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Planter drainage holes

Updated: October 2026

Planter drainage holes let ordinary compost release excess water, but these listings use different bases. Some have holes, two have plugs, several are sealed and one bed is open to the ground. The [planter comparison](/hub/plant-accessories/planter) records each arrangement. This guide explains the differences, seasonal saucers and listing conflicts. The top pick among the small drained sets is PROFIKLA, because holes and saucers are stated. The best value large tubs are the Straame pair, and they arrive sealed, so drainage is a decision you make before planting. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Planter drainage holes let ordinary compost release excess water, but these listings use different bases. Some have holes, two have plugs, several are sealed and one bed is open to the ground.

Our top picks

PROFIKLA PROFIKLA pot set of three

Best overall

PROFIKLA PROFIKLA pot set of three
9.4/10about £15.99
View offer
Straame Straame 50 L barrels, two pack

Best value

Straame Straame 50 L barrels, two pack
9.0/10about £18.99
View offer
Olly & Rose Olly & Rose fibre-cement pot

Alternative

Olly & Rose Olly & Rose fibre-cement pot
8.0/10about £89.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Four ways planter bases are sold
  2. 2.Use saucers differently in summer and winter
  3. 3.Show conflicts instead of smoothing them over
  4. 4.Keep a sealed tub watertight only on purpose

Four ways planter bases are sold

A factory-drilled base is the simplest arrangement for ordinary plants. PROFIKLA states holes in its title and bullets. Bamworld, DIVCHI and FOUBAM state drainage. Do not press holes flat, where silt and roots can block them. The RHS recommends raising outdoor pots on feet where appropriate. A plug gives a choice. Olly & Rose includes a hole and plug. JonesHouseDeco’s bullets describe a pre-drilled hole with a removable rubber plug. Open the plug outdoors so rain can leave. That drainage bullet does not settle JonesHouseDeco’s conflicts on material and size. Both Straame 50 litre barrels arrive without holes. Optimal’s bullets say the troughs are sold without holes, with locators to drill. For ordinary plants the RHS says holes are essential. For a bog planting, a watertight base may be the point. VIREO’s open bottom drains into prepared ground and does not hold soil on a balcony or paving. The planter buying guide sets these bases against size and position.

Use saucers differently in summer and winter

A saucer can catch runoff indoors or hold a little water in dry summer weather. PROFIKLA includes one for each pot. Optimal’s included-components line names a drainage saucer. A saucer is not itself drainage. Water first has to pass through a hole. Compost left submerged displaces air from the root zone. In winter the RHS advises removing outdoor saucers so rain does not leave the base standing in water, and raising pots so holes stay clear. Saturated compost can freeze even when a pot is sold as frost resistant. NATTHSWE has a plastic liner, no saucer and no drainage, so treat it as an outer basket. The container planting guide covers watering and winter care.
PROFIKLA PROFIKLA pot set of three

Testsieger

PROFIKLA PROFIKLA pot set of three
9.4/10about £15.99
View offer

Show conflicts instead of smoothing them over

Optimal’s table says Has Drainage: No. The bullets say the troughs are sold without holes and give drill locators, yet a special-feature field says Drainage Hole. Expect a sealed base that may need drilling, unless the seller confirms otherwise. A voltage line on the same listing is not a planter feature. The Garden Superstore 30 cm pot has no drainage field, while UK reviews mention a hole. Reviews are not a missing specification. Do not invent a plug. None is listed. PROFIKLA has no Has Drainage field, but the title and bullets state holes. An absent field is not a stated no.

Keep a sealed tub watertight only on purpose

Straame’s bullets say you can drill the base or leave it watertight, and UK reviews include uses where retained water was wanted. A sealed 50 litre tub can suit a bog planting. That is not a guarantee for fish or wildlife. The evidence supports only the choice between sealed and drilled. For conventional planting, make the outlets before filling and test that water leaves. There is no universal drill diameter here. The one-pack’s printed 39 g is not a planted 50 litre barrel, and the two-pack has no empty weight. If the tub will stand above ground level, read the balcony planter weight guide before filling it.

Common questions

Does every planter in this comparison have holes?
No. PROFIKLA, Bamworld, DIVCHI and FOUBAM state holes or drainage. Olly & Rose and the JonesHouseDeco bullets state a hole and plug. Both Straame barrels and the Optimal troughs are sold sealed, NATTHSWE says no drainage, VIREO has an open bottom and Garden Superstore’s table is silent.
What is the difference between a plug and a sealed pot?
A plug closes an existing hole and can be removed when drainage is needed. A sealed pot has no open outlet unless you create one. Olly & Rose includes a plug. Straame tells you to drill if you want conventional drainage. Do not describe a drill locator as a removable plug.
When should I remove a saucer?
The RHS advises taking outdoor saucers away in winter so rain does not leave pots standing in water. In summer, a saucer can catch runoff or briefly retain water for a thirsty plant. Empty it when the plant should not remain waterlogged, and keep the pot’s actual holes clear.
Can I plant directly into the NATTHSWE basket?
The table says no drainage and the listing provides a plastic liner, while pots and saucers are not included. Treat it as an indoor outer basket around a separate pot with its own drainage. Direct planting would leave you without a stated route for excess water.
Does an open-bottom bed need drainage holes?
Not in the same way as a closed pot. VIREO’s open bottom lets water and potentially roots pass into prepared ground. On paving, decking or a roof, you need a planned base, soil retention and drainage route rather than assuming the open frame can be filled anywhere.
Should I drill a sealed planter immediately?
Only after deciding its use. Ordinary planting needs outlets, but a bog-style use may need the tub watertight. Work on the empty container and test drainage before adding compost.

Related pages

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Balcony planter weight: empty figures are not load

Planter buying guide: size, drainage and winter use

How to plant in a container: fill, water and winter

Sources

Public UK sources for container growing, product safety and balcony loads, plus the amazon.co.uk listing facts checked on 15 October 2026. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are those UK figures and can change. On that date a separate look also showed a 55 cm plastic trough at £6.99 and a fibre-stone trough at £47.18. Those two are not rows in this table.

  1. RHS: Growing plants in containers (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. RHS: Winter containers (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. RHS: Trees in containers (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. GOV.UK: General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK: sale of horticultural peat to be banned (27 August 2022) (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. Peat Free Partnership: legislation timeline (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. HCGA: container gardening leaflet (retrieved 15 October 2026)