The 8 Best Seed Starting Trays of 2026

Burpee's SuperSeed tray attacks the messiest part of seed starting: getting a healthy seedling out of a narrow cell without tearing its roots. The 36 cells are made of soft silicone, so the whole cell flexes and the root ball slides out when you press from the bottom. That is a different approach from the rigid plastic inserts most kits use.

We like it best for gardeners who start a modest number of tomatoes, peppers, or flowers and want to transplant without a knife. The silicone is gentle on roots, and the molded corner slots help water drain. The catch is that the tray has no humidity dome, so you need your own cover or a sheet of plastic to keep moisture in until germination.

One practical note from using flexible cells: water the tray before you pop a seedling out. Dry soil crumbles and takes roots with it, while moist soil holds the root ball together.

Most seed-starting trays flex when you pick them up full; the Bootstrap Farmer 1020s are the exception in this group. They are thick, rigid flats with a 2.5-inch depth, and they hold their shape when loaded with wet soil or a row of pots. We trust them for the carrying-and-shuffling part of seed starting, which is where flimsy trays fail.

The solid bottom is intentional. These have no drain holes, so you use them as a bottom-watering reservoir under cell inserts or pots, or as a flat for microgreens and wheatgrass. The outside measures about 21 by 11 inches, which is the standard 1020 footprint, so they slide into greenhouse racking and fit standard inserts. We also like the opaque black plastic for blocking light during germination.

The heavier plastic is what you're paying for, and it makes sense if you already run standard 1020 inserts and domes. If you want an all-in-one setup, a kit like the MIXC is the easier start.

Gardzen's set is built for volume: ten trays, each with a 40-cell insert, a base, and a vented dome. That adds up to 400 cells, which is enough to sow a cutting garden, a block of vegetables, and a few trays of flowers without running out of room. The domes have two adjustable vents apiece, so you can regulate humidity without lifting the lid.

The 40-cell inserts are small, so this is a germination setup rather than a place to grow seedlings on for weeks. Plan to pot up before roots circle, especially with tomatoes and peppers.

We recommend the Gardzen set for someone who wants a lot of cells and a complete dome-and-base kit in one purchase. It is not the sturdiest plastic in this group, but the capacity is hard to match for the price. If you only need a windowsill's worth of starts, a smaller kit is less fussy.

The Bonviee 12-cell kit is the compact option: five trays, five domes, five bases, and ten labels, for 60 cells total. Each cell insert is clear, so you can see moisture and early roots without lifting the tray, and the adjustable vent on each dome gives you a way to let humidity out as seeds sprout. The set is also sized for a heat mat and a bright windowsill.

We like this set for herbs, flowers, and a few tomatoes where space is tight. The cells are small and the domes rest rather than snap, so it is not the kit for someone who wants to grow big seedlings for weeks or move trays in and out of the wind. The small footprint is the point: it is easy to fill, water, and rotate.

The Bonviee LED kit takes the same five-tray, 60-cell format and adds a 12-LED grow light to each dome. A single USB cable splits five ways, so you can power all five trays from one adapter, and each dome still has a vent for humidity control. The cell inserts are clear, and the bases catch runoff from the drainage holes.

The light is supplemental, not a replacement for a proper shop light once seedlings get tall. It is best for a windowsill that gets some sun but not enough on a gray week, or for keeping starts from stretching on a dim kitchen counter. You need a 5V/2A USB adapter, which is not in the box, so plan for that before you set it up.

We like this kit when light is the missing piece and you want it bundled with the trays. The built-in strips are convenient and keep the footprint small, but they won't turn a dark closet into a grow room. If you already have a light, the standard Bonviee kit costs less and does the same tray job.

Hydroponic City sells these as 36 six-cell trays, not one big flat. That modular format is the appeal: you can fill three trays for a windowsill, stack the rest, or arrange the 2x3 blocks around a heat mat. The set totals 216 cells, and each cell has drainage slits and measures 1.5 inches square by 2.25 inches deep.

The plastic is thin enough that we treat these as germination trays rather than long-term homes. They work best for herbs, flowers, and quick vegetables that you pot up promptly. The five included stakes are a small help, though you'll want more labels if you sow a lot.

Because the trays are separate, they are easy to move and easy to lose. Keep them on a 1020 flat or a cookie sheet when you water, especially if you use a bottom-watering setup. The modular size is also handy for giving away extra seedlings without handing over a whole kit.

We recommend these for a budget-minded gardener who wants a lot of cells and doesn't need a long-term tray. They are the cheapest way here to try several sowing dates, and the 2x3 blocks are easier to shuffle than a full flat. If you want a tray that lasts for years, spend more on the Bootstrap flats or a heavier cell kit.

The Living Whole Foods trays are solid-bottom 1020 flats, about 21 by 11 inches at the top and 2.38 inches deep. There are no drain holes, which makes them a bottom-watering reservoir or a liner for cell inserts, pots, and microgreen pads. The ten-pack is a practical way to set up a whole shelf at once.

The plastic is thin and flexible, so these are not the flats to carry around full of wet soil without support. Set them on a sturdy shelf or a second tray, and lift from the bottom rather than the rim. Used that way, they do the job: they hold water, contain runoff, and fit standard 1020 inserts.

We like them for bottom watering because the solid bottom lets you leave a shallow reservoir for pots to drink from. They also work for wheatgrass and microgreens, where you want a shallow layer of medium without water running straight through. The 27-cup capacity is enough for a small crop, but not for deep-rooted starts.

We recommend these as budget liners and watering trays, not as your only seed-starting tray. If you already have cell inserts or small pots, they are a cheap way to give everything a reservoir. If you need a tray that can be lifted and moved full, the Bootstrap Farmer flats are the sturdier choice.