Aloe is a beautiful plant, but it can be hard to keep alive in the wrong pot. If you want your aloe to have a long and happy life, you need the right container.

How do you choose the best pots for aloe plants? Drainage is the primary factor to look for in an aloe vera pot. Naturally porous materials, like terra cotta, ceramic or cement, are excellent choices since they provide airflow to the plant’s roots and also allow excess moisture to evaporate. For medium to large size aloes, a pot with a heavier weight and a wide base can help prevent damage from the plant accidentally tipping over.

We’ve done all of the work for you by reviewing 9 of the best pots for aloe plants to find out which ones really perform well with this type of succulent. We also include a buying guide to help make sure that your new container is ideal for growing an aloe plant.

Let’s get started!

How We Broke Down Aloe Plant Sizes

You’ll notice that we’re classifying the pots based on aloe plant size. Here’s the scale we’re using:

• Miniature aloe plants: Up to 4 inches across and up to 4 inches at the tallest point
• Small aloe plants: The longest leaf measures 4-10 inches in length
• Medium aloe plants: The longest leaf measures 10-15 inches in length
• Large aloe plants: The longest leaf measures 15-18+ inches in length

To give you a visual, this is my aloe plant:

The longest leaf measures 9 inches, so my plant falls into our “small” category. Not for much longer, though!

It’s currently in a 4.5-inch pot and doing well, but I’m already planning on moving it to a 5.5-inch or 6-inch home in the next few months.

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move on to the reviews!

1. D’Vine Dev Line Pattern Terra Cotta Plant Pots

• Best For: Small aloe plants and medium aloe plants (depending on which pot you use)
• Material: Terra cotta
• Diameter: 4 inches for the small pot, 6 inches for the large pot
• Height: 4.5 inches for the small pot, 6.5 inches for the large pot
• Weight: 4.55 pounds for the set, or approximately 1.82 pounds for the small pot and 2.73 pounds for the large pot
• Drainage hole: Yes

The first thing you notice about these pots is the striking black and white pattern. Despite the simplicity, the design really catches the eye and gives a modern flair to any room or patio.

The pots themselves are terra cotta, which is a great material for aloe plants since it’s porous and therefore, naturally breathable. Aloe hates growing in damp conditions, and terra cotta is outstanding for allowing excess moisture to dissipate while also allowing air to pass through the pot walls.

Along with your pots, you also get mesh drainage hole covers and non-scratch mats. The mesh screens are helpful for stopping soil from washing out of your pot during waterings and preventing the drainage hole from clogging up. As for the mats, place them under your drip trays to prevent any errant scratches or other damage to your furniture. Nice!

The only drawback we have to point out is that the pots have a narrow base to accommodate the drip tray. Aloe can grow to be a top-heavy plant, and pots with wide bases are most ideal for preventing tipping accidents.

However, the good news is that the bases aren’t severely narrowed. Also, the pots can only hold small/medium aloes and the terra cotta is fairly heavy.

2. Vivimee 2-Pack Plant Pots

• Best For: Small aloe plants
• Material: Terra cotta
• Diameter: 5.5 inches
• Height: 5.2 inches
• Weight: 4.09 pounds for the set, or 2.04 pounds per pot
• Drainage hole: Yes

This lovely set of two pots makes it easy to achieve a coordinated plant grouping. With a cheerful sunburst pattern and soft gray coloring, these pots are charming without stealing the spotlight from your aloes.

These pots are made of terra cotta, which we’ve already mentioned is a great material for breathability and drainage. So it’s excellent for aloe!

Each pot comes with a silicone plug for the drainage hole. Always remember that you should never plug your drainage hole if you plant your aloe directly in the pot. Retained water is a literal death sentence for an aloe! But if you have your plant in a nursery pot and want to protect your table/furniture from leaking water, it’s a nice option to have.

One fairly minor downside is that these pots don’t come with a drip tray. But since you won’t be watering your aloe very often, this shouldn’t be a big drawback.

And you can always use a plastic saucer to catch stray drips when you do water. These 8-inch ones from SupKing would be a great size for this pot.

3. Bees and Buds Large Planter

• Best For: Large aloe plants
• Material: Porcelain ceramic
• Diameter: 10 inches
• Height: 10 inches
• Weight: 8.73 pounds
• Drainage hole: Yes

Did you know that indoor aloe plants can grow as wide as 24 inches between leaf tips? It’s true!

Besides just being big, mature aloes have thick, succulent (water-holding) leaves that get very heavy. All this combines to put a large aloe plant at high risk for toppling over under its own weight. What you need is a heavy pot with a wide, stable base that helps reduce the chance of tipping. And this 10-inch pot from Bees and Buds is a perfect solution, for three reasons:

1. It weighs an impressive 8.73 pounds, so it’s got plenty of heft to counter your mature aloe’s weight/size.
2. The base of the pot does not narrow at all, so you’ve got a stable foundation that resists wobbling or tipping.
3. The pot is just as wide as it is tall, so the center of gravity is lower and more stable.

A single large drainage hole keeps excess water out of your aloe’s soil, and an included mesh screen keeps things nice and clean in your home. You also get an optional silicone drainage plug, but like we’ve mentioned before, never insert that unless you’re using an inner nursery pot.

As for appearance, the minimalist design looks great in any room or with any style. We’re featuring the Terra Cotta color option here, but you can also choose from these shades, all of which are equally pretty:

• Black
• White
• Blush

One thing to be aware of: This pot is made of ceramic material, not terra cotta. There is a glaze on the inside and outside of the pot, which creates a lovely, smooth finish, but the pot itself is not porous material. This isn’t a dealbreaker by any stretch, but you don’t want to be surprised when something you order isn’t what you expected!

One downside to mention is that there is no included drip tray with this pot. But these 12-inch SupKing trays are a good stand-in.

4. Fivoli White Ceramic Plant Pot

• Best For: Small aloe plants
• Material: Ceramic
• Diameter: 6 inches
• Height: 5.5 inches
• Weight: 2.55 pounds
• Drainage hole: Yes

At 2.5 pounds, this pot is pretty weighty, especially given its size. That’s due in large part to the thick walls, which are so wide that they reduce the pot’s inner diameter all the way down to 5.25 inches (outer diameter is 6 inches). Thus, we’ve classified this pot as appropriate for small aloe plants.

The bright, clean white color is a perfect complement to any room color or decor you have in your home. And the subtle raised line pattern is simple but also sophisticated at the same time. In fact, this pot bears a striking resemblance to several other high-end, expensive brands.

One great feature to mention is that this pot is certified lead and cadmium-free. These are heavy metals that can interfere with your plant’s nutrient absorption and, therefore, health. And they’re also not safe for human or animal exposure. So it’s great that you don’t have to worry about those elements being present in this pot!

This is a 2-piece pot, with a detached matching drip tray. We really like that the tray fits snugly to the pot’s base; it almost looks like a single piece! However, while that looks nice, it doesn’t leave much room for water to run out, so be on the lookout for overflows when you water your aloe.

The tray’s bottom also has three cushiony pads that ensure your pot won’t leave any scratches behind. And you also get a mesh drain hole screen for extra tidiness.

5. POTEY Vintage-Style Hobnail Textured Flower Pot 

• Best For: Medium aloe plants
• Material: Ceramic
• Diameter: 8 inches (also available in smaller sizes)
• Height: 8 inches
• Weight: 4.87 pounds
• Drainage hole: Yes

Somehow, the mesmerizing hobnail raised pattern on this pot manages to be modern while also evoking a throwback feel at the same time. And that makes sense: According to Glass Encyclopedia, the hobnail glass pattern was first developed all the way back in 1886. Interesting and beautiful!

Besides its lovely appearance, this pot also has other features that make it a great choice for mid-sized aloe plants. Ceramic material is good and heavy, and this pot has almost 5 pounds of weight to anchor your plant against tipping over. Also, there’s zero tapering towards the base of this pot, making for a reliably stable base.

You’ve got a generously sized drainage hole to allow that extra water to escape, and an optional drainage plug if you use a nursery pot as an inner liner.

If you love this hobnail pattern but wish for a different color or size, you’re in luck. Potey offers this pot in 4.8 and 6.1-inch sizes, and also in pink and gray color options.

One minor issue is the lack of an included drip tray. While it would be nice to have a matching ceramic tray, these 10-inch ones from SupKing work great and allow plenty of room for the raised pattern.

6. Mkono Plastic Pots with Saucers

• Best For: Medium aloe plants
• Material: Plastic
• Diameter: 7.5 inches
• Height: 6.6 inches
• Weight: 3.39 pounds for the set, or 0.68 pounds per pot
• Drainage hole: Yes

If you’ve got a couple of aloe or other plants to pot up, this set of five plastic planters is an economical and convenient choice.

We’re featuring the black shade here, but these pots are available in multiple other color options:

• Blue
• Cream White
• Gray
• Maccha (a soft green)
• Multicolor (a mix of all the colors)

Also, if you’d like to use this pot for a smaller aloe, you can choose a 5.5 or 6.5-inch size.

Plastic is not a breathable material like terra cotta or cement, but don’t worry- you’ve still got plenty of drainage to keep your aloe happy. Instead of the usual single drainage hole, Mkono put two in each pot to ensure that the soil can drain freely. There are also plastic drain hole plugs if you prefer to go the inner/outer pot route.

Plastic is usually the most lightweight material for plant pots, and that’s true in this case as well. However, Mkono uses a thicker, heavier plastic for these pots, so there’s no danger of warping, bowing or bending under the weight of an aloe plant.

But even though this is a thicker, heavier plastic, it’s still a good idea to add a some extra weight to help keep your medium-sized aloe from tipping over. These pebbles from Mosser Lee are a good option to add to the bottom of the pot.

7. CEED4U Cement Plant Pot

• Best For: Medium-sized aloe plants
• Material: Cement
• Diameter: 5.9 inches
• Height: 5.7 inches
• Weight: 3.98 pounds
• Drainage hole: Yes

This pot is made from cement, so it’s got an industrial vibe going right off the bat. Add to that the smooth rounded shape and charcoal color, and you’ve got an aloe pot that looks cool and modern.

Many plant pots taper in diameter towards the base, but not here. This pot actually gains width, which is great for plants like aloe who put more side roots than they do deep ones.

The nice, wide base is also ideal for keeping top-heavy plants like aloe from accidentally toppling over their own weight. To keep things extra stable, the pot also has rubberized feet that help it grip the drip tray securely.

What’s more, at just shy of 4 pounds, this pot is heavy! Especially when combined with the wide base and grippy feet, your aloe should be quite safe from tipping over.

You usually associate cement with strength and durability, and it’s easy to assume that a cement pot would be impervious to getting chips or cracks. However, the cement in plant pots is thin enough to be quite fragile, about on the level of terra cotta. So if you plan to move your aloe around very much (from indoors to outdoors and vice versa), be sure to use a light touch.

8. Sietpoek Cylinder Ceramic Planters

• Best For: Small aloe plants
• Material: Glazed ceramic
• Diameter: 5.5 inches
• Height: 4.7 inches
• Weight: 1.5 pounds for the set, or 0.36 pounds per pot
• Drainage hole: Yes

With their classic white coloring and simple but elegant designs, these pots are just plain pretty and are neutral enough to suit a wide variety of personal styles.

These pots come in a set of four, and each pot has its own uniquely textured surface. But all the patterns are subtle, so they complement rather than compete with each other, and they look amazing as a group.

Each pot has an attached drip tray, and a small opening on the pot’s underside allows excess water to drain away. The single-piece design is nice from a convenience standpoint; after all, fewer components to deal with is always a good thing!

Also, the fact that the drip tray is attached means that you’ve got a wide, stable base that won’t wobble or tip over easily.

However, you may run into some problems if soil clogs up the pot’s water outlet hole. But the good news is that there’s an easy fix: Just lay a fine mesh screen over the drainage hole before potting up your aloe plant.

This pot doesn’t include a screen like some other ones do, but you can buy them in a separate pack. These 2.5-inch pre-cut screens should fit this pot size perfectly.

9. Greenaholics Marble Succulent Pots

• Best For: Miniature aloe plants and aloe pups
• Material: Ceramic
• Diameter: 3.1 inches
• Height: 2.3 inches
• Weight: 1.34 pounds for the set, or 0.4 pounds per pot
• Drainage hole(s): Yes

When it comes to housing adorably tiny aloe plants, an equally adorable pot is in order. And this set of three marbleized pots from Greenaholics fit the bill perfectly.

At just over 3 inches in diameter, these pots are a perfect choice when you want to create a grouping of mini aloe varieties on a sunny windowsill. And this small size also makes a great starter home for aloe pups that you’ve just separated from the mother plant.

The marbleized surface design adds an instant touch of class to any room, and the pattern is subtle enough to look great with almost any kind of decor or other potted houseplants. Wooden drip trays are included with your pots, which is a nice added bonus.

While we love the look and function of the wooden drip trays, wood is a porous material that can warp or mildew from repeated or prolonged moisture exposure. Fortunately, making sure to wipe the trays dry after watering your aloe can go a long way towards helping them stay in tip-top condition.

Shopping for the Best Pots for Aloe Plants: Buying Guide

When you’re shopping for aloe pots, it’s important to know what your plant needs. What size pot should you get? Do you want plastic, ceramic or something else? This buying guide will help you find out which type of pot is best for your aloe plant so it can thrive for the long term.

Avoid Self-Watering Pots

Self-watering pots may sound very tempting since they take the guesswork out of watering your favorite potted plants. However, steer very clear of these pots for your aloe plant.

As a succulent, aloe vera uses its chunky leaves to store water. Since they already have plenty of water on hand, aloes prefer their soil to dry out almost completely between waterings.

Self-watering planters do not allow this drying-out cycle to occur. These planters have a large reservoir that you fill with water every several days, then your plant soaks it up over the next few days. By design, this results in a constantly-damp environment.

Continual soil moisture can quickly cause your aloe to develop root rot, a potentially fatal condition from an overgrowth of moisture-loving fungi. Any plant can develop root rot, but species that are naturally adapted to dry conditions (like aloe) are usually far more susceptible to serious harm and death from it.

So don’t use self-watering pots for your aloe plants!

Picking the Correct Aloe Vera Pot Size

We’ve just established that aloe plants can quickly die on you if there’s excessive soil moisture. Correctly sizing your pot is another way to prevent this dangerous situation.

An oversized pot holds more soil, which in turn can hold more water than your aloe needs. Since your plant can’t absorb the moisture fast enough, it sits in the pot and acts as a welcome mat for malicious fungi.

Instead, choose a pot that’s between 1 and 2 inches larger in diameter than your plant’s root ball. This gives your plant enough space to grow while preventing excessive moisture build-up.

And don’t worry that planting your aloe in such a compact pot means that you’ll just have to move into a slightly larger one in a few months. Like all succulents, aloe is a notoriously slow grower. Even in a smaller pot, you’ll probably only need to repot it once a year or maybe even every 2 years.

Picking the Correct Aloe Pot Shape

Aloe vera has what’s called a lateral root system. This means that the roots primarily spread outward from the plant’s base rather than deeply downwards.

Here’s a photo that shows what an aloe’s lateral root system looks like in real life:

Due to this growth pattern, your aloe will be happier in a pot that is more on the shallow, wide side instead of one that’s narrow and tall.

Also, a shorter, wider pot can help prevent tipping over as your plant grows larger. Aloe vera produces thick, heavy leaves, and as they grow, aloe can get very top-heavy. A tall, skinny pot may look dramatic, but it can be a recipe for disaster (broken leaves, root damage, etc) if your mature aloe plant gets bumped into.

Best Materials for Aloe Pots

Porous materials including terra cotta, unglazed ceramic, and concrete are optimal for aloe vera pots because they can facilitate drainage through the pot walls and prevent standing water. 

Another great aspect of these materials is their weightiness. We talked about the danger of a large aloe plant tipping over in the previous section, and a heavier pot can also be very helpful in preventing accidents.

But even though terra cotta, unglazed ceramic and concrete are typically the easiest to manage over time, any pot material will work if you’re willing to put in a little more effort. After all, a pot that matches your personal taste and makes you happy is important too!

Here’s what you can do to make plastic, a glazed pot or pretty much any pot at all into an aloe-friendly home:

• Be extra careful to monitor soil moisture levels consistency, either by inserting your finger into the soil or using a moisture meter. I like this meter from Gouevn.
• Use a well-draining succulent soil (like this one from Espoma) or lighten a standard potting soil with perlite, orchid bark or sand.
• Eliminate the possibility of standing water by making sure your pot has plenty of drainage (more on that in the next section!).

Ensure That Your Aloe Pot has Proper Drainage

It’s so critical that we’ll say it again: Retained soil moisture is the most common cause of death for aloe plants.

The easiest way to avoid this problem is to look for a pot that has at least one large drainage hole already built-in. Obviously, this allows any extra water to freely flow out of the pot and away from your plant.

Every pot on our list today has at least one drainage hole, so you’re good if you choose any of them. But what about all those pretty pots that don’t have any drainage holes at all? And why don’t they have any??

(It’s actually an intentional design feature. These pots are intended for indoor use, and the lack of drainage holes prevents spilling and other general messes when watering houseplants.)

So you just can’t use these hole-less pots, even if you fall in love with the look of it? Not to worry- you’ve got a couple of options.

Use a nursery pot. Plant your aloe in a nursery pot and place it inside the larger, drainage-lacking pot. Nursery pots are plastic pots that have several drainage holes, so they easily allow water to escape.

When it’s time to water your aloe, do this:

1. Take the nursery pot out of the decorative pot
2. Give the watering
3. Allow your plant to sit for a few minutes to let the excess water to run out
4. Place your nursery pot back into its larger pot

Done!

Nursery pots are usually pretty inexpensive, and they’re available in a multitude of sizes. Here are some 6-inch ones you can take a look at to give you an example.

Make your own drainage holes. If you’ve got the right tools for the right materials, you can add drainage holes to your pots. Just be very careful and wear proper protective gear if you choose this route!

• Plastic: Poke holes in the bottom of a plastic pot with a nail and hammer. 
• Wood: Use a drill and a multipurpose drill bit.
• Terra cotta: Soak in water overnight then use a Dremel tool or tile bit with a cordless drill.
• Metal: Use a steel bit with a cordless drill. NOTE: I recommend planting your aloe into a nursery pot instead of directly into any metal container. If you don’t, metallic elements can leach into the soil and potentially cause problems. And your plant can also suffer temperature shock since metal is an incredibly efficient heat conductor.

If you’ve got your eye on a ceramic pot, this video from Techplant shows you how to make a drainage hole with or without a drill:

Aloe Pots Indoors vs Outdoors

Based strictly on the needs of the plant, being indoors or outdoors doesn’t make much difference in what kind of pot you should choose for your aloe vera. Your plant still needs excellent drainage and a pot with an appropriate size/shape.

However, there is a greater risk of curious animals and inclement weather outdoors. A sturdy, heavy material provides greater protection.

Cement is a great option here, as is stone or heavy earthenware. Large terra cotta pots also tend to be pretty weighty, but the tradeoff is that the material is more delicate.

Final Thoughts

Yes, the best pots for aloe plants can make a huge difference in the health, happiness and vitality of your plant. While not all pots are a good choice for your aloe buddy, there are plenty that will work great.

We hope you’ve learned some useful tips from this post, and that you’ve maybe even found your new favorite pot! If so, or if you have any other questions, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!

And please feel free to share this post with your friends on social media and share the aloe-friendly love!