Roundups / Compact greenhouses

Grow-your-own · UK product comparison

Best compact greenhouses for small gardens in 2026

A small garden doesn't have to mean giving up on growing your own. This roundup covers five compact greenhouses, from a shelved mini that sits against a wall to walk-in 6x4 and 4x6 models for people with a bit more room. Our comparison is based on the manufacturer specifications and warranty terms, so you can match footprint, frame material and glazing to your space and budget. Wooden frames suit a more traditional look, while aluminium is the lighter choice at 26.5 to 27.4 kg for the two Palram-Canopia models. Every model here is self-assembly, so it is worth clearing the ground before it arrives.

P&P

Plot & Pot editors
We compare published product details, sizes and materials. These are desk-researched product roundups, not hands-on tests.

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Our stand-out pick

Rowlinson Hardwood Mini Greenhouse

The Rowlinson Hardwood Mini takes the top spot because it packs the most useful features into the smallest, most affordable package. At £229 it is the cheapest here, and its 120 × 63 × 144 cm footprint suits patios, balconies and narrow borders. You get a hardwood frame, twin-wall polycarbonate panels, two shelves and two lifting lids with adjustable stays, which covers the basics for seed trays and young plants without needing a large plot.

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At a glance

Our picks compared

Prices are dated snapshots and can change. Product dimensions are shown as width × depth × height.

Product	Brand	Price snapshot	Retailer	Dimensions	Weight	Frame	Glazing	Shelves	Lids	Assembly	Warranty	Lid	Floor	Door	Ventilation	Extras
Rowlinson Hardwood Mini Greenhouse	Rowlinson	£229.00	One Garden	120 × 63 × 144 cm	30 kg	FSC hardwood	Twin-wall polycarbonate	2	2 lifting lids with adjustable stays	Self-assembly, 1 to 2 hours	12-month parts	—	—	—	—	—
Zest Compact Botanical Greenhouse	Zest	£329.00	One Garden	85 × 40 × 123 cm	40 kg	Pressure-treated softwood	Perspex	2 large removable shelves	—	Self-assembly	10-year anti-rot	Opening lid with stay	Not supplied	—	—	—
Palram-Canopia Mythos 6x4 Greenhouse, Silver	Palram-Canopia	£289.00	One Garden	185 × 126 × 208 cm	26.5 kg	Rust-resistant aluminium	Twin-wall polycarbonate	—	—	Self-assembly, 2 people, 4 to 6 hours	5-year defects and workmanship	—	—	Hinged single door	1 opening window and 1 roof vent	Gutters and galvanised steel base
Palram-Canopia Hybrid 6x4 Greenhouse, Green	Palram-Canopia	£354.00	One Garden	185 × 126 × 208 cm	27.4 kg	Powder-coated aluminium	Polycarbonate roof and wall panels	—	—	Self-assembly, 2 people, 4 to 6 hours	5-year defects and workmanship	—	—	Hinged door	1 opening window	—
Mercia Traditional Greenhouse 4x6	Mercia	£479.99	One Garden	192.8 × 124.1 × 206 cm	94 kg	Dip-treated shiplap timber	Styrene	—	—	Self-assembly	Conditional 10-year anti-rot, annual retreatment required	—	Not supplied	Hinged single door	1 window	—

The details

Five compact greenhouses, compared

01 · Best overall

Rowlinson Hardwood Mini Greenhouse

A well-equipped mini greenhouse that fits tight spaces and includes shelving and adjustable lids.

The Rowlinson Hardwood Mini is the most affordable greenhouse here at £229, and it makes smart use of a small footprint at 120 × 63 × 144 cm. The hardwood frame is paired with twin-wall polycarbonate panels, giving it a more natural look than a bare metal frame. Two shelves provide room for seed trays and pots, while two lifting lids with adjustable stays let you vary the opening. At 30 kg it is easy enough to position by hand. It is self-assembly and comes with a 12-month parts warranty, so it suits gardeners who want a simple, space-friendly starter.

Price snapshot: £229.00 at One Garden, recorded 2026-11-02. Check the retailer page for the current price.

Key specifications

Dimensions: 120 × 63 × 144 cm
Weight: 30 kg
Frame: FSC hardwood
Glazing: Twin-wall polycarbonate
Shelves: 2
Lids: 2 lifting lids with adjustable stays
Assembly: Self-assembly, 1 to 2 hours
Warranty: 12-month parts

What stands out

Two shelves and two lifting lids with adjustable stays are included
Hardwood frame with twin-wall polycarbonate panels in a compact footprint

Things to consider

The warranty covers parts for only 12 months, shorter than the Zest's 10-year anti-rot cover

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02 · Best for narrow spaces

Zest Compact Botanical Greenhouse

A slim, shelved greenhouse for tight spots, though it costs more than the larger Mythos 6x4.

The Zest Compact Botanical is the slimmest option here at 85 × 40 × 123 cm, which makes it a good fit for a narrow patio edge or beside a wall. It has a pressure-treated softwood frame and Perspex glazing, plus two large removable shelves that make it easy to rearrange for different pots and trays. The single opening lid has a stay to hold it open. A 10-year anti-rot warranty adds reassurance for the timber. It is self-assembly, and at 40 kg it is heavier than the larger Palram models, so allow for that when positioning it.

Price snapshot: £329.00 at One Garden, recorded 2026-11-02. Check the retailer page for the current price.

Key specifications

Dimensions: 85 × 40 × 123 cm
Weight: 40 kg
Frame: Pressure-treated softwood
Glazing: Perspex
Shelves: 2 large removable shelves
Lid: Opening lid with stay
Floor: Not supplied
Assembly: Self-assembly
Warranty: 10-year anti-rot

What stands out

Very slim footprint for tight spaces
Two large removable shelves and a 10-year anti-rot warranty

Things to consider

No floor is supplied, and at £329 it costs more than the larger Palram-Canopia Mythos 6x4

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03 · Best value walk-in

Palram-Canopia Mythos 6x4 Greenhouse, Silver

A lightweight aluminium greenhouse with standing room at a sensible price.

The Palram-Canopia Mythos 6x4 Silver is a lower-cost route to a full-height greenhouse, at £289 and 185 × 126 × 208 cm. The aluminium frame and twin-wall polycarbonate glazing keep the weight to 26.5 kg, the lightest model in this roundup. A hinged single door gives you access, and one opening window provides ventilation. It is self-assembly and carries a 5-year defects and workmanship warranty. It suits gardeners who want room to stand and grow larger plants without the upkeep of a timber frame, while keeping to a modest 6x4 footprint.

Price snapshot: £289.00 at One Garden, recorded 2026-11-02. Check the retailer page for the current price.

Key specifications

Dimensions: 185 × 126 × 208 cm
Weight: 26.5 kg
Frame: Rust-resistant aluminium
Glazing: Twin-wall polycarbonate
Door: Hinged single door
Ventilation: 1 opening window and 1 roof vent
Extras: Gutters and galvanised steel base
Assembly: Self-assembly, 2 people, 4 to 6 hours
Warranty: 5-year defects and workmanship

What stands out

Lightest model here at 26.5 kg, with an aluminium frame
Walk-in height at £289, cheaper than the larger Mercia timber option

Things to consider

Only one opening window is listed

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04 · Best for a coloured frame

Palram-Canopia Hybrid 6x4 Greenhouse, Green

A green powder-coated 6x4 greenhouse with the same footprint as the Mythos, at a higher price.

The Palram-Canopia Hybrid 6x4 Green shares its 185 × 126 × 208 cm footprint with the Mythos, so the choice largely comes down to finish and glazing. It uses a powder-coated aluminium frame with polycarbonate roof and wall panels, and the green colour may blend into a planted garden better than bare silver. At 27.4 kg it is still light for a walk-in model. You get a hinged door and one opening window, plus the same 5-year defects and workmanship warranty. It is self-assembly and costs £354, so it suits those who value the coloured finish.

Price snapshot: £354.00 at One Garden, recorded 2026-11-02. Check the retailer page for the current price.

Key specifications

Dimensions: 185 × 126 × 208 cm
Weight: 27.4 kg
Frame: Powder-coated aluminium
Glazing: Polycarbonate roof and wall panels
Door: Hinged door
Ventilation: 1 opening window
Assembly: Self-assembly, 2 people, 4 to 6 hours
Warranty: 5-year defects and workmanship

What stands out

Powder-coated green frame for a softer look in a planted garden
Walk-in size while weighing 27.4 kg

Things to consider

At £354, it costs £65 more than the Mythos 6x4 with the same dimensions

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05 · Best for a traditional timber look

Mercia Traditional Greenhouse 4x6

A full-height wooden greenhouse for buyers with a little more garden space to spare.

The Mercia Traditional 4x6 measures 192.8 × 124.1 × 206 cm, so it is a step up in footprint from the mini greenhouse and the aluminium 6x4 models. It weighs 94 kg and costs £479.99, which makes it a substantial choice for a small garden. The dip-treated shiplap timber frame has styrene glazing, one window and a hinged single door. It is self-assembly, and no floor is supplied. The conditional 10-year anti-rot warranty requires annual retreatment, so allow for regular timber care when weighing it against the aluminium options.

Price snapshot: £479.99 at One Garden, recorded 2026-11-02. Check the retailer page for the current price.

Key specifications

Dimensions: 192.8 × 124.1 × 206 cm
Weight: 94 kg
Frame: Dip-treated shiplap timber
Glazing: Styrene
Door: Hinged single door
Ventilation: 1 window
Floor: Not supplied
Assembly: Self-assembly
Warranty: Conditional 10-year anti-rot, annual retreatment required

What stands out

Traditional dip-treated shiplap timber frame
Full-height 206 cm interior with a hinged door and window

Things to consider

Heaviest and most expensive model in this compact group, and the anti-rot cover requires annual retreatment

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