Succulents on a ledge
You want a shallow ceramic dish for cactus or succulents, with one hole and a tray that catches drips. At 6.9 cm high it is not a herb crop. Plants are not in the box.
Window boxes 2026 compared
The best window boxes, compared.
Top pick: Bamworld 3-pack 16 inch window boxes Best value: Bamworld 7-pack red window boxes – Seven boxes at about £16.14, about £2.31 each, with two holes and a saucer in the bullet. Updated October 2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
A window box is a long, narrow planter for a sill, brackets under a window, or a balcony ledge. On amazon.co.uk it is a garden product, not a lock. You are choosing a cheap 60–90 cm plastic trough, a multi-pack of shorter boxes, a shallow ceramic succulent dish, or a small self-watering herb box. Check walls that stay straight when the compost is wet, drainage you can see, and a size that matches the sill. Quote both, then measure the box that arrives. The Royal Horticultural Society wants drainage holes, peat-free compost, and saucers off before winter. Wet compost, not the empty plastic weight, is the load on an upper sill. Cold-weather care is in [window boxes through winter](/hub/door-and-window-security/blog/window-boxes-through-winter). It is not a lock, and buying one does not improve window security.
A window box is a long, narrow planter for a sill, brackets under a window, or a balcony ledge. On amazon.co.uk it is a garden product, not a lock.
32 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +16,800 readers
9 of 9: Best window boxes compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 9Best overall
Best value
6.7/10
5.8/10
7.2/10
7.1/10
8.3/10
6.9/10
7.2/10
6.4/10
4.9/10
∼ £24
∼ £13
∼ £16
∼ £21
∼ £19
∼ £9
∼ £17
∼ £26
∼ £9
4.8(49)
4.6(72)
4.5(111)
4.5(69)
4.4(718)
4.3(315)
4.3(100)
4.3(67)
4.0(195)
Personal buying guide
Which window box fits your sill?
Question 1 of 2
Where will the box sit?
The best window boxes in detail
Our view
Bamworld’s black three-pack is ABS plastic, floor standing, with three drainage holes and a removable saucer, listed at 3.8 litres and about £23.74. The bullet calls each box sixteen inch. The depth line is 12 × 40 × 11 cm in one field and 9 × 40 × 11 cm in another, so you do not have a single depth to measure against the sill. Across 49 amazon.co.uk ratings it sits at 4.8. Only four review texts in the file are from the United Kingdom. Those four call the planters sturdy, the drip tray useful, and the height suitable for tall cacti on a narrow kitchen ledge. One of them calls the boxes very narrow, and none of the four reports a crack or a missing tray. Listed weight is 1.97 kg. A rank in Window Boxes on Amazon is a sales rank, not a test result.
Pros
- Three drainage holes and a removable saucer in the bullets
- 3.8 litres, sixteen inch in the bullet, floor standing
- 4.8 from 49 ratings at about £23.74
- Four UK texts praise the drip tray on a kitchen ledge
Cons
- Depth is printed as 12 cm and as 9 cm
- Only four UK review texts, so the praise is a small sample
- One UK reviewer called the boxes very narrow
Best for: A short indoor or covered sill where you want three small black boxes and a saucer, and you can accept a depth that the listing prints twice.
Less suitable: One long trough, vegetables, or a self-watering reservoir.
Specifications
- Model
- Bamworld 3-pack 16 inch window boxes
- Brand
- Bamworld
- Price
- ∼£24
- Customer rating
- 4.8/5(49)
- Pieces
- 3
- Outside size
- 40 cm, depth 9 or 12
- Capacity
- 3.8 litres
- Material
- ABS plastic
- Colour
- Black
- Drainage
- Yes
- Tray
- Yes
- Self-watering
- No
- Mounting
- Floor standing
- Weight
- 1.97 kg
Common questions
Does a tray come with it?
Included components list drainage trays. The bullets say three drainage holes and a removable saucer.
Can it be used outdoors?
The bullets say it is outdoor safe for indoor and exterior use. The attribute line says indoor and outdoor.
How deep is each box?
One size line is 12 × 40 × 11 cm. Item dimensions are 9 × 40 × 11 cm. Capacity is 3.8 litres. The listing does not give one depth.
Our view
The B2C trough is grey plastic with a wood-effect slat finish, at about £12.94, and the title says medium, 38 × 18 × 16.5 cm. Both dimension lines are 18 × 58 × 16.5 cm, which is the large size named in the bullets, and the capacity is 10.67 litres. It is 4.6 from 72 ratings. Across 37 United Kingdom reviews, the wood-effect look is praised on a windowsill and in the garden, and many buyers call it sturdy for plastic. Drainage is two rubber stoppers and marked spots, not holes that are already open: one UK review found no drainage and used faux flowers. A slight bend, a chip on arrival, and a buyer who thought the slats were timber all appear in those texts. The bullets say it is freestanding, with no hooks and no self-watering system. Weight is not listed. The finish is plastic, not timber.
Pros
- Wood-effect plastic, freestanding, no hooks
- 4.6 from 72 ratings at about £12.94
- 10.67 litres, with stoppers and marked drainage spots
- Many UK texts call it sturdy for plastic
Cons
- Title says 38 cm and the size table says 58 cm
- Holes are marked spots, and one UK review found none open
- Can arrive chipped or with a slight bend
- Weight is not listed, and the finish is plastic
Best for: One decorative trough on the floor or a deep ledge, after you measure the length that actually arrives.
Less suitable: A known 38 cm sill, open holes on day one, or a timber box.
Specifications
- Model
- B2C rustic wood-effect window box
- Brand
- B2C
- Price
- ∼£13
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(72)
- Pieces
- 1
- Outside size
- 38 cm or 58 cm
- Capacity
- 10.67 litres
- Material
- Wood-effect plastic
- Colour
- Grey
- Tray
- No
- Self-watering
- No
- Mounting
- Freestanding
Common questions
Is this the 38 cm or the 58 cm box?
The title and the size attribute say medium, 38 cm, grey. Both dimension lines are 18 × 58 × 16.5 cm. Capacity is 10.67 litres. Weight is not listed.
Are the drainage holes open?
The attribute says drainage is yes. The bullets say two rubber stoppers and marked spots for more holes. One UK review found no drainage and used faux flowers.
Does it need brackets?
The bullets say it is freestanding, with no hooks and no self-watering system.
Our view
Bamworld’s red pack is seven plastic window boxes at about £16.14, about £2.31 each, and it is the best value in this set. The bullet size is 43 × 18 × 16 cm, with 11.81 litres, two drainage holes and an attached saucer. The line is 4.5 from 111 ratings. Eight United Kingdom reviews are on file, and they mostly praise the trays, the size for strawberry runners, and the chance to spread plants across seven boxes. One of those reviews says the saucers can be taken off. The attribute table does not support the bullet: both dimension lines say 10 × 10 × 10 mm, so 43 cm is not the only printed size. One UK review calls the plastic flimsy, like a garden-centre pot, and suitable only for a greenhouse. The usage attribute says outdoor, while the bullets say indoor and outdoor use and that the plastic withstands sun and rain. Listed weight is 1.75 kg.
Pros
- Seven boxes at about £16.14, about £2.31 each
- Bullet: 43 × 18 × 16 cm, 11.81 litres, two holes and a saucer
- 4.5 from 111 ratings
- UK texts mention trays, strawberry runners, and removable saucers
Cons
- Both attribute dimension lines say 10 × 10 × 10 mm
- One UK review calls the plastic flimsy
- Usage attribute says outdoor while the bullets also say indoor
Best for: Several medium troughs if you plant to the 43 cm bullet and check the box against the millimetre line when it arrives.
Less suitable: A single agreed size on the listing, or a self-watering reservoir.
Specifications
- Model
- Bamworld 7-pack red window boxes
- Brand
- Bamworld
- Price
- ∼£16
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(111)
- Pieces
- 7
- Outside size
- 43 cm or 10 mm
- Capacity
- 11.81 litres
- Material
- Plastic
- Colour
- Red
- Drainage
- Yes
- Tray
- Yes
- Self-watering
- No
- Mounting
- Floor standing
- Weight
- 1.75 kg
Common questions
Does each box have a saucer?
Included components say saucer and drainage system. The bullet says two drainage holes and an attached saucer. One UK review says the saucers can be taken off.
Which size should you use?
The bullet says 43 × 18 × 16 cm and 11.81 litres. Both attribute dimension lines say 10 × 10 × 10 mm. Weight is 1.75 kg. There is no single true size on the page.
Is it for outdoor use?
The bullets say it withstands sun and rain and is for indoor and outdoor use. The indoor outdoor usage attribute says outdoor.
Our view
ZOENHOU is a pack of eight pink polypropylene boxes at about £20.99, about £2.62 each, and the title length is 43 cm, also called 17 inch. The bullets say pre-drilled drainage holes and a water tray, and that the empty boxes can be stacked. Across 22 United Kingdom reviews, buyers use them on window ledges and for starting seeds, and several call them good value. One review says the trays blew around in a storm and did not crack, and some buyers used the boxes as liners in wooden tiered planters. The item dimensions are 43 × 43 × 43 cm, which is not a 17 inch trough, and no litre capacity is listed. Thin plastic is the complaint that returns: one box arrived with a split corner, plastic snapped when extra drainage holes were drilled, and the trays are called a little shallow. The listing does not say whether the trays come off. Weight is 1.8 kg. It ties the price block with the seven-pack and does not take the best-value badge: the total score is 61, the review count is 69, and the size line is a cube.
Pros
- Eight boxes with pre-drilled holes and a water tray
- About £2.62 a box at about £20.99, 4.5 from 69 ratings
- 22 UK reviews mention ledges, seed starting, and liners
- Bullets say the empty boxes can be stacked
Cons
- Item dimensions are 43 × 43 × 43 cm against a 43 cm title
- Thin walls, a split corner, and a snap while drilling
- No litre capacity, and the page does not say the trays detach
Best for: Several small coloured troughs for a ledge or as liners, if you measure the box that arrives against the cube line.
Less suitable: One measured 60–90 cm trough, or any job that needs a stated litre capacity.
Specifications
- Model
- ZOENHOU 8-pack 43 cm window boxes
- Brand
- ZOENHOU
- Price
- ∼£21
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(69)
- Pieces
- 8
- Outside size
- 43 cm or a cube
- Material
- Polypropylene
- Colour
- Pink
- Drainage
- Yes
- Tray
- Yes
- Self-watering
- No
- Weight
- 1.8 kg
Common questions
How many boxes are in the pack?
The title, the unit count and the bullets say eight pink 17 inch planters with trays.
Do the trays come off?
The page asks whether the trays detach. The bullets do not say. They do say each box has a water tray and pre-drilled holes.
What size is listed?
The title says 43 cm, also called 17 inch. Item dimensions are 43 × 43 × 43 cm. Weight is 1.8 kg. No capacity is listed.
Our view
The ARTKETTY trough is fired ceramic, 30.5 × 8.9 × 6.9 cm, with one drainage hole and a removable saucer, and the bullet says plants are not included. At about £18.99 it is 4.4 from 718 amazon.co.uk ratings, the largest sample in this set, and it is the top pick because those size lines agree and the hole is described in the listing. UK reviewers praise the glaze for succulents and small cactus, and several say the tray catches drips on a kitchen window. The same reviews often say it is smaller than the photo, with less room inside than the outside size, and one order had sides bowed by up to about 1 cm. Capacity is printed as 113.4 cubic inches, which is the listing’s own unit. Ceramic can arrive smashed, and one tray split on arrival. At 6.9 cm high it is a shallow dish, so a herb crop or a bedding trough is a different job. The usage attribute says indoor, while the bullets also mention outdoor plants.
Pros
- 30.5 × 8.9 × 6.9 cm, one hole and a removable saucer
- 4.4 from 718 ratings, the largest sample in this set
- Fired ceramic, plants not included, weight 1.39 kg
- UK reviews cite succulents and a tray that catches drips
Cons
- 6.9 cm high, so it is a succulent dish
- Often smaller than the photo, and one order bowed by about 1 cm
- Can arrive smashed, and one tray split
- About £18.99 for a single shallow trough
Best for: A shallow succulent or cactus dish on a desk or kitchen ledge, where you want ceramic and a drip tray.
Less suitable: Herbs, vegetables, or any planting that needs about 15 cm of soil.
Specifications
- Model
- ARTKETTY 30 cm ceramic trough
- Brand
- ARTKETTY
- Price
- ∼£19
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(718)
- Pieces
- 1
- Outside size
- 30.5 × 8.9 × 6.9 cm
- Material
- Ceramic
- Colour
- Red
- Drainage
- Yes
- Tray
- Yes
- Self-watering
- No
- Mounting
- Window mount
- Weight
- 1.39 kg
Common questions
Are plants included?
No. The bullet says plants are not included. The pack is the ceramic pot and a drainage tray.
Is the pot ceramic?
Yes. The material line is ceramic, and the first bullet says it is fired ceramic.
How big is it?
The size line is 30 cm. The table is 30.5 × 8.9 × 6.9 cm. Capacity is listed as 113.4 cubic inches. Weight is 1.39 kg.
Our view
Whitefurze sells two black Venetian troughs, 60 × 22 × 17 cm in the bullet with an inner base of 50 cm, about 14 litres, at about £8.99. The attribute depth is 21 cm, and the unit count says 1.0 even though the title and the piece count say two. The line is 4.3 from 315 ratings. UK reviewers like the length for windows, fences and bedding plants, and some prefer the black to green or terracotta. Drainage is the dispute that keeps returning: the attribute says drainage is yes, the bullets do not describe holes, and many of the 50 UK texts found no open holes, only pin-pricks, moulds or corner screw holes. One 2026 review was pleased the holes were already there, so the packs do not all match. Plastic is called thin, one base cracked while a hole was drilled, and one buyer bought brackets separately even though included components say mounting hardware. Weight is 900 g. The cheap length does not take the best-value badge, because many UK texts found no open holes.
Pros
- Two 60 cm troughs, about 14 litres, inner base 50 cm
- About £8.99, 4.3 from 315 ratings
- UK reviews praise the length for bedding and fences
- Some moulded bases are described as easy to open
Cons
- Many UK reviews found no open drainage holes
- Thin plastic, and one base cracked while a hole was drilled
- Unit count says 1.0, and one buyer bought brackets separately
Best for: A pair of 60 cm troughs on a sill or fence, after you have checked that the holes in your pack are actually open.
Less suitable: A sill that needs holes you can see in the listing photos, or a saucer supplied in the box.
Specifications
- Model
- Whitefurze 2 × 60 cm Venetian planters
- Brand
- Whitefurze
- Price
- ∼£9
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(315)
- Pieces
- 2
- Outside size
- 60 × 22 × 17 cm
- Capacity
- 14 litres
- Material
- Plastic
- Colour
- Black
- Self-watering
- No
- Mounting
- Window mount
- Weight
- 0.9 kg
Common questions
Are the drainage holes already open?
The attribute says drainage is yes. The bullets do not describe holes. Many UK reviews found no open holes, only pin-pricks, moulds or corner screw holes.
Are wall brackets in the box?
Included components say mounting hardware. One UK review says the brackets were bought separately.
How many planters are supplied?
The title and the piece count say two 60 cm planters. The unit count attribute says 1.0. Capacity is about 14 litres. Weight is 900 g.
Our view
Fuyuleyo is three rectangular herb boxes, about 27 × 12 × 14.5 cm in the bullet and about 26.8 × 11.5 × 14.2 cm in the table, with a 5.01 litre capacity and a water-level window. Cotton ropes are described as drawing from a bottom reservoir, and the attribute still says drainage is yes. At about £16.99 the line is 4.3 from 100 ratings. Across 28 United Kingdom reviews, the size suits a windowsill for herbs, seedlings and basil, and several buyers say they watered less often, including over a week away. The setup is the limit: several UK buyers found no instructions for the wicks, one order arrived without the cotton ropes, and one review says the pots are not self-watering at all. The bullet weight is 255 g each, while the attribute weight is 1.03 kg, and a voltage line of 100 to 120 volts has no electrical feature in the bullets. Included components name three plant pots and no separate saucer. It does not take the best-value badge: it is a wick set at about £5.66 a box, not the lower price per trough.
Pros
- Cotton wicks and a water-level window in the bullets
- About 27 cm long, 5.01 litres, three colours
- 4.3 from 100 ratings at about £16.99
- UK reviews cite a sill for herbs and fewer watering trips
Cons
- Several UK reviews found no wick instructions
- One UK order arrived without the cotton ropes
- Bullet weight 255 g each against an attribute weight of 1.03 kg
- One review says the pots are not self-watering
Best for: A kitchen sill where you can see the water window and the cotton ropes are actually in the parcel.
Less suitable: Outdoor rain that has to leave the box, or a hot holiday with nobody at home.
Specifications
- Model
- Fuyuleyo self-watering herb boxes
- Brand
- Fuyuleyo
- Price
- ∼£17
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(100)
- Pieces
- 3
- Outside size
- 27 × 12 × 14.5 cm
- Capacity
- 5.01 litres
- Material
- ABS plastic
- Colour
- Green, orange, brown
- Drainage
- Yes
- Self-watering
- Yes
- Mounting
- Floor standing
- Weight
- 0.255 or 1.03 kg
Common questions
How does the self-watering work?
The bullets say cotton ropes draw water from a bottom reservoir, and a window shows the level. Several UK reviews say there were no instructions. One says the ropes were not in the box.
Is there a separate saucer?
Included components list three plant pots. A separate tray is not named.
What size is each pot?
The bullet says 27 × 12 × 14.5 cm and 255 g. The attribute table is about 26.8 × 11.5 × 14.2 cm, with a line weight of 1.03 kg. Capacity is 5.01 litres.
Our view
Kigima is three beige boxes, 50 × 18 × 17 cm on the bullet and on both dimension lines, 15.3 litres, in recycled polypropylene, model MST000203, at about £26.20. A built-in reservoir is the self-watering claim, and the drainage attribute is no. No wick count and no overflow are stated. The listing average is 4.3 from 67 ratings. None of the written reviews in the file are from the United Kingdom, so there is no UK comment here on whether the reservoir works. The bullets mention a balcony, a patio, a windowsill and weather resistance, while the usage attribute says indoor. Included components are three flower boxes, and the listed weight is 1.65 kg. The bullets name herbs, flowers or small plants, and they do not give a maximum plant size. About £8.73 a planter is the price block for this pack.
Pros
- 50 × 18 × 17 cm agrees across the bullet and the table
- Three boxes, 15.3 litres, recycled polypropylene
- Built-in reservoir described in the bullets
- 4.3 from 67 ratings at about £26.20
Cons
- Drainage is no, and no overflow is stated
- No wick count, and no UK review text is on file
- Usage attribute says indoor while the bullets mention a balcony
Best for: A covered sill where you want a 50 cm reservoir box and rain cannot fill it.
Less suitable: An open balcony in UK rain, until you have confirmed an overflow the listing does not state.
Specifications
- Model
- Kigima 3-pack 50 cm self-watering boxes
- Brand
- Kigima
- Price
- ∼£26
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(67)
- Pieces
- 3
- Outside size
- 50 × 18 × 17 cm
- Capacity
- 15.3 litres
- Material
- Recycled polypropylene
- Colour
- Beige
- Drainage
- No
- Self-watering
- Yes
- Mounting
- Floor standing
- Weight
- 1.65 kg
Common questions
How does the self-watering work?
The bullet says a built-in reservoir hydrates the plants. It does not give a wick count. The drainage attribute is no, and no overflow is stated.
Can it be used outdoors?
The bullets mention a balcony, patio, window sill and indoor use, and weather resistance. The indoor outdoor usage attribute says indoor.
What is in the pack?
Three beige flower boxes, 50 × 18 × 17 cm, 15.3 litres, 1.65 kg. Model MST000203. The written reviews in the file are not from the United Kingdom.
Our view
The title is a Whitefurze G02022 Venetian trough, 90 cm, black, 22 litres, 90 × 17 × 22 cm in the bullet, at about £8.90 and 700 g. The attribute colour is forest green, the model is G020225, and the item type name is a 60 cm forest-green G02024, while the depth × width × height line is 20 × 20 × 17 cm. It is 4.0 from 195 ratings, the lowest star line in this set. UK reviewers use the length for windowsills, vegetables and plug plants, and some say drainage holes are easy to punch. The sides are the complaint that keeps returning: they bulge once the trough is filled with compost, and the plastic is called thin, flexible or translucent. Buyers also report cracking within days, a split end, a corner broken in transit, and a green box when black was ordered. Drainage is not stated on the listing, so the holes in those reviews were made by the buyer. About £8.90 is the low end of this set. It is not as stiff as a shorter herb box, and the flex is why it sits at the bottom of the score.
Pros
- Title length 90 cm, 22 litres, 700 g, about £8.90
- 4.0 from 195 ratings
- UK reviews use the length for vegetables and plug plants
- Some buyers find marked plastic easy to punch for drainage
Cons
- Title, colour and item type name do not agree
- Sides often bulge once the box is filled
- Drainage is not stated, so buyers drill or punch holes
- Cracks, a split end, and transit damage appear in UK reviews
Best for: A long, light trough at ground level if you accept flex and you will add drainage yourself.
Less suitable: An upper sill, a stiff span, or a buyer who needs the title colour to match the attribute table.
Specifications
- Model
- Whitefurze 90 cm Venetian trough
- Brand
- Whitefurze
- Price
- ∼£9
- Customer rating
- 4.0/5(195)
- Pieces
- 1
- Outside size
- 90 cm or 60 cm
- Capacity
- 22 litres
- Material
- Plastic
- Colour
- Black or green
- Mounting
- Window mount
- Weight
- 0.7 kg
Common questions
Is it the black 90 cm box?
The title says Whitefurze G02022, 90 cm, black. The colour attribute is forest green, the model is G020225, and the item type name is a 60 cm forest-green G02024.
Does it have drainage holes?
The bullets and the attribute table do not say. UK reviews describe punching or drilling holes.
Which measurements are printed?
The bullet says 90 cm long, 17 cm high and 22 cm deep, and 22 litres. Item dimensions are 90 × 22 × 17 cm. Another line is 20 × 20 × 17 cm. Weight is 700 g.
How we compared
Scores compare the nine amazon.co.uk listings in this set. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK lines saved on 15 October 2026. There is no laboratory test, and the boxes were not planted for this score. The scores do not rank the wider UK market. Each score is out of 100, in four blocks that sum to 100.
1
Review line
40%Stars and the listing review count, not the number of texts we read. Star points run from 6 at 4.0 up to 18 at 4.8. Volume points run from 4 under 50 ratings to 22 at 500 or more.
2
Stated job
30%Whether length, depth, and height agree, whether the listing actually describes holes, a saucer, a wick, or a reservoir, and whether UK review texts support that water story.
3
Price per planter
20%Shelf price divided by the planter count in the title. A pot-and-tray set counts as one planter. Four points come off when another field on the same listing contradicts that size or count.
4
Listing clarity
10%Each listing starts at 10. Points come off for a usage line, colour, unit count, weight, or dimension that disagrees with the title or the bullets.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Window box buying guide
Choose the box by the sill you have, the drainage the listing actually describes, and the plant, not by the photo. The nine amazon.co.uk pages below were saved on 15 October 2026. Prices are GBP shelf readings for this set.
What is a window box?
A window box is a long, narrow planter for a sill, for brackets under a window, or for a balcony ledge. On amazon.co.uk it is filed with garden products. It is not a lock, and buying one does not improve window security. Nine listings were kept on 15 October 2026. Narrow saucer boxes: the Bamworld three-pack, about £23.74, 4.8 from 49 ratings. Coloured multi-packs: the ZOENHOU eight-pack, about £20.99, 4.5 from 69. Self-watering herb boxes: the Fuyuleyo three-pack, about £16.99, 4.3 from 100.
Best for
- A shallow succulent dish on a desk or kitchen ledge
- Renters who need a short freestanding box and no screws
- Several medium troughs if you can check the size on arrival
Not ideal for
- Anyone treating a planter as a window lock
- An upper sill or an escape window you would block
- A vegetable crop that needs about 25 cm of soil
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Buying from the photo
Several listings print a second size that cannot be the same box. The Bamworld seven-pack bullet is 43 cm and the attribute lines are 10 × 10 × 10 mm. The B2C title says 38 cm and the table says 58 cm. Measure what arrives.
- 2
Garden soil and a full winter saucer
Use peat-free potting compost, not garden soil. The Royal Horticultural Society says take saucers off before winter. A saucer left full holds water against the sill and the roots.
- 3
Assuming the wicks were packed
Fuyuleyo describes cotton ropes. One UK order arrived without them, and several UK reviews found no wick instructions. Self-watering on the title is not proof the parts are in the parcel, and it is not a hot holiday with nobody at home.
What to weigh up
Size you can check
HighMeasure the sill and the swing of the window before you trust a photo. A box about as wide as the window is a retailer rule of thumb, not a law. About 15 cm of depth is a grower’s rule of thumb for herbs and bedding. About 25 cm is a better start for vegetables. In this scoring, full marks need length, depth, and height to agree. Two size lines that cannot both be the box score at the bottom of that block. ARTKETTY agrees at 30.5 × 8.9 × 6.9 cm. Kigima agrees at 50 × 18 × 17 cm.
Drainage and watering
HighDrainage you can verify is open holes, marked holes with stoppers, or a reservoir with an overflow. A saucer protects the sill only if you empty it. The Royal Horticultural Society wants holes, and saucers off before winter. BBC Gardeners’ World describes wick, reservoir, and overflow as the parts of a self-watering planter. In this set, ARTKETTY and both Bamworld packs name holes and a saucer in the bullets.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Several troughs on a budget
You want more than one plastic box and you will plant to the 43 cm bullet, then check the millimetre line when the parcel arrives. About £2.31 a box in this set.
Renter with a kitchen sill
You want a short freestanding box and no screws in the wall or the uPVC. Three black boxes with a saucer suit a covered ledge if you can live with a depth printed as both 9 cm and 12 cm.
Common questions about window boxes
Which window box is the top pick in this comparison?
The top pick is the ARTKETTY 30 cm ceramic trough, about £18.99, with 4.4 from 718 amazon.co.uk ratings. The size lines agree at 30.5 × 8.9 × 6.9 cm, and the listing describes one drainage hole and a removable saucer. It is a shallow succulent dish at 6.9 cm high. Plants are not included. It is not the pick for herbs, vegetables, or a 60–90 cm bedding trough. The score is from the listing, not a laboratory test.
How much does a window box cost on amazon.co.uk?
In this set, saved on 15 October 2026, entry is about £8.90 for the Whitefurze 90 cm title and about £8.99 for two 60 cm Whitefurze troughs. Mid-range is about £12.94 to about £23.74. The top of this set is the Kigima three-pack at about £26.20. The Bamworld seven-pack is about £16.14, about £2.31 a box. These are shelf readings for these nine listings, not a promise of the cheapest price, and not a market study.
What should you check before you buy a window box?
Measure the sill and the window swing before you trust a photo. A box about as wide as the window is a retailer rule of thumb, not a law. About 15 cm of depth is a grower’s rule of thumb for herbs and bedding. About 25 cm is a better start for vegetables. Then check open holes, stoppers, or a reservoir with an overflow. Several listings print two sizes. The detail is in the window box buying guide.
Do window boxes need drainage holes?
The Royal Horticultural Society says holes are essential, and that saucers come off before winter. A saucer protects the sill only if you empty it. On these listings, a yes on drainage is not always an open hole. Many UK reviews of the Whitefurze 60 cm pair found pin-pricks or no open holes. The B2C box uses stoppers and marked spots. The 90 cm title does not state holes. Cover only holes larger than about 2.5 cm.
Can you fix a window box to an upper sill or an escape window?
Do not drill a uPVC sill. Garden News suggests brackets into brickwork about every 45 cm, as a rule of thumb. A renter needs written permission before screws go into the wall. A listed facade can need consent. Wet compost, not the empty weight, is the load above a pavement. An escape window under Approved Document B needs a clear opening of at least 0.33 m² and at least 450 mm high and wide. Do not block that opening.
Is a self-watering window box better than holes and a saucer?
A wick and a visible water line suit a kitchen sill if the wicks are in the parcel. Fuyuleyo describes cotton ropes, and one UK order arrived without them. Kigima describes a reservoir, sets drainage to no, and states no overflow. Outdoors, UK rain needs a way out. Self-watering does not mean a hot holiday with nobody at home. Holes plus a saucer you empty are the other route, and the saucer comes off before winter.
Does a window box make a window more secure?
No. A window box is a planter. It does not replace a lock, a restrictor, or a window handle. Nothing here was tested as a security product. Timber is a different comparison: a wood window box. The B2C trough in this set is wood-effect plastic, and one UK buyer thought the slats were timber. Call a professional if you must drill masonry above head height, or if the box would stop an escape window.
Our verdict
The top pick for a shallow ceramic succulent dish is the ARTKETTY trough: 30.5 × 8.9 × 6.9 cm, one hole and a removable saucer, about £18.99, and 4.4 from 718 ratings, the largest sample in this set. It is 6.9 cm high, so it is not the pick for herbs, vegetables, or a 60–90 cm bedding trough. The best value is the Bamworld seven-pack at about £16.14, about £2.31 a box, with two holes and a saucer in the bullet and 4.5 from 111 ratings. Both attribute dimension lines on that listing say 10 × 10 × 10 mm, so 43 cm is not the only printed size. The eight-pack ties the price block and does not take the badge: its total is lower, and the size line is a cube.
Best value
View offer
Bamworld 7-pack red window boxes
Seven boxes at about £16.14, about £2.31 each, with two holes and a saucer in the bullet.
Editorial
Editor
Window boxesSill plantersamazon.co.uk listings
Products Compared publishes British-English buying guides based on amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. We do not run a lab and we do not invent test scores.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to window boxes
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Best window boxesWho each listing is for, and who should skip it.Window box buying guideLength, depth, drainage, and fixing before you choose an ASIN.How to plant a window boxDrainage, peat-free compost, planting order, and watering.Self-watering or drainage holesA reservoir and wick against holes and a saucer.Window box herbsLight, depth, and which herbs share a kitchen box.
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Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings in this set. Last checked 15 October 2026.
- RHS: growing plants in containers (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- RHS: how to plant a container (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- RHS: peat-free choices (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- BBC Gardeners' World: self-watering planters (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (Great Britain) (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Approved Document B, volume 1, dwellings (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Garden News: how to plant a window box (retrieved 15 October 2026)
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a lab test.