If you are growing your pepper plants in pots, you want to give the plants enough room to grow. Pepper plants require adequate space to mature and produce lots of fruit. The best container size for pepper plants will vary based on which variety you are growing.
In general, the larger the pepper variety, the larger the pot should be. For example, a bell pepper plant requires more space to grow and mature than a jalapeño pepper plant.
In this article, we’ll help you pick the right sized container for pepper plants. We’ll also share some of our favorite planters for sale online.

In This Article:
- What size pot for pepper plants?
- Best pots to buy for pepper plants
Container Size For Pepper Plants (Video)
What Size Pot Is Best For Pepper Plants?
While the perfect planter does not exist for all peppers, there is an ideal range of soil volume. Generally, pepper plants need between 3-5 gallons of growing medium to produce a healthy yield. However, this varies based on the type of pepper.
For smaller pepper varieties, like habanero or ghost peppers, your pots should be at least 3 gallons. For larger varieties like bell peppers and poblanos, aim for a pot with 5 gallons or more.
Some pepper varieties can make use of 10 or even 15 gallons of soil medium. However, this large size container may be unsuitable for the home gardener.
3+ gallons/11 litres (small peppers):
- Serrano
- Thai chilies
- Cayenne
- Fresnos
- Aji charapita
- Other small pepper varieties
5+ gallons/19+ litres (large sized peppers):
- Bell peppers
- Poblano
- Habanero
- Ghost Pepper
- Chinense species varieties
- Any other large pepper variety

Keep in mind these are meant to be minimum container sizes for happy, healthy pepper plants. If you want to achieve larger harvests, grow in larger containers to allow your pepper plants to mature to their maximum size.
You can grow these varieties in smaller pots and still produce peppers. However, you will end up with smaller harvests, smaller peppers, and potentially stunted plant growth.
The Cheapest Pots
For the frugal pepper gardener, look no further than the 5-gallon bucket. These are usually between $3-4 and can work well as a pepper plant container. Just be sure to drill some holes in the bottom for adequate water drainage.
While 5 gallon buckets are not the most aesthetically pleasing to put in your yard, they are a practical and affordable option.
Note that 5-gallon buckets are not made for growing plants, and that the plastic used may not be food-grade. Use them to grow peppers at your own discretion.
Affordable & Attractive Pepper Plant Pots
We love these Saturn planters from Amazon. They are made of thick, sturdy plastic and can be reused season after season. They also come with a drainage pan for watering.
They offer these plant containers in a variety of sizes. We recommend at least the 10″ pots, and ideally 12″ or 14″ for much better yields.
These pots also come in many colors, perfect for color coding your plants, or simply making your garden more quirky and fun.
Fabric Planter Grow Bags
One unique option for gardeners are plant grow bags. They are highly effective for faster plant growth because of their breathable walls. Fabric grow bags are affordable, collapsible, and easily stored after the growing season.
While some bags are made of woven fabric, others are felt, offering better stability of temperature and a longer lasting build. One of the greatest benefits of this design is drainage. Make sure you place the planters in a spot where water can escape.
These fabric grow bags from Bootstrap Farmer are perfect for pepper plants and come in a variety of sizes and colors.

Modern Planter Pots
If you want a modern look to your outdoor garden, you may find what you’re looking for on AllModern.com. You can also shop for attractive planters at department stores, gardening centers, Etsy, and even Goodwill!
Though these pots may be aesthetically pleasing, many of them do not come with drainage holes. For peppers, it is important not to over-water, so be sure your pot of choice has drainage before planting.
You can easily drill your own drainage holes, so this shouldn’t be a deal breaker. Or, plant in black nursery pots, and place them into a decorative planter.
For fancy, upscale planters, we recommend using a cheap nursery pot placed into your planter box, out of sight. Just check that the nursery pot will fit comfortably in your planter beforehand.
Related:
I hope this article helps you understand what the best sized container for pepper plants is. Good luck with growing your peppers in pots this year!
Scott
Sunday 21st of May 2023
How do you feel about self watering pots for chili peppers?
peppergeek
Monday 22nd of May 2023
I just made one this year for our dorset naga challenge, should be interesting to watch it grow.
AlliOop
Friday 19th of May 2023
When you say gallons do you mean true volume? Nursury/retail slang will call a "#5" container a "5 gallon" but a #5 is actually about 4.3 gallons to the brim(depending on squat vs tall and manufacturer)and even less when space is left for watering and mulch; likewise a #3 is under 2.5gallons, #1 is only 2.5-3qt, a #7 is 6-gallons, etc.
Which tends to be a larger plant, Habanero[orange] or Tabasco? Container grown. I'm allocating my pots and I don't want to just use the largest I have, so I can overwinter these without too much logistical hassle.
Going off topic, I occasionally see Tabasco seeds advertised as "Greenleaf" strain and supposedly better in the southeast US(I'm far west, way different season). This implies there is more than one sub-cultivar of Tabasco, but I never see any that are "Not greenLeaf" or any other definite indication of strain, and I don't know if one makes a larger plant anyway.
Martin
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
I have been following you guys for several years and have learned plenty. I live in central Florida and I’m nursing my ghost pepper plant back for a 2nd year. I didn’t have much luck last year as none of my peppers grew to more than 1 1/4 “ even though the plant itself was over 3 ‘ tall, the plant is in a 5 gal pot and this year I’m using organic fertilizer. What can I expect? Is it possible the seeds I bought last year on line were not that great? In recent years I have grown reapers, habanero’s, and 7 pot with great results. I’m open for any suggestions, including replanting with the same seeds, and new soil (I use a compost and manure mixture) or ordering new seeds. I value your opinion, so if you can please get back to me.
Rodney Galea
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
Hi there. I love your newsletter and have just got involved in growing my own peppers (the superstore ones are a bit wishy washy). However, being from the wrong side of the pond - in the UK, I am confused with your references to pot sizes in gallons. I am old enough to understand gallons but I can't relate that system of sizing to plant pot diameter in inches. Can you help? Thanks.
Rodney Galea
Monday 3rd of April 2023
@peppergeek, Many thanks for the prompt reply, now I know where to start.
Tony Sarchet
Monday 3rd of April 2023
@Rodney Galea,
I'm also a UK-based fan. I found these details from a pot supplier quite useful:
12 Litre Plant Pots Dimensions: 30cm diameter top, 24.2cm diameter base and 23.8cm depth. Internal top diameter 27.5cm. Capacity: 12 litres. Recommended use: Heavy duty plant pots used for tree production and growing.
15 Litre Plant Pots Dimensions: 32.8cm diameter top, 25.5cm diameter base and 25.8cm depth. Internal top diameter 30cm. Capacity: 15 litres. Recommended use: Heavy duty plant pots used for tree production and growing.
20 Litre Plant Pots Dimensions: 35.5cm diameter top, 27.6cm diameter base and 26cm depth. Internal top diameter 32.5cm. Capacity: 20 litres.
(30 cm = 12 inches)
Debbie Larsen
Monday 3rd of April 2023
@Rodney Galea,
Google is your friend. Just write something like "How many cubic feet (or whatever unit of measure you would use) are in 5 gallons?" Google will pop up with the answer and often a calculator to use various units of measure.
peppergeek
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
Hi there, so a pot with a diameter around 12 inches or 30 cm is a good place to start. Alternatively, look for pots labeled at least 15 liters, though many varieties can benefit from even larger pots.
Reuben
Monday 14th of March 2022
Thai pepper plants absolutely Thrive in container growing, even two or three gallon pots are usually plenty to yield a crop, and they are beautiful as ornamental house plants as well, yielding a variety of colors of peppers, green to red. They store well, take up very little space, and pack a delicious but hot punch. Scoville Rating 50,000 - 100,000 SHU - There are a variety of simple sauces online, Thai fish sauce being one of the simplest and best known, with only about four or five ingredients. Dried Thai peppers are an option for storing, and it is a cinch to save the multitude of seeds for the next season as well. Happy harvesting!