Choosing the right shed size is one of the most important decisions to make before ordering. Too small and you quickly run out of storage space; too large and the building can dominate the garden or leave less room than expected around it.

The best approach is to think about what you need to store now, what you may want to store later and how much access space you need inside the building.

What will you use your shed for?

Start by listing the main items you want to keep inside. A shed used for a lawn mower, garden tools and a few shelves needs far less space than one used for bikes, workbenches, machinery or workshop equipment.

If you want a straightforward storage building, browse our garden sheds. For different roof styles, you can also compare our apex sheds and pent sheds.

Common garden shed sizes

4ft x 6ft and similar small sheds

Smaller sheds work well for compact gardens and basic storage. They can be useful for hand tools, garden equipment, bags of compost, a small mower and a limited amount of shelving.

Before choosing a small shed, make sure the door opening and internal floor area will comfortably take your largest item.

6ft x 8ft sheds

This is a useful all-round size for many gardens. It gives you more room for shelving, lawn equipment and general storage while still fitting comfortably into many standard garden layouts.

8ft x 10ft and larger sheds

Larger sheds give you more flexibility for bikes, larger machinery, workbenches and workshop use. If you expect your storage needs to grow, allowing extra room at the start can be worthwhile.

12ft, 14ft and larger garden buildings

Once you move into larger sizes, the building can become more than a simple storage shed. It may be suitable for workshop use, divided storage or a combination layout. Our wider garden buildings range includes larger options and specialist designs.

Measure the whole area, not just the shed footprint

Do not measure only the proposed building size. Allow space around the shed for installation, maintenance, roof overhangs and access to doors and windows.

Also check the route from the road or driveway to the garden. Gates, narrow passages, walls, steps and restricted access can all affect delivery and installation.

Our garden building delivery and installation guide explains more about preparing for your building.

Think about the door position

Door position can make a surprisingly big difference. A door on the left, right or centre may suit your garden better depending on fencing, pathways and where you intend to place shelving or equipment.

Window position matters too. If security and privacy are the main priorities, a no-window shed may be preferable. If you want natural light for gardening or workshop use, one or more windows can make the building much more pleasant to use.

Should you choose a little bigger than you need?

If space and budget allow, choosing the next size up can be sensible. Garden equipment tends to accumulate over time, and extra floor area makes it easier to move around rather than packing everything tightly together.

However, bigger is not automatically better. The right shed should fit the garden comfortably, leave sensible access around it and suit what you actually need to store.

See garden buildings before choosing

If you are near Leek, Staffordshire, you can visit our garden building display site in Leek to see examples of our timber buildings and get a better feel for size and construction before ordering.

For help choosing a size or discussing a bespoke layout, call Churnet Valley Garden Furniture on 01538 371548.