71 or 86 in garden trellis: which height do you need?
How tall each panel really stands
From the manufacturer specs of the trellis sets we sell. Every panel is 19.7 in wide.
| Set | Panel height | Leg in the ground | Above ground | Set weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Meadow Trellis Pair, 2 panels | 86.7 in | about 11 in | about 75 in | 10.1 lb |
| The Butterfly Trellis Screen, 4 panels | 86.7 in | about 10.7 in | about 76 in | 20.2 lb |
| The Arched Scroll Trellis Pair, 2 panels | 71 in | about 8.3 in | about 63 in | 9.2 lb |
| The Cottage Trellis Screen, 4 panels | 71 in | about 10.2 in | about 61 in | 16.7 lb |
So the real choice is between roughly 5 ft and a little over 6 ft of climbing surface, not 71 versus 87 in.
Which height for which plant?
- 86 in (about 75 in above ground): climbing roses and large-flowered clematis, which commonly grow 8 ft or more and will reach the top in a season or two; grapes; and any panel whose job is privacy, because 6 ft of leaves covers a standing person.
- 71 in (about 61-63 in above ground): containers on a balcony or patio, compact clematis bred for pots, peas and other annuals, and the front of a bed where you still want to see over the top. You can also reach every tie point without a step stool.
Whatever you grow, check the mature height on the plant label first. A climber that outgrows its support just flops over the top, which is fine for a rose arch but untidy on a flat panel.
How wide a screen do you get?
Each panel is 19.7 in wide. Two side by side make a screen about 39.4 in wide, four make about 80 in. In a row the panels do not have to touch: spacing them a few inches apart stretches the screen and leaves room to tie in stems. Leave a small gap between the panels and a wall or fence too, so air can move behind the leaves.
In pots and planter boxes
The buried leg sets the minimum soil depth. The 71 in panels need about 8-10 in of soil to hold the legs, the 86.7 in panels about 11 in, so give the tall ones a planter at least 12 in deep. A tall panel covered in leaves catches a lot of wind, so in a pot on a windy balcony the 71 in size is the steadier choice. In open ground, tie the top of an 86 in panel to the fence or wall behind it if your garden gets strong gusts.
Trellis or arbor?
If you want to walk under the flowers, you need an arbor, not a panel. The Planter Arbor stands 86.6 in tall and 79.5 in wide with a walk-through opening of about 40.2 in, and has a 19.7 x 19.7 x 18.2 in planter on each side for the climbers to start from. The Garden Gate Arbor is the same frame with a double gate across the opening.
What they cost in 2026
Price bands from Amazon listings with 10 or more reviews, checked in October 2026:
- 2-pack, 71 in: $40.99-43.69
- 2-pack, 86 in: $42.99-49.99
- 4-pack, 71 in: about $60
- 4-pack, 86-87 in: $83.59-89.99
- Garden arches with a gate: $70-90; with planter boxes: $70-120
Our picks
- The Cottage Trellis Screen - four green 71 in panels, about 61 in above ground, an 80 in screen in a row, $58.99
- The Butterfly Trellis Screen - four black 86.7 in panels with butterfly scrollwork, about 76 in above ground, $78.99
- The Meadow Trellis Pair - two green 86.7 in panels for one bed or a 39 in screen, $41.99
- The Planter Arbor - 79.5 x 86.6 in arch with two side planters and a 40.2 in walk-through, $65.99
