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A greenhouse does more than extend the growing season. With the right equipment, it can allow you to grow fresh produce all year long. This is true even if your space is limited to just a small area in the yard or on the deck.

Finding the right small greenhouse to fit your needs can be tricky because there are so many varieties, types, and styles of these products out there. That's why we've put together this list of the best small greenhouses.

By comparing user ratings, ease of assembly, life expectancy, and functionality, we found the top seven mini-greenhouses worth buying. From the super portable and very affordable to the highly functional, we've got it all, including some small greenhouses you can use all year long!

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Best Small Greenhouse Summary Table

How We Choose The Top Small Greenhouses

Material

Greenhouse frames are typically made with one of three types of materials. Plastic rods are common in lightweight portable types, while steel or aluminum frames are more common in walk-in styles. Aluminum is preferred for its lighter weight and rust-resistance but we also considered well-made plastic and steel types because they are more affordable.

The panels of a greenhouse are typically made of PE or PVC plastic, polycarbonate, or glass. Polycarbonate is the optimal greenhouse material because it is lightweight and durable. But PE plastic is most common in small greenhouses due to its flexible nature and low price point.

To learn more about how the material dictates the effectiveness of a greenhouse, check out our article, How Does a Greenhouse Work.

Size

To be considered for our best small greenhouse list, products needed to be portable or have a space-saving footprint. We looked at a variety of styles of greenhouses that fell into the "small" category from row-cover types, to shelf covers, to more compact walk-in units. We included at least one of each type on this list to help you find the best option for your needs.

If you have more space, consider checking out our picks for the best greenhouse kits for more varied style options.

Ease of Assembly

One big advantage of small greenhouses is that they tend to be easier to assemble than larger options. But that doesn't mean all are effortless to put together. We looked for options that offered assembly advantages such as pre-assembled walls, snap-together frames, and other features that made for faster assembly.

Expected Lifetime

As we reviewed each small greenhouse kit, we weighed ease of assembly, material type, and cost against how long the product was expected to last. We gave higher ratings to products that had a longer than average lifespan as well as those that came with extended warranties.

Small Greenhouse Reviews

Erommy Small Portable Greenhouse

Key Specifications

Durable PVC panels
Powder-coated steel frame
Lightweight and portable

Are you looking for a simple and affordable greenhouse option that will allow you to extend your growing season without requiring extra space? The Erommy Small Portable Greenhouse is a great choice for small budgets and small yards.

This row-cover style greenhouse sits directly over an existing garden bed to help protect seedlings early in the year, protect plants during damaging weather, and extend the growing season later into the fall.

The frame is made of powdered coated steel with plastic joints. The lowest rail is meant to be partially buried in the soil to help stabilize the structure and reduce heat loss. Thanks to the protective coating, these poles won't rust and are resistant to damage.

The simple structure is covered with reinforced PVC panels. This plastic material is stronger than standard PE but not as transparent.

Note: While the panels don't let as much light in as other options, they are less likely to tear in damaging weather and make a great option for shading young plants.

To help increase sunlight, these panels can be opened and rolled up on one side. In addition to allowing more natural light in, this feature also increases ventilation. When it's time to tuck your plants in before a cool night, simply unroll the panels and secure them using the velcro along the bottom.

This long row-cover style greenhouse is about 8 feet long and 2 ½ feet wide. It weighs just 9 pounds and is simple to assemble. Once put together it is easy to move into place with two people.

Pros

Affordable
Easy to assemble
Large roll-up panels for light and ventilation

Cons

Opaque design reduces light inside
Must be buried in the dirt for stability
Not suitable for use in heavy snow

OGrow Walk In Portable Greenhouse

Key Specifications

Clear paneling
Only 15 lbs
Walk-in style with 6 shelves

If you are looking to add a greenhouse space to your deck or patio, the OGrow Walk In Portable Greenhouse is your best option.

Thanks to an upright design, this greenhouse has a small footprint but plenty of space to put potted plants. Each side features three wide shelves with enough space between them for you to work inside of the greenhouse. It is an impressive 6 ½ feet high and only 4 ½ feet long by 2 ½ feet deep.

The frame is made of powder-coated steel with easy-fit plastic connectors to hold everything together. The cover is made of clear plastic for an unobstructed view of the greenery inside.

Note: While we do love the look this plastic paneling gives the greenhouse, it is important to note that it doesn't provide a lot of UV protection.

Plants inside the greenhouse are likely to get a lot of light and a lot of heat in the summer. Depending on what you're trying to grow, this unit would be best placed against an east-facing wall to reduce direct midday sunlight.

For winter use in mild climates, the clear nature of the cover would be a definite benefit, allowing plenty of warmth and light to grow cold-tolerant plants. For moderate to severe winters, especially those that see a lot of snow, this greenhouse is not a suitable choice. To help it last, be sure to pack it away for the winter months.

This greenhouse does include two small roll-up vent windows to increase air circulation as needed. The large door panel along the front also rolls up for full ventilation on warm days. This door features zippers on each side to secure the door in place when not in use.

While this may not be the best small greenhouse choice for all situations, it is a great option if you need an affordable, spacious greenhouse for use close to the house.

The OGrow is easy to assemble but has many parts so be prepared to spend about an hour with it. It comes with a 6-month warranty on the frame and a 90 warranty on the cover.

Pros

Small footprint
Lots of useable space
Plenty of ventilation

Cons

No UV protection
Very limited warranty
Anchor kit sold separately

Portable Hexagonal Fully Enclosed Greenhouse

Key Specifications

Maximizes space
2-layer PE mesh
300 degrees of double shelving

If you have a larger space but are still in need of a portable-style greenhouse, this Hexagonal Greenhouse by Erommy is a great choice.

This greenhouse is on the larger end for what is still considered a small unit. At nearly 6 ½ feet in diameter, it has plenty of floor space for planting directly in the ground or for setting pots. And each one of the six walls includes two shelves for additional growing space.

The frame is made of galvanized steel with plastic connection points. Once anchored, it is strong enough to stand up to wind and weather. The panel material consists of 2-layer PE mesh plastic which provides added UV protection and helps diffuse incoming light to prevent plant burn.

Note: One thing this greenhouse lacks is ventilation. The large door panel can be unzipped and rolled up to allow some air in. But without other ventilation points, airflow through the inside is reduced.

Luckily, the opaque nature of the cover does reduce overheating problems well enough that this isn't an issue for most climates.

This greenhouse is sturdy enough to withstand light snow and could be used as a winter greenhouse in moderate climates. But to extend the life of the cover, we recommend packing it up for the coldest months.

Due to its size, this greenhouse does require some time to assemble, but it is no more difficult than the other portable options we have listed here. It is quite wide and tall, however, so it will take at least two people to move into position once completed.

Considering all the room inside this greenhouse and extra features like shelving and a wide zippered door, it is priced incredibly well and a great option for those in need of a greenhouse with a little more space.

Pros

UV protection
Plenty of surface area
Weather-resistant

Cons

Limited ventilation options
Reduced light
Requires careful staking for stabilization

Canopia Plant Inn Mini Greenhouse

Key Specifications

Raised-bed style greenhouse
Extra storage below bed
Polycarbonate panels
Lightweight but durable aluminum frame

Are you pressed for space or looking for a greenhouse that will help keep the critters out of your crop? The Canopia Plant Inn Mini Greenhouse is the perfect solution to both situations.

This intelligently designed little greenhouse looks like an enclosed raised bed. The extra height off the ground helps keep animals out of your garden while making it easier for you to reach your crops without having to kneel or bend. Plus, the space under the garden bed doubles as storage for your garden gear—perfect for those that are super-short on space.

The upper garden is enclosed within polycarbonate panels that protect the plants from the elements while holding heat and humidity in. While lightweight, these panels are incredibly durable and able to stand up to the elements very well.

Note: This greenhouse would make a great choice for those hoping to plant a winter garden. It provides enough protection to allow for cool-season crop cultivation in moderate winter climates.

The angled roof opens on both sides, allowing unrestricted access to the entire bed. These panels can be fully opened on hot days for full airflow, or propped open for simple ventilation.

The Canopia Plant Inn requires quite a bit of assembly. Expect to dedicate about 5 hours to put it together and plan on having two people to do so. Once constructed it is light enough to move around before the dirt is added to the internal bins.

This greenhouse stands at just under 5 feet tall and is about 4 feet wide. A durable aluminum frame supports the lower plastic storage panels and upper polycarbonate greenhouse panels. All parts carry an impressive 5-year warranty.

Pros

Garden without bending or kneeling
Durable enough for year-round use
Plenty of ventilation

Cons

Garden beds are a bit shallow
Assembly takes time
On the pricier end for quality and size

Walk-In Greenhouse With Sliding Door

Key Specifications

UV blocking polycarbonate panels
Durable aluminum alloy frame
Sliding door and roof vent

Are you looking for a true greenhouse kit that's small enough to fit in an undersized yard? The Walk-In Greenhouse With Sliding Door is the perfect compromise between size and function.

This quality greenhouse looks like your premiere walk-in garden greenhouses but only has a footprint of 4 feet by 6 feet.

The structure is made of high-quality aluminum alloy and the panels are made of highly durable polycarbonate. These panels provide UV protection while letting in diffused light for maximum growth without burning.

The front of the house features a sliding door for easy access without requiring extra space. There is a single window vent on the roof to help keep temperatures down during sunny days. And the frame is built to support additions like shelving, drip systems, and other greenhouse must-haves.

Note: If you are hoping to use your greenhouse year-round, this option has you covered. The frame and panels are strong enough to stand up to snow while the included galvanized base sinks into the ground to stabilize the house and protect against blow over.

This greenhouse will take some time to put together and requires at least two sets of hands. You will also want to assemble it in place as moving the structure is quite difficult. It can be placed directly on the ground for inground planting or on a foundation for use with potted plants.

Pros

Durable enough for year-round use
Compatible with many standard greenhouse additions
Sliding door requires no extra space
Well priced for its size

Cons

Requires extensive assembly
Cannot be easily moved once assembled
Not the best choice for high wind environments

Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse

Key Specifications

Minimal footprint
4 wide shelves
Removable cover

Small greenhouses make a great place to start seedlings and spoil houseplants in need of a bit more sun. The Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse is perfect if these are your main reasons for getting a greenhouse.

This tall shelf-style greenhouse has a tiny footprint—only 27 inches by 18 inches. That's not a ton of space unless you multiply it by four, which you can do thanks to the built-in, 63-inch high shelving unit.

All of those alloy steel shelves are encased in a clear PE plastic cover. This cover helps protect your plants from the elements while keeping heat and humidity in during cool nights. This provides the perfect environment for sprouting seeds and caring for tropical plants.

Best of all, when the temperatures finally heat up, you can remove the cover completely and use the product as a simple decorative shelf for holding your plants and garden supplies.

When the greenhouse cover is in place, the front panel unzips along each side to allow access to the plants on the shelves. It can even be rolled up and secured in place to provide ventilation as needed.

Note: Don't expect these shelves to be able to hold a ton of weight, but they work well enough for seedling trays, plastic pots, or a handful of ceramic pots. If you plan to position the unit where it will get some wind, make sure to anchor it to a deck rail or the wall.

This tiny greenhouse is super simple to assemble and provides the perfect place to house plants through mild winters or to help extend your growing season.

Pros

Takes up very little space
Easy to assemble
Great for indoors and outdoors

Cons

Not sturdy enough for heavy potted plants
Needs to be stored during harsh weather
Will blow over easily if not anchored

Little Cottage Company Petite Greenhouse

Key Specifications

Wood structure with polycarbonate roof
Five opening windows
Double doors for easy access

Looking for a durable, insulated greenhouse that you can use all winter long without fear of it crumbling under the snow or blowing away? The Little Cottage Company Petite Greenhouse is as sturdy a little greenhouse as you'll ever find.

This unit is half shed, half greenhouse, and all function. Three of the four wood walls feature tall windows to let in light, while the roof is made of corrugated polycarbonate to create an even brighter environment.

Each of the five windows opens to allow for maximum ventilation. They also include screens to help keep pests away from your plants. Opposite the windows, on the long wall of the 5-foot-wide, 2-½-foot deep structure are two double shed doors that allow easy access to the inside.

Note: This greenhouse is only 4 feet high at the tall end. It isn't exactly a walk-in type but rather meant to be used more as a shelf-style greenhouse that is worked on from outside the doors.

There is a long shelf built into the far wall as well as plenty of space on the floor for setting additional potted plants.

The entire structure is raised off the ground to reduce rodent activity and stabilize the structure without the need for a foundation. Thanks to the wood walls, it provides far more protection and temperature stabilization for winter gardening than your typical greenhouse. But you will likely still need supplemental heat in cold climates if you plan to grow anything beyond cool-season crops.

The Little Cottage comes with prefabricated sections that require assembly. Expect to spend a day putting it together with the help of a friend, or better yet, hire a professional carpenter to do it for you. It comes unfinished and will need to be painted and maintained for maximum weather protection.

Pros

Durable in all weather conditions
Increased protection against pests
Year-round use

Cons

Pricey
Takes time and tools to assemble
Not tall enough to walk into

Greenhouse Comparison Table

Model	Size	Material Type	Style	Color
Erommy Small Portable Greenhouse	7.9′ long, 2.6′ wide, 2.6′ high	Steel frame with PE cover	Row cover	Green
OGrow Walkin Portable Greenhouse	77″ high x 56″ wide x 29" deep	Plastic	Walk in	Green with Clear Panels
Portable Hexagonal Greenhouse	6.4′ wide x 6.4′ long x 7.3′ high	Steel frame with PE cover	Walk in	Green with opaque panels
Canopia Plant Inn Mini Greenhouse	4′ 10 1/2" high x 3′ 10" width x 46 deep	Plastic and polycarbonate	Raised bed	Black with clear panels
Walk-In Greenhouse With Sliding Door	4′ long x 6′ wide x 6.6′ high	Aluminum and polycarbonate	Walk in	Green with clear panels
Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse	27″ long x 18″ wide x 63″ high	Steel with PE cover	Shelf	Black with clear panels
Little Cottage Company Petite Greenhouse	4′ 3" high x 5′ 1" wide x 31 deep	Wood, polycarbonate, and glass	Shed	Unfinished

Small Greenhouse Buying Guide

Small greenhouses come in more sizes, shapes, and styles than large greenhouses, which means you have a lot more options to consider. To help you find the right product for your needs, we put together this helpful small greenhouse buying guide.

Fixed or Portable

The first thing to consider is whether you want a fixed greenhouse or one that's portable. To some extent, this decision will affect how big your greenhouse can be.

With shelf-style, row cover, and lightweight walk-in greenhouses, you can easily move them around based on the season and your needs. You can also typically break these down easily and store them when they aren't needed. On the downside, they tend to be smaller, more likely to be damaged by wind and are not usually suitable for winter use.

Larger walk-in style greenhouses, as well as raised bed and shed style units, tend to offer more space and are more resistant to wind and the elements. Some are insulated and durable enough for winter use. But these less portable options tend to take more time to assemble, are more expensive, and take up more space.

Which Is The Best Material

What your greenhouse is made of is one of the more important things to consider before committing to any one product.

When it comes to the structure of the greenhouse, you'll find most options are made of steel or aluminum. Steel is strong but heavy and is prone to rust if not finished properly. Aluminum is lightweight and won't rust but is more expensive.

In terms of panel material, there are a few choices, each with its own pros and cons.

PE or PVC Plastic – This material is cheap and malleable. It doesn't provide as much protection against UV rays or the elements. It comes in transparent, diffuse, or mesh styles.
Polycarbonate – This type of plastic is incredibly durable and typically includes powerful UV protection. But it is much more expensive than standard plastic. It is available in transparent or diffuse styles.
Glass – This traditional greenhouse material is not used as often anymore because it is heavy and expensive. While highly durable, it can be shattered by hail and flying objects. Some glass is treated to provide UV protection.

The best material for your greenhouse will depend on your budget, your planned uses for the house, and whether you want to use the unit as a winter greenhouse.

Assembly Difficulty and Requirements

Typically, lightweight, portable greenhouses can be easily assembled by one person in under an hour. Larger units often require two people to hold the pieces upright as additional parts are added. The most complex units, such as walk-ins and shed-style houses may be best left to the professionals depending on your abilities and the tools you have on hand.

Another consideration is if the product requires a special base or foundation. Typically, this is unnecessary for small greenhouses. Most can be placed directly on the dirt or a deck or patio, but it is always worth double-checking these requirements.

If you plan to move your greenhouse regularly or take it down at the end of the summer, consider how much work that will require. Many small kits break down rather easily and can be moved around by one or two people without an issue. But others may be too large or flimsy to move around once they are constructed.

Ventilation

If you've never used a greenhouse, you might be surprised by how quickly these houses heat up. To help keep your greenhouse from overheating or getting too humid, you'll need some sort of ventilation.

Many small greenhouses rely solely on the door for ventilation. While this works well enough if the unit is very small, it does not provide enough airflow for greenhouses with more space inside. For these larger units, look for products that have upper vents or multiple flaps that can be opened.

Possible Upgrades

Depending on the type of greenhouse kit you choose, you may be able to add additional upgrades to make the unit more useful. Here are some of the more common upgraded features that can be added to greenhouses of all sizes:

Solar fan
Automatic vent openers
Shelving
Drip system
Thermostat
Humidistat
Greenhouse heater

If you plan to use your greenhouse during the cold months, you may consider making some alterations or additions to help keep your plants warm. To find out more about your options, check out our article on How to Heat a Greenhouse.

Small Greenhouse Kits for Every Need

Small greenhouses give you most of the same benefits as large ones without the space commitment. With such a variety of these products on the market, it's easy to find exactly what you need to take your gardening to the next level.

For a small greenhouse that looks and functions like the big ones, there's no better option than the Erommy Walk-In Greenhouse With Sliding Door. This polycarbonate greenhouse has a small footprint but plenty of space inside for you and your plants to enjoy some sun even in the middle of winter.

If your main reason for getting a greenhouse is to keep the critters out of your crops, the Canopia Plant Inn Mini Greenhouse is an awesome option. This raised greenhouse keeps the pests out while providing you extra space for storing your garden tools.

If maximizing growing area in a limited space is your challenge, then the OGrow Walk In Portable Greenhouse is the top unit you want. This PE plastic house features 6 shelves, a zippered door, and a high roof so you can enjoy the benefits of a large greenhouse without the space commitment.

Looking for something else? Our above list has four more of the best small greenhouses worth looking into.