Ten Top Garden Turtle Statues

Gardens need a little whimsy from time to time. Of course, they need plants, and maybe a few rocks, and probably a bench or two as well. But little statues, figurines, and decorations can take a garden vignette from bland to charming and can bring smiles to those who come across the statues. This article specifically looks at Garden Turtle Statues, and considers 10 of the best turtle statues that could grace your garden! Some have lighting built in, others are very stylized turtles, and in all, there are several different directions one could go. Please take a look at the turtle lawn ornament product reviews below to figure out which turtle statue for your garden is the right one for your needs!

Garden Turtle Statues Reviewed

Design Toscano Gilbert the Box Turtle Statue, Multicolored

The Design Toscano Gilbert the Box Turtle Statue is a quintessential turtle, with lovely representative design, beautiful hand-painted coloring, and great attention to detail. People strolling in the garden will almost certainly confuse this statue for a real turtle moving verrry slooowly!

Key Features

• 7" wide x 9" deep x 3" high
• 1 lb weight
• Made of resin plastic
• Hollow interior
• Hand-painted

Gilbert is a very lifelike turtle statue when viewed, though when picked up, it’s quite clear he’s not real! The statue is made of resin plastic with stone added, but beware it is fragile. Kids may want to play with the statue, but resin is easily broken (even during shipping) so try to keep the statue out of the hands of children. Many people place these statues into terrariums, and they will do fine there. In an aquarium, over time the paint may come off of the turtle, so beware. The interior of the statue is hollow, so it could be drilled into and used as a cap for a well or another yard area you don’t wish to view.

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Design Toscano Aesop’s Turtle Cast Iron Statue

Design Toscano made another excellent turtle statue with its Aesop’s Turtle cast iron statue. This statue is much beefier than Gilbert above, with a 7-pound weight, and a solid frame that is extremely strong.

Key Features

• 10" long x 6" wide x 4.5" high
• 7 lbs
• Made of Cast Iron
• Solid inside
• Hand Painted

The Aesop’s Turtle statue is quite lifelike, though it has less color variation than the Gilbert turtle above. The primary differentiation is the material: cast iron is much heavier and sturdier, and will likely last much longer than resin. However, cast iron can rust, so you may want to take your turtle in when the weather gets nasty. That said, some actually like the look of wear and age on these turtles, so if you forget to bring it in and it gets buried in snow for the winter, perhaps all that is needed is a change of perspective. It will still look great, just different.

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Esschert Design Cast Iron Decorative Turtle, Large

The Esschert Design Cast Iron Decorative Turtle is definitely a step toward abstraction compared to the Design Toscano turtles discussed above. The Esschert Design turtle is beautiful, in almost an Aztek sort of way, with strongly interpreted hexagonal decorations on the turtle shell, and a stylized neck and head that is quite striking.

Key Features

• 7.5" long x 5.9" wide x 2.8" high
• 1.76 lbs
• Made of cast iron
• Hollow interior

No one will mistake this garden turtle statue for a real turtle, but that’s not a bad thing! These are really beautiful in their own right. We quite like the step in the representative direction, compared to the Design Toscano items on our list, and this one is a bit less kitschy than a lot of the non-realistic designs available. The Esschert Design turtle is cast iron, so it may rust over time. You may want to take this little one inside when the weather gets nasty. Also, it is a little one, so be sure to check the dimensions to get a sense for the size of this turtle.

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Turtle with Solar Light/Lantern, Solar Turtle Statue/Figurine

This turtle statue is a bit of a hobo turtle, with a hat on, an LED solar lantern on a stick, and a human-like stance on two legs. It is surprisingly large, and heavy, for a resin statue.

Key Features

• 17.25" high x 8"long x 12" w
• 6.8lbs
• Solar Light Included
• Made of Resin Plastic
• Hand Painted Finish

Like all resin statues, the concern here is with breakage. This turtle is pretty sizable, and will certainly draw attention to itself in the garden. Be prepared for kids to be curious about the turtle, and potentially want to pick it up and potentially damage it. Think of resin as pottery, and treat it that way. Note, some have complained that the statue was broken during shipping and delivery. If your statue is broken when you receive it, be sure to contact Amazon immediately. The hand-painted finish on these turtles is really high quality. No one will mistake this large, anthropomorphic turtle as human, but as a garden decoration in its own right, these are great.

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Large Resin Garden Turtle Figurine

The Large Resin Garden Turtle Figurine shown here goes back to the realistic turtle designs found at the top of our list. This one is beautiful, like the others we discussed. With resin construction and hand painted as well. Some have commented that the choice of paint color varies from the picture, and is less realistic than what is shown here, so be prepared for some differences in color tone. But that is what is cool about hand-painted designs!

Key Features

• 12" long x 7" wide x 4" high
• Weighs 1.9 lbs
• Resin Construction
• Hollow Inside
• Paint color may vary from what is shown

This turtle is surprisingly large, one of the largest on our list, and it looks great. The resin is very light and is easily broken (including during shipping) so be wary to keep it out of the hands of those who aren’t careful. The resin is hollow, and some have even reported that this turtle floats, though we wouldn’t bank on it. It may float for a while, but we would assume water will slowly get in and eventually sink the turtle. The main issue here is with the color. The paint varies from turtle to turtle, and if you order one, you may not receive a turtle that looks like what is pictured. Of course, you may! But you’ll have to take the risk that the color tone you get isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, and if you don’t like it, you could return for another one, but that’s quite a hassle.

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Turtle Hear See Speak No Evil Collectible Garden Decoration Figurine

The George H Chen Imports Shear See Speak No Evil Turtle Statue is cute and whimsical, with three turtles stacked upon one another. The child is see no evil; the mother is hear no evil; and the father is speak no evil. They all are hand-painted and are quite charming.

Key Features

• 3.5" W x 3.5" L x 7.5" H
• Weight: 14.4 oz
• Made from Resin Construction
• Color may vary from image shown

Like many of the resin turtles on this list, the See/Hear/Speak No Evil turtle you receive may not be in the same color palette as the one shown here. Some have said that the garden turtle statues they received are not as vibrant and colorful as shown in the image, so beware: you may find some color issues. Additionally, they are fairly small, given the price being asked, so be prepared for a smaller statue than you might envision. The total height of the statue is only 7“, and that is the longest dimension.

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Moonrays 91515 Solar-Powered Outdoor LED Light Garden Décor, Turtles on a Log

The Moonrays 91515 Solar Powered LED three-turtle set is a lovely garden ornament, and one of the more highly sought after products on our list. It is small, but it is quite charming, and hits a great price point, especially given that these feature three LED lights, one in each turtle shell!

Key Features

• 11" W x 5" H
• Each Turtle is about 3" long
• 1.6lbs
• 3 Amber LEDs included one in each shell
• AA Battery included
• Made of polyresin

The size of this three-turtle-and-log-set is small, but the scene is lovely, and beautifully painted. By day it looks like a cute garden statue, and by night the lights glow gently in an amber hue, bringing character and warmth to the garden. The solar panel is located in the middle of the log, and the rechargeable battery is included. The light goes on automatically when the sun goes down, though be sure you turn on the switch on the bottom of the statue to make sure it engages the panel. The amount of light these garden turtle statues cast is negligible, it is purely ambient light. But it is charming and will be a focal point wherever it is put. The shells are not made of stained glass, but rather a clear glass that has a coat of paint on it. Over time, the paint may chip or fade, especially if left in the elements, and you can repaint if necessary. If the light is not turning on, you may have a plastic cover over the solar panel. Be sure to remove the cover to expose the solar panel, and it will charge in the sun.

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Deco 79 98281 Polystone Decorative Turtle Statue, 15 by 6-Inch

The Deco Polystone Decorative Turtle Shell is yet another life-like turtle representation, this one a large turtle in a sitting position. It is the largest turtle statue on our list and is made of resin.

Key Features

• 15" x 15" x 6"
• 4.2 lbs
• Made of resin

The Deco turtle is made of a poly-resin material, and like all poly-resin products, can be easily broken, including during shipping. Beware when you move it, or when children or pets are near the statue, as it can break! Some have found that the paint peels or fades over time, so be prepared to re-paint this statue if it’s left outside in the elements for long periods of time. The lines are etched into the turtle’s shell, so you should be able to re-create the design if the paint fades significantly and you need to repaint. Alternately, you could spray the turtle with a clear coat of gloss protestant to help seal the design.

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Portly Turtle Statue

The Portly Turtle Statue is cute and clever. It’s an exaggerated version of a traditional turtle, one that looks sensible enough that people might confuse it for a real turtle, but after doing a double take, will see that it’s obviously a statue.

Key Features

• 6.25" H x 7" W x 9.25" L
• Weights 1.38lbs
• Made of resin plastic
• Hand Painted Finish
• Weather Resistant

The Portly Turtle is a very popular garden turtle statue, and one of a set of several portly animal statues available as a series. It is hand painted, and finished in a realistic way, except for the supersized rotundness! The eyes on this statue look a little glassy, but the whole effect is charming. The statue is made of resin plastic, and like all resin statuettes on our list, it is prone to breakage, so be careful with it! Keep it away from children and pets.

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Turtle Solar Garden Light

The Turtle Solar Garden Light is a cute turtle statue with a shell carved with holes. Inside the shell is a solar light that glows through the holes at night, casting interesting light patterns on the surrounding area.

Key Features

• 9" x 7"
• Weighs 12oz
• Solar Light with Rechargeable Battery Included
• Made of Resin Plastic
• Night-sensing technology automatically engages the light at night

Be sure to check the dimensions, because this turtle is not as large as you may expect, and is smaller than several of the other turtles on the list. The solar light is a great feature, but the use of holes in the resin shell, rather than a lens that amplifies the light results in a glow that is not very impressive, and certainly is not as interesting as the Moonrays Three Turtle sculpture mentioned above. The illumination is pretty mild on this solar light. Some users also reported having issues with the switch, the solar panel, or the battery, and the light stopped working after a short while. Be sure you remove any covers or plastic film on the solar panel. The Turtle Solar Garden Light is made of the usual resin material and is prone to cracks and damage like all resin sculptures are. Be careful with it!

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Conclusion: Turtle Garden Decor

We hope you’ve found a whole lot of amphibian inspiration on this page, and the perfect turtle for your garden space!