Where to Buy Cheap Planters (Finding Inexpensive Pots)

If you love container gardening, you already know the problem – the plants are affordable, the pot is the thing that suddenly costs $60.

This guide is for anyone searching “where to buy cheap planters” and meaning it. If you love container gardening, you already know the problem – the plants are affordable, the pot is the thing that suddenly costs $60.
I’m sharing the best places to find inexpensive planters, where large planters go on sale, and a few realistic ways to get free containers for gardening without turning it into a full-time hobby.

Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell groups

This is one of the best places to find cheap garden pots and heavier planters that are expensive to buy new. On the Momcrieff version of this post, several of your best examples came from Marketplace, including a terra cotta planter and other matched pieces. 

Best search terms to use:

• planter
• flower pot
• garden pot
• outdoor planter
• large planter
• urn planter
• container gardening
• “free” (some people list items as $1 and then say “free if you pick up”)

My personal “rules” for buying used planters:

• Inspect cracks (especially near the base and rim).
• Ask if it held chemicals (rare, but worth asking if it looks like a utility container).
• If it’s missing a drainage hole, that’s fine – you can drill one.

Free planters (yes, but you have to be strategic)

“Free planters” is real – it just takes better timing.

Where free gardening containers show up:

• “Buy Nothing” groups
• Marketplace listings marked free
• The last hour of the last day of a garage sale
• People decluttering after moving

One of the best budget container-gardening “wins” is using the not-so-pretty container as the hidden liner pot, then placing it inside a nicer planter.

Yard sales and estate sales

Garage sales are underrated for inexpensive flower pots and sets of matching planters. People often sell them after deciding they’re done doing as many planters as they used to.

Best times to look:

• Spring weekends (people clean out garages)
• Late summer and fall (people declutter hard)

Tip: If you see two matching pots, grab them. Matching planters are weirdly expensive new, and they make your space look intentional.

Look at what you already own (repurpose planters)

Before you buy anything, take a quick walk through:

• garage
• shed
• basement shelves
• old storage bins
• leftover baskets, bins, tubs, buckets

The best thing is “using what you have,” like repurposing an existing hanging setup and turning a cement birdbath into a planter. 

Important: If it can hold soil, you can usually make it work – but it needs drainage (or you need to treat it as a cache pot with a liner inside).

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Hardware stores for cheap large planters (the sneaky win)

This is where you find the “I need a big container but I refuse to pay $150” solution.

Look for items that are meant for:

• storage
• livestock and farm use
• outdoor utility
• landscaping

I”ve uses a galvanized tub as large “planter alternative,” and that’s exactly the kind of solution that works for decks and patios. 

What to look for:

• galvanized tubs
• rubber feed tubs (surprisingly durable)
• utility buckets and mixing tubs
• concrete mixing bins

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Big box store clearance (when do planters go on sale?)

If you want new planters at the best price, shop end-of-season.

Typical clearance windows:

• Late spring: markdowns after the early rush
• Mid to late summer: outdoor inventory starts shrinking
• Early fall: garden centers clear space for seasonal merchandise

It’s a bonus to catch large planters on clearance (including a Costco example where the price dropped later). 

How to shop clearance without wasting time:

• Walk straight to the back corners of the outdoor garden area.
• Check “damaged box” and “last chance” zones.
• Don’t overthink color. Paint is cheaper than replacing the pot.

Then, when you get tired of the planter color, you can paint them!

Walmart, Costco, and “good enough” planters

If you want inexpensive outdoor planters without hunting all over town:

• Walmart can be one of the more consistent budget options for basic planters. 
• Costco sometimes has excellent value on large planters, especially on clearance. 

My honest advice: if the planter is “fine,” spend your energy on the plant combo and the soil. A fully planted container garden hides a lot of the ugly container.

A realistic price guide for used planters

Prices vary wildly, but here is my existing rule of thumb:
(I want to spend money on plants, not containers)

• Small used planter: around $5
• Large used planter: around $20
• Heavy, high-quality material: worth more if you love it 

A good used planter is the one that:

• feels sturdy
• has no serious cracks
• is a size you will actually reuse

Safety when meeting a stranger for planters

Simple safety rules:

• Meet in public whenever possible. I have met people in police and hospital parking lots, major stores, community centers, anywhere there are lots of people. Don’t go if you are at all nervous.
• Do not go inside a stranger’s home. I have asked if items will be at the front porch or garage prior to picking up.
• A deal is not worth feeling unsafe.

FAQs

Planting Ideas and Inspiration

Red Geranium Planters

What to plant in a birdbath?

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