Sheds are an invaluable addition to any garden, providing storage, protection and even a space to relax. However, it’s worth making sure you match the right shed to your garden and your gardening needs. If you simply want a low-maintenance, durable garden space for storage, a metal shed may be all you need, but depending on the tools and other kit you have you might need a large apex shed, or just a garden chest.
We’ve rounded up a selection of a range of different types of shed, all made from either wood or metal. In the interest of reducing plastic usage in the garden, we haven’t recommended any plastic sheds here, although they are widely available. Please note, the measurements featured below are a guide and list the widest, highest or deepest measurements of each shed’s dimensions. Further details such as exact door widths and heights at different points of the roof can be found on the sellers’ websites.
Why not collect rainwater from your shed roof?
Running guttering from a shed roof into a water butt is an efficient way to harvest rainwater. Choose from our roundup of the best water butts for your garden, and if you already have one but it’s not connected to your shed’s guttering, buy a downpipe rain trap from Garden Trading, Water Butts Direct and Amazon.
To keep your new shed tidy, browse our guide to the best shed storage ideas and garden storage ideas. We also have handy roundups of the best shed paints and tips on how to improve your shed, and DIY tool guides such as best hammers, best multi-tools and best cordless drills.
Already know the type of shed you’re after? Jump to the style of shed you’re considering:
Jump to:
- Apex sheds
- Pent sheds
- Lean-to sheds
- Sentry Style Box sheds
- Corner sheds
- Potting sheds
- How to choose a shed
The best garden sheds
Apex sheds
BillyOh Keeper Overlap Apex Shed
Available from Amazon (£257), Garden Buildings Direct (£245), BillyOh (£245), B&Q (£284.89)
A practical shed with double-door access, this shed makes life easy when it comes to storing larger tools and equipment. While the standard 11mm tongue and groove flooring and roof is included, we like the range of optional extras available, including shelving, windows and paint colour, to ensure you have the shed of your dreams.
Measurements: Available in a range of sizes, from 4’x6 to 16’x8
Price: from £429.00
Buy the BillyOh Keeper Overlap Apex Shed from Garden Buildings Direct
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Rowlinson Oxford 4ft x 3ft Wooden Apex Garden Shed with Lean-To
Available from Garden Chic (£295), Robert Dyas (£307.99), Ryman (£319.99), Amazon UK (£323.98), Wickes (£368)
A compact design to suit small gardens, with the added bonus of a built-in log store on the side, which features upright slats of wood to provide protection against the elements. Made using 12mm tongue and groove cladding, it comes with a solid, felt-clad roof and 10 year guarantee against rot.
Measurements: 200 (height) x 195 (width) x 94cm (depth)
Price: £504.99
Buy the Rowlinson Oxford 4ft x 3ft Wooden Apex Garden Shed with Lean-To from Robert Dyas
8′ x 6′ Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Apex Single Door Shed
Available from Robert Dyas (£307.99), Ryman (£319.99), Amazon (£323.98)
This classic apex shed is crafted by hand from Nordic White Spruce, with a felt roof reinforced with high-grade polyester for additional protection. The tongue and groove cladding makes it more weatherproof than an overlap shed, so it’s a good choice if you want to store items that need to be kept dry, or if you’re planning to use it as a workshop. Installation is included and it comes with a 15 year guarantee.
Measurements: 2.184m (height) x 2.4m (width) x 1.82m (depth)
Price: £1,599
Buy the 8′ x 6′ Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Apex Single Door Shed from Shedstore
For more apex sheds, browse Tiger Sheds, Garden Buildings Direct and Shedstore
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Pent Sheds
Tiger Garden Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7′ x 5′
Available from Tiger Sheds (£409.99), Wayfair (£449.99)
This overlap shed has a pent roof, offering extra headroom at the front. The two windows are made from unbreakable polycarbonate and are attached with security screws. The door comes with a latch you can secure with a padlock. It also has a 20 year warranty.
Measurements: 2.03m (height) x 2.09m (width) x 1.53m (depth)
Price: £409.99
Buy the Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7 x 5 from Tiger Sheds
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7′ x 5′ Forest Timberdale 25yr Guarantee Tongue & Groove Pressure Treated Pent Shed
Available from Buy Sheds Direct (£879.99), ManoMano (£999.99), ShedStore (£999.99), B&Q (£1105)
This pent-roof shed features tongue and groove cladding and is made from pressure-treated European softwood, guaranteed against rot for at least 15 years. The door is set to the right-hand side and is wider and taller than the average single shed door, offering extra room to get bulky garden tools in and out.
Measurements: 2.108m (height) x 2.215m (width) x 1.6m (depth)
Price: £1,399
Buy the 7′ x 5′ Forest Timberdale Tongue & Groove Shed from Shedstore or Robert Dyas
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6′ x 4′ Yardmaster Pent Metal Shed
Available from Amazon UK (£149.99), Buy Sheds Direct (£189.99), Shedstore (£189.99) and Very.co.uk (£199.99)
This shed is made from galvanised steel and comes with a 10 year anti-rust guarantee. It has sliding doors, rather than hinged doors, which is a great space-saver, if you don’t have space in front of the shed for the doors to open outwards. The door handles are lockable and attached with anti-tamper bolts. Don’t forget to select the add-on flooring option before you buy.
Measurements: 1.74m (height) x 1.84m (width) x 1.19m (depth)
Price: £211.99
Buy the 6′ x 4′ Yardmaster Pent Metal Shed from Robert Dyas
Not quite the right style? Check out other pent sheds from Tiger Sheds, Garden Buildings Direct and Shedstore
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Lean-to Sheds
Tiger Pent Bike Store
Available from Wayfair (£323.99), Tiger Sheds (£319)
Promoted as a bike shed, this is a generously-sized lean-to shed, which will house plenty of garden tools and equipment while fitting into a tight spot. The double doors ensure easy access for larger items. Made from European softwood 12mm Shiplap tongue and groove cladding, with solid frame and flooring, it’s a solid and sturdy option for your garden. It comes with a 10 year guarantee against insect infection, rot and timber decay.
Measurements: 217.4 (height) x 20.5 (length) x 85cm (width)
Price: from £359
Buy the Tiger Pent Bike Store from Tiger Sheds
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Rowlinson 6x3ft Lean-To Midi Garden Tool Storage Shed
Available from One Garden (£214.99), Sheds (£219), Ryman (£226.99), Wickes (£270)
A neat, sentry style design that is ideal for a small garden. This lean-to is ideal for tools, wellies and general garden paraphernalia. Includes solid board floor, roof and shelf.
Measurements: 184.5 (height) x 93.5 (width) x 64cm (depth)
Price: £270
Buy the Rowlinson 6x3ft Lean-To Midi Garden Tool Storage Shed from Wickes
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Sentry Style Sheds
BillyOh Tongue and Groove Tall Sentry Box Grande
Available from Amazon (£230), Billy Oh (£219), Garden Buildings Direct (£219)
If space is limited, or you only need to store a few tools, then this simple sentry box shed could be the answer. With an apex roof, tongue and groove cladding, plus three interior corner shelves, it’s just the thing for storage in a small garden. For an additional fee, the shed can be delivered with a tin of paint or wood stain in the colour of your choice.
Measurements: 1.9m (height) x 1.13m (width) x 0.65m (depth)
Price: from £249.00
Buy BillyOh Tongue and Groove Tall Sentry Box Grande from Garden Buildings Direct
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Corner sheds
BillyOh Expert Tongue and Groove Corner Workshop Shed
Available from Billy Oh (£594), Garden Buildings Direct (£594), Amazon UK (£651)
A corner shed is a great way to maximise your storage if you’re tight for space. This corner shed has double doors to make it easy to stuff in and out. There’s a shatterproof window on one side, and it’s constructed from dip-treated shiplap cladding. It comes with a 20 year warranty.
Measurements: 2.08m (height) x 1.89m (width) x 1.91m (depth)
Price: from £805
Buy The BillyOh Expert Tongue and Groove Corner Workshop Shed from Garden Buildings Direct
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Mercia Corner Summerhouse with Shed 7x11ft
Available from Robert Dyas (£999.99)
Unlike other corner sheds, this model features two separate areas, so you can choose how you use the spaces. The main corner shed features windows and glazed French doors, so there’s plenty of light, while the adjoining side storage has double doors for easy access. Made from FSC Certified 12mm Shiplap tongue and groove wood, it will require regular preserving treatment, but does come with a 10 years anti-rust guarantee. Planning permission and building regulations may be required.
Measurements: 201 (height) x 322 (width) x 207cm (depth)
Price: £1,199.99
Buy the Mercia Corner Summerhouse with Shed 7x11ft from Robert Dyas
Need further inspiration? Check out corners sheds from Garden Buildings Direct, Wayfair and Tiger Sheds
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Potting Sheds
BillyOh Planthouse Tongue and Groove Apex Potting Shed
Available from Garden Buildings Direct (£789), Billy Oh (£954)
The best of both worlds, the two-tier glazed side of this combination greenhouse and shed allows you to grow plants, while the shelving on the timber back wall provides space for storage. The European-sourced wood is pressure treated, and it comes with an 11m floor, roof, and roof felt and optional Ecobase fastfit full base, guttering and padlocks. You can also choose from 12 different paint colours.
Measurements: Available in a range of sizes, including 8×6; 12×6 and 16×6.
Price: from £1,105.00
Buy the BillyOh Planthouse Tongue and Groove Apex Potting Shed from Garden Buildings Direct
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Tiger Potting Shed
Available from Tiger Sheds (£635.99)
This shed gives you the chance to grow your own plants as well as store tools and equipment. The large side windows provide plenty of light, while the storage side of this shed features a useful shelf. Made with solid frames and 12mm tongue and groove timber this shed comes with 20 years’ guarantee for rot, decay and infestation.
Measurements: Available in two sizes, including 6×6 and 8×6
Price: from £639.99
Buy the Tiger Potting Shed from Tiger Sheds
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Shire Iceni 8′ x 6′ Pent Shiplap Wooden Shed
Available from Wilko (£725.00), Robert Dyas (£744.99), Ryman (£746.99) and Buy Sheds Direct (£759.99)
This shiplap shed is made from European, kiln dried, softwood. Large windows offer plenty of light for working inside or even to grow a few potted plants. The barn-style door is set to the right and the pent roof, sloping in the same direction, helps the shed to slot under any overhangs.
Measurements: 2.21m (height) x 2.39m (width) x 1.79m (depth)
Price: £850
Buy Shire Iceni 8×6 Pent Shiplap Wooden Shed from B&Q
Still looking for a potting shed? Try Waltons, Shed Store and Garden Buildings Direct
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8×6 Power Overlap Pent Double Door Shed
Available from Amazon (£639.00)
This shed’s appeal is twofold. Firstly, the shed itself is very robust, made from high grade, slow grown Scandinavian softwood. The second benefit this shed offers is that the windows and doors can be placed where the owner likes during assembly.
Measurements: 8 by 6 feet.
Price: from £639.99
Buy the 8×6 Power Overlap Pent Double Door Shed from Robert Dyas
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10′ x 12′ Yardmaster Shiplap Metal Shed (3.03m x 3.78m)
Available from B and Q (£699.99), Buy Sheds Direct (£599.99), Shedstore (£599.99) and Amazon UK (£759.94)
Rust-resistant, spacious, and UK-made, this shed would be a firm choice for gardeners looking for a tough, secure shed for workshop work, or storage. Coming fitted with guttering and translucent roof panels, gardeners can enjoy a bright interior space on sunny days, and practical water management when it’s rainy.
This shed also has the option of being delivered with a 10×12 supporting floor kit.
Measurements: 10′ x 12′
Price: £769.99
Buy the 10′ x 12′ Yardmaster Shiplap Metal Shed from Buy Sheds Direct
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How to choose your shed
Follow our guide to help you choose the right shed for you and your garden:
What size shed should you choose?
Apart from considering what you want to use your shed for, another important factor is how much space you have in your garden for a shed. To work this out, measure and mark out the space, making sure you allow room for the door to open and access in and out and make note of overhanging trees or other obstacles that might affect how tall the shed can be. Remember that shed dimensions refer to exterior measurements, so the interior footprint will be slightly less. Siting your shed close to a building, hedge or wall or fence will give it some protection from the elements and help it to last longer
Which is the best shape for a roof?
There are two main shapes of shed roof to choose from. How you plan to use the shed and how much space you have available will determine which shape is right for you.
- Apex: This is the traditional triangle-shaped roof, with two sloping sides meeting in a peak in the middle. Inside, the centre of the shed offers the most headroom, and space is lower at either side. With a reverse apex shed, the two sloping sides meet in the middle down the entire length.
- Pent: A pent roof slopes in just one direction. Usually the roof is higher at the front and slopes away to the back of the shed. Internally, the most headroom is at the front of the shed where the door is. Conversely, a reverse pent has the highest point at the back. Smaller and lean-to sheds often have pent roofs that slope to one side.
Which material should you choose?
Sheds can be made from wood, plastic or metal and each material has its own benefits and uses:
- Wood: The traditional material for a garden shed, wood is a popular choice with the most variety in style and shape available. It’s a natural material, so wooden sheds blend into their surroundings well and are reasonably durable. While wood may warp over time, there are a variety of treatments to help you maintain your garden shed.
The roof is usually covered in felt, but some have tile-effect shingles. Wooden sheds are clad in a number of different styles:- Overlap: This type of cladding consists of individual strips of wood overlapped and nailed together. The angle of the panels lets rainwater drain away and gives the wood the space to expand and shrink with the weather. Overlap cladding can be a little draughty, so it’s not ideal if you’re planning on spending lots of time working inside. For storage alone, however, it’s a simple and effective choice.
- Tongue and Groove: The cladding interlocks together to keep water and drafts out, so these sheds are sturdy with a neater, sleeker appearance.
- Shiplap: Essentially an advanced version of tongue and groove cladding, shiplap has a scalloped appearance. It has all the benefits of tongue and groove plus the scalloping allows rain water to run off the shed more effectively.
- Metal: Metal sheds tend to be the most secure, so they’re a good option if you need to store valuable items. They’re also weatherproof and long lasting.
- Plastic: Plastic sheds won’t rot, they require almost no maintenance, and they tend to be lightweight, making them easy to assemble. However, non-recycled plastic isn’t a sustainable material.
Do you need to lay foundations for a garden shed?
Sheds often come with flooring included or with the option to add it as an extra, unless stated otherwise. If you don’t already have a solid base, such as concrete or paving slabs, you will need to lay one or you can buy a purpose-made shed base.
Do you need planning permission for a shed?
Although in most cases you wont need planning permission from your local authority to put up a shed, particularly if its a small to medium size, always check before you buy. However, there are exceptions when you should seek planning permission, including: If the shed is 4m or higher, is bigger than half the total area of your property, is in front of your house or you plan to use the shed for something other then domestic purposes.
Remember to inform your neighbours if you plan to install a shed on a boundary or need access to their garden for construction.
How to secure your garden shed
When it comes to security, the sturdier your shed the better. However, as sheds can be a target for thieves, you may want to consider additional ideas to make it more burglar-proof.
- The roof can be a weak spot so if it’s possible, fix it to the main shed frame with bolts.
- Ensure doors are as solid as possible, and add a heavy duty locking system as well as a door bar to prevent them from being pushed inwards. When it comes to hinges, it’s sensible to replace screws with through-bolts.
- It’s worth locking up expensive tools and equipment within the shed, and installing an alarm and security lights, too.
- As a further precaution, check if your shed and its contents are covered by your home insurance policy.
In a hurry? Here are useful quick links to the essentials:
- Padlocks – buy from B&Q and Garden Buildings Direct
- Security lights – buy from Amazon, Argos and My Tool Shed
- Alarms – buy from Yale Home, Toolstation and Amazon
Where to buy garden sheds?
Your local DIY store or large garden centre is a good place to start, as you’ll be able to see examples of the sheds on offer and get a feel of the size and style that works best for you. However, trusted, specialist retailers, both brick-and-mortar and online, offer a wider choice and often have deals. Our roundup includes a selection of trusted retailers that appear most frequently in UK search terms for garden sheds.
This Product Guide was last updated in April 2024. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
from BBC Gardeners World Magazine https://ift.tt/xp4NEds
