What Size Shed Do You Actually Need?

The most common mistake is buying one size too small. A shed fills up faster than people expect, and there's no adding a foot later.

Here's what actually fits.

Under 20 sq ft — the tool shed

Roughly 4 x 4 up to 4 x 6. This is a tidy solution for hand tools, a strimmer, bags of compost and a couple of folding chairs. It is not a shed you walk into. You reach in from the doorway.

Fits: hand tools, watering gear, a small mower stood on end, garden chemicals up high. Won't fit: a bike with the wheels on, a ride-on mower, a workbench. In our range: 9 models, $95–$499.

20–40 sq ft — the everyday shed

Roughly 4 x 8 up to 6 x 6. The size most people should buy. You can step inside, shelve one wall, and still get a push mower in and out without moving three things first.

Fits: push mower, two bikes, wall shelving, a workbench along the short wall. Won't fit: a workbench plus free floor space, long timber. In our range: 17 models, $129–$399.

40–70 sq ft — the working shed

Roughly 6 x 8 up to 8 x 8. Enough depth to keep a walkway clear down the middle with storage either side. This is where a shed stops being storage and starts being usable.

Fits: ride-on mower, three or four bikes, a proper workbench, wall storage on both sides. In our range: 18 models, $105–$749.

70+ sq ft — the workshop

8 x 10 and up. A room, not a shed. Worth thinking about a window and a power run before you build.

Fits: everything above plus a bench you can walk around, and long timber stored along a wall. In our range: 10 models, $127–$816.

Two things people forget

The doorway, not the footprint. On a 6 x 8 apex shed the doors sit in the 6 ft end, so the actual opening is a good deal narrower than 6 ft once you account for the frame and corner posts. If you're getting a ride-on mower in, measure the mower and check the door opening, not the shed size.

The base. Every shed here needs a flat, solid, level base — paving, concrete or a proper timber frame. Sheds put straight on soil or uneven slabs are the single biggest cause of doors that stop closing after a winter.

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Still not sure? Tell us what you're storing and the space you've got, and we'll tell you which size works. Email support@hydrocoreco.com or use the chat.