The Ultimate Guide to Planter Sizes | Wayfair (2024)

Find the right fit for your favorite plants! Let your special plants shine in beautiful, stylish planters that are perfectly sized to help them grow and flourish. Not sure which plant pot size to choose? Read on as we cover a wide range of planter sizes available to you.

How to Choose the Right Size Planter
Popular Planter Sizes

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Plants are happiest when placed in the correct planter size. With a few simple steps, it's easy to find the perfect size for your plants.

Tip!

Want to learn more about types of planters and planter materials? Check out Types of Planters: How to Choose an Indoor Planter for tips on choosing indoor planters, or read How to Choose the Right Outdoor Planter: Garden Planter Guide to find info on outdoor planters.

Select Your Plant

When you purchase a plant from a store or a nursery, the size of the plant is determined by the diameter of its container (aka the distance across the top of the container) rather than the width of the leaves. For example, a 4" plant comes in a nursery container that has a 4" diameter. This measurement will help you choose the right planter size to accommodate your new plant.

Consider Your Plant’s Diameter – Including the Roots!

Select a planter that is at least 2" wider than the plant's diameter. It's best to pick a planter that is slightly larger than the plant itself, since a too-small planter won't allow the roots to develop and might lead to tangled, overcrowded roots. A planter with a larger diameter provides plenty of space for the roots to grow and develop.

Find the Right Height

Planters come in a variety of heights to accommodate different plant root systems. The right planter height should have enough room to house the roots, plus additional 1" – 2" of extra space at the top for watering. Planters that are short and wide are better suited for plants that have shallow roots, while tall, narrow planters are a great option for plants with deep root systems.

In addition to the root system, think about the visual appeal of the planter. We recommend choosing a planter that is half the height of the plant to create a balanced look. For example, a plant that is 10" tall should be potted in a planter that is 5" tall.

Avoid Overpotting

Just like a too-small planter, a planter that is too large can lead to complications. Larger planters tend to hold more moisture, which limits the air flow and leaves the soil damp for long periods of time. Excess moisture and insufficient air flow often cause issues like root rot, yellow leaves, and root diseases. Choosing the right planter size helps ensure the plant receives the correct amount of nutrients and water.

When It's Best to Size Up

The only time you should consider a too-large planter is when you are repotting or transitioning your growing plant into a bigger pot. When your plant starts showing signs of being cramped in its current planter, such as overgrown roots or stagnant growth, it might be the right time to repot your plant in a larger plant pot size. If this is the case, place your budding plant into a planter that has roughly 2" – 4" of extra space in diameter. This will give your plant enough breathing room to grow freely! If you see after a few months that the planter you've chosen is still too big, move back down a planter size by 1" – 2" in diameter.

Tip!

Ready to repot your plants? Check out our guide How to Repot Plants Correctly for step-by-step instructions.

Already have a plant that needs a new pot? Planters range in height, width, and volume from small to extra-large. Check out the following popular planter sizes.

Common Planter Heights

Small: Under 8"

Common Planter Widths

Small: Under 8"

Common Planter Volumes

Small: Under 0.31 qt.

Tip!

Don't forget about drainage. Try the following tips to ensure your plant will be able to drain properly no matter the planter you choose:

• Place a nursery inside a larger planter. Nurseries often have drain holes at the bottom.
• Fill the bottom of your planter with lava rocks. These porous rocks will absorb the excess water.
• When purchasing a planter on Wayfair, our Product Overview will inform you whether that item has drainage holes or not.

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