We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Picks are based on specs, retailer data and owner reports, not paid placement. Disclosure.
The best wooden greenhouse for most people is the Outdoor Living Today 8x8 Western Red Cedar ($4,046). It has a solid cedar frame, 6 mm twin-wall polycarbonate (R-1.53) and an automatic roof vent, and it looks like a garden building rather than a kit. On a budget, the Yardistry 8x7 from Costco is the most-reviewed wood greenhouse in the country (4.6/5). For the warmest panels, Backyard Discovery's cedar Willow and Zalie use 10 mm 4-wall polycarbonate (R-2.1). Expect about two days to build, and plan to reseal the wood yearly.
- 1Best cedar greenhouse overallOutdoor Living Today Cedar 8x8
Cedar greenhouse that looks like a garden building; ~2-day DIY assembly.
No published wind or snow rating$4,046typical, Oct 2026 - 2Best larger cedar greenhouseOutdoor Living Today Cedar 8x12
Room for a full shelving run plus potting bench.
No published wind or snow rating$5,046typical, Oct 2026 - 3No published wind or snow rating$800–$1,000typical, Oct 2026
- 4Best insulated panelsBackyard Discovery 9x6 Willow
Modern sloped-roof cedar greenhouse with thicker 4-wall panels than most rivals.
Wind100 mph$1,999typical, Oct 2026 - 5Best for a modern lookBackyard Discovery 12x7 Zalie
86 sq ft cedar greenhouse with fan and water spigot included.
Wind100 mph$2,999typical, Oct 2026 - 6Best shed-style greenhouseAlpine EZ-Fit Garden Greenhouse
Shed-like solid-wall greenhouse made in the USA.
No published wind or snow rating$5,600–$9,000typical, Oct 2026
A wooden greenhouse does something an aluminum kit can't: it looks like it belongs in the garden. Nearly every wooden greenhouse kit sold in the US uses cedar or FSC-certified softwood for the frame and polycarbonate for the glazing, so you get wood's looks with plastic's insulation. The differences come down to panel thickness, ventilation, how much the kit does for you, and how much upkeep you're signing up for. Our picks are research-based, drawn from manufacturer specs, retailer listings and owner reports. We have not built these ourselves.
Why choose a cedar greenhouse?
- Natural rot resistance. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook lists western redcedar heartwood among the decay-resistant species. That's why cedar, not pine, is the standard for greenhouse kits.
- Warmer frame. Wood conducts far less heat than aluminum, so the frame itself is less of a cold bridge on winter nights.
- Easy to customize. You can screw shelves, hooks, trellis wires and shade cloth straight into wood, with no special clips needed.
- Looks. A cedar greenhouse reads as a garden building, which matters in a front yard or near the patio.
The trade-offs: wood needs sealing to hold its color, most kits cost more than aluminum equivalents, and published snow and wind ratings are rare. Of the kits here, only Backyard Discovery (100 mph) and Palram's new Natura cedar (62 mph / 16 lb/sq ft) publish ratings.
Wood vs aluminum greenhouse frames
| Cedar / wood frame | Aluminum frame | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Garden building, warm | Functional, slim |
| Heat loss through frame | Low | Higher (metal conducts heat) |
| Upkeep | Water-based sealant about yearly | Essentially none |
| Typical glazing | 6-10 mm twin- or multi-wall polycarbonate | 4-10 mm twin-wall or clear |
| Published storm ratings | Rare | Common (50-65 mph on hobby kits) |
| Price, 8x8-ish | About $800 (Costco sale) to $5,600 | About $700 to $4,300 |
| Warranty | 1-5 years | 5-10 years |
If low maintenance and storm ratings top your list, look at aluminum polycarbonate greenhouse kits. If you want the classic look with glass, see glass greenhouse kits.
The best wooden greenhouse kits
Outdoor Living Today Cedar 8x8
Outdoor Living Today's 8x8 is the cedar greenhouse we'd point most buyers to. It has a western red cedar frame with chunky 3.5" x 3.5" posts and rafters, pre-cut and panelized so it goes up in about two days. It's glazed in 6 mm Polygal twin-wall (R-1.53). Ventilation is better than on most kits: a roof vent with a Univent automatic opener (about 70 F) plus two lower wall vents for cross-flow. It also has a 31" Dutch door. Eartheasy ships it with free freight.
Why it stands out
- Solid cedar framing that looks like a garden building
- Automatic roof vent plus two low vents
- Dutch door: open the top half for air
Watch out for
- No floor included; build a base first
- Not returnable once shipped, and ships unstained
Full specs
- Sizes
- 8x8 (also 8x12)
- Footprint
- 8.0 x 8.0
- Peak height
- 8.7 ft
- Frame
- Western red cedar, 3.5" x 3.5" posts and rafters, pre-cut panelized, ships unstained
- Panels
- 6 mm Polygal twin-wall polycarbonate (R-value 1.53)
- Vents
- 1 roof vent with Univent automatic opener (~70 F) + 2 lower wall vents
- Door
- 31" Dutch door
Specs from eartheasy.com. Prices checked Oct 2026 and change often.
Outdoor Living Today Cedar 8x12
The same cedar design stretched to 8x12, with two heat-activated roof vent openers, two lower wall vents, a full polycarbonate door and 24 lineal feet of shelving included. That's enough for a full shelving run plus a potting bench. It's the better buy if you already know an 8x8 will feel small.
Why it stands out
- Room for shelving plus a potting bench
- Two automatic roof vents
- Free freight from Eartheasy
Watch out for
- Only a 1-year manufacturer warranty
- Floor and foundation are extra
Full specs
- Sizes
- 8x12
- Footprint
- 8.0 x 11.8
- Peak height
- 8.7 ft
- Frame
- Western red cedar, pre-cut panelized
- Panels
- 6 mm Polygal twin-wall polycarbonate (R-value 1.53)
- Vents
- 2 heat-activated roof vent openers (~70 F) + 2 lower wall vents
- Door
- Full polycarbonate door
- Warranty
- 1-year manufacturer
Specs from eartheasy.com. Prices checked Oct 2026 and change often.
Yardistry 8x7
The Costco default, and for good reason. It has an FSC-certified wood frame, double-wall polycarbonate, a heat-sensitive automatic roof vent and 32" wood base walls for a cottage look. It carries 4.6/5 across 1,033 Costco reviews, and House Digest summarized feedback as "almost entirely positive." The larger Yardistry 8x10 ($2,000) has a taller 8 ft peak. Both are covered in our Yardistry greenhouse review and our Costco greenhouse review.
Why it stands out
- Lowest price for a real wooden greenhouse, especially on sale
- Huge owner base with consistently good ratings
- Automatic roof vent included
Watch out for
- Owners report about 2 days to build vs the 10-12 hours claimed
- Needs a water-based sealant yearly; 26.75" door is narrow
- Costco has no affiliate program; we list it because it's the honest budget pick
Full specs
- Sizes
- 7.8x6.7
- Footprint
- 6.7 x 7.8
- Peak height
- 7.7 ft
- Frame
- 100% FSC-certified wood, 32" high wood base walls
- Panels
- Double-wall polycarbonate windows
- Vents
- Heat-sensitive automatic roof vent opener
- Door
- Door opening 26.75" x 76.5"
Specs from costco.com, costco.com. Prices checked Oct 2026 and change often.
Backyard Discovery 9x6 Willow
The Willow pairs a kiln-dried FSC cedar frame with 10 mm 4-wall polycarbonate rated R-2.1. Backyard Discovery says that holds about 30% more heat than 6 mm twin-wall. It also includes a thermostat-activated exhaust fan and a casement window, which is unusual at this price. The maker rates it for 100 mph wind and backs it with a 5-year warranty.
Why it stands out
- Thickest panels of any wooden kit here (R-2.1)
- Thermostat-controlled exhaust fan included
- Published 100 mph wind rating
Watch out for
- Snow capacity given only as total pounds (2,800 lb), not lb/sq ft, so it's hard to compare
- No owner reviews we could verify
Full specs
- Sizes
- 9x6 (also white version)
- Frame
- FSC-certified kiln-dried cedar
- Panels
- 10 mm 4-wall polycarbonate (R-2.1)
- Vents
- 1 thermostat-activated exhaust fan + 1 casement window
- Wind rating
- 100 mph
- Warranty
- 5-year
Specs from backyarddiscovery.com. Prices checked Oct 2026 and change often.
Backyard Discovery 12x7 Zalie
The Zalie is the bigger sibling: 86 sq ft of floor with the same cedar frame and 10 mm 4-wall (R-2.1) panels. It adds a thermostat fan, two drop-down windows and a water spigot. Its sloped modern roofline suits contemporary houses better than a classic gable.
Why it stands out
- 86 sq ft with fan and water spigot included
- R-2.1 panels for cooler climates
- 5-year warranty; 100 mph wind rating per maker
Watch out for
- Snow load given as total pounds (4,400 lb), not psf
- No owner reviews we could verify
Full specs
- Sizes
- 12x7
- Frame
- FSC-certified kiln-dried cedar
- Panels
- 10 mm 4-wall polycarbonate (R-2.1)
- Vents
- 1 thermostat-activated exhaust fan + 2 drop-down windows
- Wind rating
- 100 mph
- Warranty
- 5-year
Specs from backyarddiscovery.com. Prices checked Oct 2026 and change often.
Alpine EZ-Fit Garden Greenhouse
Made in the USA, the EZ-Fit is half shed, half greenhouse. It uses panelized walls in LP SmartSide siding (which carries a 50-year limited warranty), single-pane windows, an 8 mm corrugated polycarbonate skylight roof and a dutch door with transom windows. With 6.5 ft sidewalls and sizes up to 10x16, it suits growers who want solid walls for shelving and less summer overheating. For more half-and-half designs, see our greenhouse shed combos.
Why it stands out
- Feels like a real outbuilding
- Six sizes from 8x8 to 10x16
- Tall 6.5 ft sidewalls
Watch out for
- Arrives primed only; painting is on you
- Solid walls mean less light than an all-glazed greenhouse; no floor kit
Full specs
- Sizes
- 8x8 (also 8x10, 8x12, 10x12, 10x14, 10x16)
- Frame
- Panelized wall sections, LP SmartSide siding (primed, not painted)
- Panels
- 8 mm corrugated polycarbonate skylight roof + 18" x 47" single-pane windows
- Vents
- 2 air vents
- Door
- 30" single dutch door with transom windows
- Warranty
- 5-year manufacturer (SmartSide siding 50-year limited)
Specs from eartheasy.com. Prices checked Oct 2026 and change often.
Wooden greenhouse kits compared
| Model | Sizes | Panels | Vents | Warranty | Typical price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8' x 8' Western Red Cedar Greenhouse | 8x8 (also 8x12) | 6 mm Polygal twin-wall polycarbonate (R-value 1.53) | 1 roof vent with Univent automatic opener (~70 F) + 2 lower wall vents | — | $4,046 | Eartheasy |
| 8' x 12' Western Red Cedar Greenhouse | 8x12 | 6 mm Polygal twin-wall polycarbonate (R-value 1.53) | 2 heat-activated roof vent openers (~70 F) + 2 lower wall vents | 1-year manufacturer | $5,046 | Eartheasy |
| Yardistry 8' x 7' Greenhouse (Model YM12842) | 7.8x6.7 | Double-wall polycarbonate windows | Heat-sensitive automatic roof vent opener | — | $800–$1,000 | Costco |
| Backyard Discovery 9x6 Willow Greenhouse | 9x6 (also white version) | 10 mm 4-wall polycarbonate (R-2.1) | 1 thermostat-activated exhaust fan + 1 casement window | 5-year | $1,999 | Backyard Discovery |
| Backyard Discovery 12x7 Zalie Greenhouse | 12x7 | 10 mm 4-wall polycarbonate (R-2.1) | 1 thermostat-activated exhaust fan + 2 drop-down windows | 5-year | $2,999 | Backyard Discovery |
| EZ-Fit Garden Greenhouse | 8x8 (also 8x10, 8x12, 10x12, 10x14, 10x16) | 8 mm corrugated polycarbonate skylight roof + 18" x 47" single-pane windows | 2 air vents | 5-year manufacturer (SmartSide siding 50-year limited) | $5,600–$9,000 | Eartheasy |
Also worth knowing: Palram-Canopia has launched a Natura cedar line (8x7 to 8x22) with clear polycarbonate, an automated roof vent and a published 62 mph / 16 lb/sq ft rating. It had no owner reviews and no verified US price when we checked, so it isn't a pick yet. Yardistry's Obsidian greenhouse and storage shed ($2,000) combines a 7 x 5.3 ft growing room with a lockable shed.
How to choose a wooden greenhouse kit
Size
8x8 is the practical minimum for a wooden walk-in: wood framing is chunkier than aluminum and eats a little interior space. If you want a potting bench as well as shelving, go 8x12. Our 8x10 greenhouse guide shows what fits.
Panels
Check the glazing, not just the wood. 6 mm twin-wall (R-1.53) is good. 10 mm 4-wall (R-2.1) is better for cold climates. Single-pane windows (Alpine) and clear panels (Palram Natura) let in more light but hold less heat.
Ventilation
Wood kits vary a lot. Look for an automatic roof vent at minimum. Low wall vents (Outdoor Living Today) or a thermostat fan (Backyard Discovery) are a real bonus in hot summers. Our greenhouse ventilation guide explains why.
Snow and wind
Most wooden kits publish no snow rating. In snow country, favor a steeper roof, brush snow off promptly, and anchor the base well.
Base and anchoring
None of the cedar kits here include a floor. Build a level, raised base of timber on gravel, pavers or a concrete footing, so the bottom boards never sit in wet soil. See our greenhouse foundation guide.
Assembly time
Plan on about two days for two people. Wood kits are heavier and more bolt-intensive than aluminum, and owners consistently say they take longer than the box claims.
Mistakes to avoid with wooden greenhouses
- Setting wood directly on soil. It's the fastest way to rot the sill, even with cedar.
- Skipping the sealant. Owner roundups for the Yardistry kits recommend a water-based sealant every year. Do the first coat before assembly, when every face is reachable.
- Underestimating the base budget. Foundation, anchors and a floor can add hundreds of dollars. Our greenhouse cost guide has the numbers.
- Ordering before measuring delivery access. Outdoor Living Today kits aren't returnable once shipped, and Yardistry's greenhouse-shed combo ships in a single 710 lb box.
Alternatives to a wooden greenhouse
Love the wood but short on space? Backyard Discovery's Aggie cedar cold frame is a waist-high planter with an auto-venting lid; more in our cold frame guide. Want to build your own from lumber? Our DIY greenhouse guide covers plans and when a kit is smarter. For lower upkeep, an aluminum polycarbonate greenhouse never needs sealing.
Frequently asked questions
Are wooden greenhouses better than aluminum?
They're warmer to look at and wood conducts less heat than metal, but they need upkeep. Aluminum never needs sealing; cedar should get a water-based sealant about once a year to keep its color. Most wooden kits also cost more than an aluminum kit of the same size.
How long does a cedar greenhouse last?
Cedar heartwood is naturally decay-resistant (the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook ranks western redcedar heartwood among the resistant species), so a cedar frame kept off the soil and sealed can last many years. Warranties are short, though: 1 year (Outdoor Living Today 8x12) to 5 years (Backyard Discovery, Yardistry).
Do wooden greenhouses rot?
Any wood rots if it sits on wet ground. Put the sill on a raised timber, block or concrete base, keep soil and mulch away from the bottom boards, and reseal exposed wood regularly.
How long does it take to build a wooden greenhouse kit?
Plan on about two days for two people. Yardistry quotes 10-12 hours for its Costco kits, but owners report about two days, and Outdoor Living Today describes its cedar kits as roughly a 2-day DIY build.
Do I need to stain or seal a cedar greenhouse?
Left untreated, cedar weathers to silver-grey, which is fine structurally. To keep the warm color, apply a water-based sealant or stain yearly. Outdoor Living Today ships unstained, and Alpine's EZ-Fit arrives primed, not painted.
Is the Costco Yardistry greenhouse worth it?
For the price, it's the strongest-reviewed wooden greenhouse in the US (4.6/5 across more than 1,600 Costco reviews). The trade-offs are a longer build than advertised and yearly sealing. Our Yardistry greenhouse review goes deeper.
Keep reading
Brand reviewYardistry greenhouse reviewThe Costco cedar greenhouse owners love: what 1,600+ reviews say, the real build time, and cedar kits that go further.
Kits by typeGreenhouse shed combosThe few real greenhouse-shed combo kits, shed-style greenhouses, and smart ways to pair or convert a shed instead.
Kits by typePolycarbonate greenhouse kitsTwin-wall vs clear panels, thickness and R-values, plus six aluminum hobby kits from starter 6x8s to snow-country builds.
Kits by typeGlass greenhouse kitsAn honest glass vs polycarbonate comparison, plus the tempered-glass kits from Janco and Exaco/Janssens that are worth the money.
Brand reviewCostco greenhouse reviewEvery greenhouse Costco sells, ranked by owner ratings, what the return policy really covers, and where alternatives win.
Build guideGreenhouse foundations and basesEvery greenhouse base option compared, with step-by-step timber and paver builds, squaring, anchoring and flooring.