10 Best Seed Starting Trays for Herbs in 2026: Top Picks for Healthy Indoor Growth

Starting herbs from seed is easier when each variety has the right balance of moisture, warmth, airflow, and room for root growth. The best seed starting trays make that process more consistent while keeping indoor growing organized.

We selected these 10 options for different setups, from compact windowsill gardens to larger batches of seedlings. Look for the features that match your space, lighting, watering habits, and transplanting plans.

Best 10 Seed Starting Trays for Herbs Picks for 2026

Best All-Around Capacity – Gardzen 5-Pack Seed Starter Trays

For gardeners starting a sizable herb collection, the Gardzen set offers five 40-cell trays for a total of 200 planting spaces. Adjustable vents, clear domes, drainage holes, and included bases make this a practical option for indoor or greenhouse seed starting.

Best For: Starting many herb varieties at once or maintaining a larger seed-starting setup.

Pros:

• Provides 200 total cells across five trays.
• Adjustable dome vents help manage humidity and airflow.
• Clear domes, drainage holes, and included bases support easy monitoring and watering.
• Durable plastic trays can also be used for cuttings and young plants.

Cons:

• The five-tray set may be more capacity than needed for a small windowsill garden.
• The trays have 40 cells each, which may suit larger batches better than a few individual herbs.

Choose this set when quantity and flexible humidity control matter most. Its generous cell count makes it a strong foundation for a broad herb-starting plan.

Best With Supplemental Light – Bonviee LED Seed Starter Trays

The Bonviee kit combines five 12-cell trays with a 12-LED grow light on each dome, making it a convenient choice for indoor seed starting. Clear inserts, drainage holes, adjustable vents, and bottom-watering bases help you monitor and manage developing herbs.

Best For: Indoor herb growers who want built-in supplemental lighting across multiple small trays.

Pros:

• Each tray includes a full-spectrum 12-LED light.
• Five trays provide 60 planting spaces in total.
• Clear domes and inserts make moisture and root growth easier to observe.
• Vented covers support adjustable humidity, and the kit includes a five-way USB cable.

Cons:

• A power adapter is not included.
• There is no built-in timer.
• The 12-cell format offers less capacity per tray than larger 40-cell systems.

This is a well-suited option when indoor lighting is a concern and you prefer an integrated setup. Plan to provide the required 5V/2A power adapter and manage the lighting schedule separately.

Best Windowsill Option – Burpee SuperSeed 8-Cell Tray

For a compact windowsill setup, the Burpee SuperSeed tray uses eight extra-large silicone cells designed for easy handling and transplanting. Its watering channels, drainage features, labeled rows, and flexible pop-out cells make it a focused choice for starting a small selection of herbs.

Best For: Small indoor herb collections grown on a windowsill.

Pros:

• Eight extra-large cells provide more room for individual seedlings.
• Flexible silicone cells pop out to help reduce root disturbance during transplanting.
• Corner drainage slots and watering channels support aeration and excess-water management.
• Top-shelf dishwasher-safe construction supports reuse.

Cons:

• It has only eight cells, so capacity is limited for larger herb collections.
• The tray is designed for windowsill use rather than a multi-tray growing system.

The Burpee tray makes sense when you value easy transplanting and a tidy, compact footprint over high capacity. Its extra-large cells are particularly useful for giving a few selected herbs more individual space.

Best for Easy Transplanting – Lift-Out Handle Seed Starter Tray

This modular nine-cell tray is built around easy seedling removal, with a lift-out handle for each cell. For seed starting herbs, its removable cells, bottom-watering tray, and individual drainage openings provide a practical way to manage small batches and move plants with less root disturbance.

Best For: Herb growers who prioritize controlled transplanting and a reusable, small-batch design.

Pros:

• Individual lift-out handles help raise soil plugs without squeezing the full tray.
• Nine removable cells can be filled, cleaned, or managed separately.
• Bottom watering lets growing medium absorb moisture from below.
• Each cell has five drainage openings, and handles can also serve as plant labels.

Cons:

• Nine cells provide limited capacity for extensive herb starting.
• The modular parts may require more assembly and handling than a conventional one-piece insert.

Consider this tray when transplanting ease is more important than maximum capacity. The individual cells and handles offer useful control for gardeners who want to move herbs carefully into pots or garden beds.

Flexible Home Herb Setup – VIVOSUN 72-Cell Starter Kit

For gardeners who want a reusable, expandable option, this VIVOSUN kit is a practical choice among seed starting trays for herbs. Six 12-cell trays come with base trays, clear humidity domes, adjustable vents, drainage holes, labels, and garden tools, giving you a structured setup for starting multiple herb varieties.

Best For: Home gardeners who want humidity control, transplant-friendly cells, and enough capacity for several herb starts.

Pros:

• Adjustable dome vents help manage moisture and temperature.
• Drain holes help reduce overwatering and protect roots.
• Reusable trays are compatible with heat mats operating from 0–120°F.
• Includes six base trays, six domes, tools, and garden labels.

Cons:

• The kit includes 72 cells spread across six trays, so it may require more shelf space than a single compact tray.
• The supplied notes do not specify the individual cell dimensions.

Its combination of adjustable humidity, reusable construction, and included accessories makes this a well-rounded pick for starting herbs indoors and moving them later to beds, raised beds, or containers.

High-Volume Herb Starts – 144-Cell Reusable Tray Set

This 144-cell set is designed for gardeners who need to start many plants at once. As seed starting trays for herbs, the 24 separate six-cell trays offer 1.5-inch-square by 2.25-inch-deep cells, drainage slits, and plant stakes for organizing different herb varieties.

Best For: High-volume gardeners who prefer individual tray sections and deeper cells for root development.

Pros:

• Provides 144 cells across 24 six-cell trays.
• Cells are 2.25 inches deep to support root development.
• Drainage slits help prevent excess moisture.
• Includes five plant stakes for labeling and organizing seedlings.

Cons:

• No humidity domes or base trays are listed in the supplied details.
• The included labeling support is limited to five plant stakes for 24 trays.

The separated six-cell format can be convenient when herbs need to be grouped or moved independently, while the large cell count suits gardeners planning a sizable planting season.

Lighted Indoor Growing – BlumWay 80-Cell Grow-Light Tray

When natural light is limited, this BlumWay kit adds full-spectrum grow lighting to the seed-starting process. It is a particularly feature-rich option among seed starting trays for herbs, with two trays, 80 cells, clear humidity domes, adjustable vents, deeper cells, and USB or plug-in power.

Best For: Indoor gardeners who want built-in lighting and adjustable humidity for herbs and other seedlings.

Pros:

• Full-spectrum strip lights offer three timer settings and five brightness levels.
• Higher 9 cm domes provide room for taller seedlings.
• Deeper 1.96-inch cells and 0.31-inch drainage holes support root growth and drainage.
• Clear, reusable ABS trays include USB and plug-in power options.

Cons:

• With two trays and 80 cells, it offers less capacity than the 144-cell set.
• The grow-light feature adds controls and power requirements compared with basic trays.

The integrated lighting and ventilation controls make this a strong choice for countertop or indoor herb propagation, especially where window light is inconsistent.

Best All-in-One Setup – Large Heated Herb Starter Kit

For gardeners who want more control over early growth, this three-pack combines large-cell seed starting trays for herbs with grow lights, humidity domes, and a heat mat. The 1.96-inch square cells provide useful room for different seed sizes, while the included controller helps manage the warming setup indoors.

Best For: Indoor herb growers who want heat, lighting, and multiple reusable trays in one kit.

Pros:

• Includes three trays, grow lights, a heat mat, controller, labels, and tools.
• Heat mat is designed to maintain approximately 70°F to 85°F for seed starting and propagation.
• Large cells include drainage holes, with bottom trays to help retain overflow water.
• Waterproof, wipe-clean heating mat is rated IP67 on its surface.

Cons:

• The kit is intended for indoor use, and the heating mat should not be immersed.
• The larger multi-part setup may be more equipment than needed for a small windowsill garden.

This is the most feature-rich option of the three, particularly if your herbs need supplemental warmth and light. Its larger cells and three-tray configuration also make it practical for starting a broader mix of plants.

Best Simple Multipack – Bonviee 12-Cell Herb Trays

This five-pack keeps seed starting for herbs straightforward with individual 12-cell trays, bases, clear domes, and adjustable vents. The transparent design makes it easier to monitor seedlings and roots, while the compact footprint suits windowsills, grow-light areas, and small indoor setups.

Best For: Beginners and indoor gardeners who need several compact trays for small herb batches.

Pros:

• Five complete tray sets include bases, humidity domes, vents, and ten labels.
• Each tray has 12 cells with drainage holes to help manage excess water.
• Clear trays allow root and seedling development to be viewed without disturbing plants.
• Reusable plastic design fits windowsills, greenhouses, and spaces under grow lights.

Cons:

• There are only 12 cells per tray, so each individual tray offers limited capacity.
• No grow light or heat mat is included.

Choose this set if you already have suitable light and warmth or prefer a simple, low-equipment approach. The five separate trays make it easy to stagger herb plantings or keep varieties organized.

Best High-Capacity Option – Patigrow Self-Watering Herb Tray

For a larger indoor planting session, this 60-cell seed starting tray for herbs combines self-watering, adjustable ventilation, and integrated LED lighting. The capillary mat is designed to provide consistent moisture, while the elevated tray and 4.07-inch dome leave additional room for developing seedlings.

Best For: Indoor growers starting many herb seedlings who want built-in watering and lighting features.

Pros:

• Provides 60 cells in a single setup for higher-capacity planting.
• Self-watering system and capillary mat are designed to reduce drying and overwatering.
• Two LED strips offer adjustable brightness and timer functions.
• Vented dome, enlarged drainage holes, and elevated design support moisture and airflow management.

Cons:

• Its 16.6-by-11-inch footprint requires more indoor space than compact trays.
• The larger 60-cell format may be excessive for gardeners growing only a few herbs.

This is the strongest fit when capacity and convenience matter more than a small footprint. Its integrated light and moisture features can simplify routine care, especially for gardeners managing many seedlings at once.

How We Picked the Best Seed Starting Trays for Herbs

We evaluated these trays by focusing on the practical needs of herb seedlings: cell size, drainage, humidity control, durability, transplanting convenience, and available accessories. Grow-light and heat-mat bundles were considered for gardeners starting seeds in dim or cool rooms, while simple tray sets were included for sunny windowsills and larger planting projects.

We also considered whether a tray can be reused, cleaned easily, and moved without disturbing delicate roots. Because herbs vary in size, the selection includes compact cells for basil, thyme, and oregano, along with larger cells better suited to vigorous seedlings or plants that may remain indoors longer.

Quick Comparison

Best For	Look For	Helpful Features
Sunny windowsills	Compact, sturdy trays	Clear dome, drainage base
Low-light rooms	Integrated grow lights	Adjustable lighting, timer
Cool indoor spaces	Heat-mat bundles	Temperature control, insulation
Many herb varieties	Multi-pack or high-cell-count kits	Plant labels, separate cells
Frequent transplanting	Lift-out or flexible cells	Handles, removable inserts

Key Buying Factors for Seed Starting Trays for Herbs

Cell Size and Quantity

Small cells use less mix and work well for early-stage herbs, but they can dry out quickly and restrict roots if seedlings stay inside too long. Larger cells provide more room for basil, parsley, and other vigorous plants. Multi-cell packs are useful when starting several varieties at once.

Drainage and Moisture Control

Choose trays with drainage holes and a catch basin so excess water can escape without creating a mess. Humidity domes help seeds germinate, but herbs need increasing airflow as they emerge. Vented domes are easier to manage than fully sealed covers.

Light, Heat, and Watering Features

Grow lights are valuable when natural light is weak, especially during winter. A heat mat can improve germination for warmth-loving herbs, while self-watering designs reduce daily watering. These features add convenience, but they also increase cost and storage requirements.

Durability and Transplanting

Reusable plastic trays are economical over multiple growing seasons if they can be washed thoroughly. Lift-out handles and flexible cells make transplanting less disruptive, which is helpful for seedlings with fragile roots.

Who Should Buy Which Seed Starting Trays for Herbs?

Choose a basic tray with a dome if you want an affordable setup for a bright windowsill. Gardeners working in darker rooms should consider a grow-light kit, while those starting seeds in a chilly area may benefit from a tray paired with a heat mat. Pick larger cells when seedlings will remain indoors for several weeks, and choose high-capacity multipacks for succession planting or a broad herb collection.

Before buying, confirm the tray’s footprint, power requirements, cell dimensions, and cleaning instructions. The best option is the one that fits your growing space and routine rather than the model with the most accessories.