind, protected by tough polycarbonate paneling, and available in three sizes to suit your property, this is hands down the best wooden greenhouse on the market.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 6 feet x 4 feet x 8.3 feet
  • Panel Material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor Included: No
  • Price: $1,812

Pros:

  • Automatic vent opener
  • Rugged construction
  • Available in 3 sizes

Cons:

  • Not as easy to assemble as it could be, but nice when put together

Best large greenhouse kit: Janssens Royal Victorian Black Greenhouse

Janssens Royal Victorian Black Greenhouse

Janssens Royal Victorian Black Greenhouse

Anyone searching for an absolutely mammoth greenhouse should check out the 200 square-foot space of this stunning aluminum model. This tempered glass model provides a well-insulated space to keep your plants nice and toasty throughout the winter, as well as four ventilation windows, the convenience of misting system, and a dependably strong construction that will shield a huge collection of plants and gardening supplies from the elements for many years to come.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 10.16 feet x 19.9 feet x 9 feet
  • Panel Material: Tempered glass
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor Included: No
  • Price: $10,590

Pros:

  • Features 200 square feet of space
  • Integrated misting system
  • Two sliding doors
  • Beautiful design

Cons:

  • Only available in black

Best Small Greenhouse Kit: Machrus Ogrow Deluxe Walk-In Greenhouse

Machrus Ogrow Deluxe Walk-In Greenhouse

Machrus Ogrow Deluxe Walk-In Greenhouse

Just because you’re in the market for a smaller greenhouse doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice square footage for storage. With six spacious and adjustable shelves, a durable steel frame, and rugged plastic cover with a handy rolling door flap, it’s a value-packed deal at just $80. As much as we liked the Machrus Ogrow Deluxe’s sturdy shelving system and how quick it is to assemble, we highly recommend using its included ground anchors and ropes to secure this little greenhouse to the ground to keep it from tipping over in a windstorm.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 2.41 feet x 4.66 feet x 6.41 feet
  • Panel material: Plastic
  • Shelving: Yes, 6
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $80

Pros:

  • Easy to set up and move as needed
  • Rugged frame and shelves
  • No tools needed

Cons:

  • Not particularly wind-resistant

Best mini greenhouse kit: Zenport Cold Frame Greenhouse

Zenport Cold Frame Greenhouse

Zenport Cold Frame Greenhouse

For some people, a tiny greenhouse is all they need, and when it comes to itty-bitty greenhouses, it’s hard to top Zenport’s simple, but reliable little plant protector. Perfect for patios and tiny gardens, this model is a snap to assemble, sports waterproof zippered openings for easy watering and ventilation, and is by far the lightest greenhouse to make our list. If you need a simple, yet effective greenhouse for a few small potted plants, this is a safe bet as long as you remember to weigh it down so it doesn’t blow away on a windy day.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 4 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet
  • Panel material: Plastic
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $44

Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy to move
  • Affordable
  • Durable plastic exterior
  • Available in 2 sizes

Cons:

  • Need to be weighted down or else it will certainly blow away

Best Easy-to-assemble Greenhouse Kit: Outsunny Walk-in Garden Greenhouse

Outsunny Walk-in Garden Greenhouse

Outsunny Walk-in Garden Greenhouse

If you’re still intimidated at the idea of assembling your own greenhouse, you’ll appreciate the pure simplicity of the Outsunny Walk-in Garden Greenhouse. Its interior is a rugged, yet lightweight steel frame that easily screws together with the included tools and basic instructions, and the exterior is a tough plastic cover that takes minutes to set over the greenhouse and stake down. In addition to how easy it is to put together, this greenhouse has four roll-up windows, an opaque cover for privacy, and a generous interior for multiple shelves and plenty of plants.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: Eight feet x 6 feet x 7 feet
  • Panel material: Plastic
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $174

Pros:

  • A snap to assemble without tools
  • Opaque white cover for gardening privacy
  • Roomy interior

Cons:

  • Must be staked down for maximum wind resistance

Most simple greenhouse kit: Costway Garden Wooden GreenHouse

Costway Garden Wooden GreenHouse

Costway Garden Wooden GreenHouse

It doesn’t get simpler than a windowed wooden box, but Costway’s durable and lightweight little greenhouse works well as a miniature greenhouse that’s a breeze to assemble. Its sturdy wooden frame and polycarbonate panels are designed to last, and with its wide shelves, convenient hinged lid, and locking doors, this greenhouse is an effective way to care for plenty of small and delicate seedlings, flowers, and other small plants.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 22.5 inches x 30 inches x 43 inches
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: Yes, 2
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $200

Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy to move around
  • Rugged wooden frame
  • Simple, but effective

Cons:

  • Bare-bones instructions included, but simple to assemble

Most modern greenhouse kit: Yardistry Meridian Garden Greenhouse

Yardistry Meridian Garden Greenhouse

Yardistry Meridian Garden Greenhouse

Although its cedar lumber exterior may seem appealing, yet basic at a glance, this advanced greenhouse is anything but due to its automatic roof vent that opens and shuts to maintain the optimum levels of heat and moisture for your plants for a low-maintenance gardening experience. In addition to its smart vent, it features impressively durable walls and panels, plenty of shelf space, and is relatively easy to put together if you have a friend to lend a hand.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 6 feet x 8 feet x 8 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: Yes, 2
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $2,150

Pros:

  • Extensive dual shelves for plenty of storage space
  • Automatic roof vent
  • Sturdy cedar construction
  • Excellent value

Cons:

  • Easy to assemble, despite its unsatisfactory instructions

Best Traditional Greenhouse Kit: Exaco Riga German Hobby Greenhouse

Exaco Riga German Hobby Greenhouse

Exaco Riga German Hobby Greenhouse

With its charming retro aesthetics, expansive interior, and innovative roof shape that helps snow to slide right off, this German-engineered greenhouse is hands-down the best pick for gardeners who love classic greenhouses, as well as anyone who wants to keep the growing season long into winter. Some of its other brilliant design choices include a locking automatic vent that lets hot air out while keeping pests from entering, materials, and a shape made to withstand wind and hail, and a cozy, locking Dutch-style door to let in cool air while you’re tending to the garden in the warmer seasons.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 9.8 feet x 17.2 feet x 6.11 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: Yes, 2
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $9,000

Pros:

  • Large 166 square foot area
  • Extremely durable kit
  • Optimized for heavy snowy winters

Cons:

  • Instructions could have been clearer

Most sturdy greenhouse kit: Monticello Black Greenhouse

Monticello Black Greenhouse

If durability is your biggest concern when shopping around for a greenhouse, the ultra-touch and extra-long aluminum frame and thick commercial-grade polycarbonate panels are sure to last for a long time to come. Not only was this model made with longevity in mind, it’s the best choice for warm climates due to its automatic solar powered ventilation system and companion fan that works to keep your precious plants from overheating, and handy rainwater-recycling programmable watering system.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 8.1 feet x 24.1 feet x 7.6 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: No
  • Floor included: No
  • Price: $9,459

Pros:

  • Ultra-rugged aluminum frame and polycarbonate panels
  • Automatic roof vent
  • Programmable watering system

Cons:

  • High quality, but takes a long time to assemble

Best for winter use greenhouse kit: Clihome Mini Cold Frame Greenhouse Kit

Clihome Mini Cold Frame Greenhouse Kit

Clihome Mini Cold Frame Greenhouse Kit

Just because winter has arrived doesn’t mean that you have to quit gardening for the season, especially if you have a winter-resistant and extremely portable Clihome Mini Greenhouse. While its cold-resistant frame does wonders for keeping the plants inside safe and toasty, if the weather looks particularly nasty, its wheeled base comes in handy for moving your garden inside until the frost melts away. If you prefer stationary greenhouses, its wheels are easy to remove, converting this model into a premium wall-mountable lean-to greenhouse for year-round plant keeping.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 1.87 feet x 2.7 feet x 5.17 feet
  • Panel material: Polycarbonate
  • Shelving: Yes, 3
  • Floor included: Yes, bottom self
  • Price: $404

Pros:

  • Wheeled underside is easy to move indoors to avoid extreme weather
  • Highly adjustable shelves
  • Easy to wall mount

Cons:

  • Only available in one size

How we tested and selected the best greenhouse kits

A number of factors influenced our top greenhouse picks, including hours of research, assembling, and testing a collection of residential greenhouses, as well as previous experience with horticulture and gardening equipment. Although we considered many aspects when narrowing down our list of the best greenhouses, some of the most important factors we noted include durability, how simple it was to put together, its feature list, and overall value for your money.

What to consider when buying greenhouse kits

With so many styles, brands, and materials to choose from, even experienced gardeners should take their time to find the right greenhouse kit that best suits their property and gardening needs.

Durability

Snow, rain, and extreme temperatures will put a greenhouse to the test, and while you’ll do great with a mini greenhouse that may survive a few years on your patio, large, heavy-duty greenhouses need a rugged metal or wooden frame and glass or plastic polycarbonate panels to thrive for decades to come.

Ventilation

It’s easier than you may expect for a greenhouse to overheat and bake your plants on a hot day, but the best greenhouses incorporate essential ventilation features like multiple windows, automatic vent openers, fans, and shade coverings.

Size

Since your garden is as unique as you are, you’ll need a greenhouse to match your property’s size and your gardening style. Some may need a mini greenhouse for sheltering small flower pots, while dedicated gardening enthusiasts with space will gravitate toward larger models to protect their favorite plants all year long.

Price

A number of factors determine the price of a greenhouse, including its size, materials, and feature list, but generally speaking, smaller, lightweight, and plastic-based green houses are more affordable than their bigger, heavier, and metal, wooden, and glass counterparts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it cheaper to build a greenhouse or buy a kit?

When you consider how simple and convenient it is to assemble a pre-made greenhouse kit as opposed to planning, gathering, and buying the lumber, windows, flooring, ventilation, and accessories for your own greenhouse—as well as the extensive warranties included with many models—the kit is by far the cheaper and more convenient option.

What is the best material for a greenhouse in a cold climate?

The best greenhouses for frigid environments need to be able to withstand hail, freezing temperatures, and snow, and are built to shield plants from chilly conditions Look for greenhouse kits that note an insulated design to retain additional heat for longer, in addition rust- and weather-resistant materials such as a galvanized steel frame, and an extra-rugged transparent material, such as polycarbonate or better yet—tempered glass.

How are greenhouse kits delivered?

Greenhouse kits are usually delivered directly to your home either by the manufacturer, online furniture store, or retailer you purchased it from, or by hired delivery contractors. The delivery details will vary between retailers, so research how deliveries are handled before you buy a greenhouse kit.

Are greenhouse kits worth it?

Garden hobbyists will find that a quality greenhouse is an excellent investment. Greenhouse kits are much easier, more affordable, and less time consuming than building a greenhouse yourself. They greatly extend your local growing season, and they provide a weatherproof place for your plants to safely grow without you having to worry about commonplace pests or diseases.

Should greenhouses be in full sun?

For best results, plan on setting up your greenhouse in a spot that will get at least six hours of full sunlight a day. However, this is a flexible rule for gardeners growing shade-loving plants, as well as those living in particularly sunny areas, to keep from burning fragile plant species.

Does the color of a greenhouse make a difference?

Yes. Although a literal green greenhouse may be tempting, colored materials will block a certain spectrum of light from entering. Some plants will not grow properly if they don’t have access to the entire spectrum of natural light, so a clear greenhouse is always the best option.

The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.

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