Storage sheds are great investments for your property and home organization; however, you must choose a size that fits your needs. You want your shed to be big enough for your required storage but not too big that you lose precious yard space. With this in mind, how large should your storage shed be? Keep reading to help determine what size shed is right for you.
Shed Purpose
How you plan to use your shed and the items you want to store in it will help you narrow down a shed size. For example, sheds meant to store lawn tractors or recreational vehicles will need to be larger than sheds used to store tools and a push mower. If you plan to use your shed as a workshop or hobby shed, you’ll want to include floor space for furniture, workbenches, shelves, cabinets, and supplies.
Items in Storage
Consider the items you need to store in your shed and how much floor space and wall space they will take up. To keep this task from becoming overwhelming, write out a list of all the items you want to store in your shed. Don’t forget to account for seasonal items like patio furniture or pool toys that will need room inside your shed when the seasons change. This list will give you a good idea of how much space you need and what size shed will work best.
Check out our table below to get an idea of the 3 most popular shed sizes at Glick Structures and what they can store. However, don’t get discouraged if these shed sizes aren’t good fits. At Glick Structures, we frequently create custom-sized sheds for customers who need more or less space than traditional sizes.
| Items in Storage | Popular Shed Size | Square Feet |
| Garden tools, 1 push mower, 1 snow blower, & box storage | 8×12 | 96-120 square feet |
| 1 lawn tractor, 1 push mower, 1 snow blower, garden tools, & box storage | 10×16 | 140-180 square feet |
| 1 lawn tractor with bagger, 1 push mower, 1 snow blower, garden tools, & workshop | 12×20 | 240-280 square feet |
Shed Layout
What you store in your shed will play a big part in determining the layout of your shed. You’ll need to store larger items, like a riding mower, near double doors or a garage door for easy removal instead of in a corner surrounded by other storage. Drawing up some simple layout ideas is a quick way to decide where double doors should be installed and where larger items need to go. If your shed will have electricity installed, add outlets to your layout as these can affect where items go.
Room to Move
When planning what items you want in your shed, it can be easy to forget to leave room for yourself as well. Once you have a general idea of the size you need based on the items you intend to store in it, increase that size by 20% to 30%. You don’t want a shed overflowing with unorganized items that you can’t reach. This additional space ensures you can move, find, and put away items throughout your shed.
Building Considerations
Ceiling Height
When deciding on the size of your shed, don’t forget to include height. If you have a small yard but need more storage space, opt for taller storage structures to make use of open vertical space. Shed styles with taller roofs, such as Dutch Barns and Hip Roof Sheds, provide additional ceiling room for tall items or loft storage. Sheds with higher roofs also give you more wall space to install shelves or hang equipment like hoses, ladders, and long yard work tools.
Shed Foundation
Your shed’s foundation is another factor to consider when choosing a shed for your backyard. This foundation needs to be bigger than the shed itself, reaching at least 1 foot past the shed on all sides. A permanent foundation is necessary to keep your shed level and prevent structural damage from water or sinking.
HOA & Permit Requirements
It’s important to check ahead of time if permits are required in your area for structures above a specific size. You don’t want to buy and install a shed only to find out you didn’t have the correct permits. Check with your local zoning board to learn about any size restrictions before buying a shed. Additionally, if you live somewhere with a homeowner’s association (HOA), check community regulations to ensure you buy a shed that falls within neighborhood guidelines.
Experts at Glick Structures are always ready to assist you with finding the perfect shed for your storage needs and yard size. Our team is experienced in helping homeowners and renters find storage buildings for all types of properties, as well as answering any questions they have along the way. Contact Glick Structures today to get personalized recommendations from our team of professionals.
