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What is the best material to use for a garden shed?

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.

gardenersworld.com - The best garden sheds for 2022 and how to choose one
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A garden shed is an invaluable storage solution, which can be used to tidy away everything from plant pots and tools to the lawnmower. They can also double as a workshop, for all those garden DIY projects. There's a huge variety of sheds available in different styles, materials, and prices. To help you choose the right shed for you, we’ve put together a list of some of the best garden sheds available. 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.

The best garden sheds in the UK

We’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best sheds available to buy in the UK. The sheds in our list are all made from either wood or metal. In the interest of reducing plastic usage in the garden, we have not recommended any plastic sheds here, although they are widely available. 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. Already know the one you're after? Jump to the style of shed you’re considering:

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Apex sheds

BillyOh Keeper Overlap Apex Shed

BillyOh Keeper Overlap Apex Shed

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.

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Measurements: Available in a range of sizes, from 4’x6 to 16’x8

Price: from £345

Buy the BillyOh Keeper Overlap Apex Shed from Garden Buildings Direct

Rowlinson Oxford 4ft x 3ft Wooden Apex Garden Shed with Lean-To

Rowlinson Oxford 4ft x 3ft Wooden Apex Garden Shed with Lean-To

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: £409.99

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

Shedstore Apex Shed

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: £1,479

Buy the 8' x 6' Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Apex Single Door Shed from Shedstore

The Wimbledon Shed

The Posh Shed Company Wimbledon Shed

The Posh Shed Company builds luxury and bespoke garden sheds. They offer “posh”, “very posh” and sometimes “unbelievably” posh categories of installation and extras, such as double glazing, cedar roof shingles and insulation. This attractive model comes complete with a veranda for unwinding after a long day tending to your plot.

Measurements: 2.53m (height) x 2.53m (width) x 2.21m (depth)

Price: from £5,102

Buy the Wimbledon Shed from The Posh Shed Company

For more apex sheds, browse Tiger Sheds, Garden Buildings Direct and Shedstore

Pent Sheds

Tiger Garden Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7' x 5'

Tiger Pent Wooden Shed

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: £468.69

Buy the Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7 x 5 from Tiger Sheds

7' x 5' Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Pent Shed - Single Door on Right

Shedstore Wooden Shed Door on Right

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: £1,259

Buy 7' x 5' Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Pent Shed - Single Door on Right from Shedstore

6' x 4' Yardmaster Pent Metal Shed

Shedstore Metal Shed

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: £182.99

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

Lean-to Sheds

Forest Overlap Pressure Treated Lean-to

This simple design is ideal for side-returns and small gardens. It has pressure-treated timber with a 15 year anti-rot guarantee so you don’t need to restain it every year. It’s also been designed to incorporate 30% more framing than typical sheds of this type, with a sturdier-than-standard 14mm solid timber floor and hidden hinges for security. Optional extras include a wooden base kit, workbench, shelving, solar lighting and an alarm padlock.

Measurements: 200 (height) x 108.6 (width) x 182.6cm (depth)

Price: from £339.99

Buy Forest Overlap Pressure Treated Lean-to from Buy Sheds Direct

Tiger Pent Bike Store

Tiger Pent Bike Store

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 £418.19

Buy the Tiger Pent Bike Store from Tiger Sheds

Rowlinson 6x3ft Lean-To Midi Garden Tool Storage Shed

Rowlinson 6x3ft Lean To Midi Garden Tool Storage Shed

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: £295

Buy the Rowlinson 6x3ft Lean-To Midi Garden Tool Storage Shed from Wickes

Lotus Lean-To Metal Shed

A strong, durable and easy-to-build shed that’s a great alternative to wooden styles. Made from high-tensile, hot-dipped galvanised steel, it features ventilated gables to prevent condensation build-up. The wide hinged door can be placed at either end of the shed and it comes in a choice of anthracite grey or heritage green.

Measurements: Available in a range of sizes, including 4x6; 4x8 and 5x8.

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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Price: from £443

Buy the Lotus Lean-To Metal Shed from Garden Buildings Direct

Not quite what you were looking for? Browse lean-to sheds from Tiger Sheds, Buy Sheds Direct and Shed Store

Sentry Style Sheds

BillyOh Tongue and Groove Tall Sentry Box Grande

BillyOh Tongue and groove sentry box

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 £203

Buy BillyOh Tongue and Groove Tall Sentry Box Grande from Garden Buildings Direct

Sentry Style Garden Shed

This pretty shed is perfect for small gardens, patios and large balconies, with an impressively small footprint of 80x50cm. Designed to provide as much storage as possible, it includes three shelves, a tall tool section that’s 1.3m high, a drop-down shelf and a cubby hole in the roof. It’s made from kiln-dried Chinese fir and finished in garden-friendly sage green paint.

Measurements: 179 (height) x 78 (width) x 51.5cm (depth)

Price: £169.99

Buy the Sentry Style Garden Shed from Amazon

3’7 x 1’8 Forest Shiplap Tall Apex Wooden Garden Storage Tool Shed

Offering a little extra width than the usual sentry sheds, this design has all the advantages of an upright, space-saving storage unit with the added bonus of easy-access double doors. Made from pressure-treated FSC certified timber, it comes with a 15 year anti-rot warranty.

Measurements: 183 (height) x 110 (width) x 51cm (depth)

Price: from £259.99

Buy the 3’7 x 1’8 Forest Shiplap Tall Apex Wooden Garden Storage Tool Shed from Buy Sheds Direct Looking for more ideas? Browse sentry box sheds from Amazon and Shed Store

Corner sheds

Tiger Wooden 7' x 7' Double Door Corner Garden Shed

7'x7' Corner Shed

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 £652

Buy Wooden 7 x 7ft Double Door Corner Garden Shed from Garden Buildings Direct

Mercia Corner Summerhouse with Shed 7x11ft

Mercia Corner Summerhouse with Shed 7x11ft

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: £1,499.99

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

Potting Sheds

BillyOh Planthouse Tongue and Groove Apex Potting Shed

BillyOh Planthouse Tongue and Groove Apex Potting Shed

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 8x6; 12x6 and 16x6.

Price: from £860

Buy the BillyOh Planthouse Tongue and Groove Apex Potting Shed from Garden Buildings Direct

Tiger Potting Shed

Tiger Potting Shed

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 6x6 and 8x6

Price: from £718.19

Buy the Tiger Potting Shed from Tiger Sheds

Shire Iceni 8' x 6' Pent Shiplap Wooden Shed

Shire Iceni Pent Shiplap Wooden Shed

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: £1,495

Buy Shire Iceni 8x6 Pent Shiplap Wooden Shed from B&Q

Still looking for a potting shed? Try Waltons, Shed Store and Garden Buildings Direct

How to choose your shed

There are a number of things to think about before you buy a new garden shed. Some of the most important considerations are:

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Follow our guide to help you choose the right shed for you and your garden.

How will you use the shed?

Thinking about this will help you work out how large your new shed needs to be. If it’s just a garden storage solution, consider what you need to store and how valuable it is. If you have large, high-value power tools, you'll need a bigger and more secure shed than if you're storing some hand tools and pots. If you’re planning to use the shed as a workshop for DIY projects you’ll want enough headroom and space to work and move around. You'll also need good lighting, so you might want to consider windows, double doors and electricity. If you plan to spend a lot of time working in the shed, you may also want to invest in insulation and heating.

What size shed should you choose?

One of the most important factors is how much space you have available for the shed. Measure and mark out the space, making sure you allow room for the door to open and access in and out. Remember that dimensions refer to exterior measurements, so the interior footprint will be slightly less. If the tools and equipment you want to store are large, keep in mind the height of the shed and whether you’ll need to look for higher eaves. Take note of overhanging trees or other obstacles that might affect how tall the shed can be. If space is limited, corner sheds fit neatly into right-angled spaces and lean-to styles are great for fitting snugly along a wall.

Which is the best shape for a roof?

There are two main shapes of 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 it's lower at either side. With a reverse apex shed, the two sloping sides meet in the middle down the entire length. : 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 it's 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.

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Smaller and lean-to sheds often have pent roofs that slope to one side. 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.

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. Wood may warp over time, but there are various treatments to help you care for your garden shed. The roof is usually covered in felt, but some have tile-effect shingles. Cladding : There are a number of types of cladding available for wooden sheds, but the three main styles are overlap, shiplap, and tongue and groove. 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, which means these sheds are sturdy and have 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. 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. Wood may warp over time, but there are various treatments to help you care for your garden shed. The roof is usually covered in felt, but some have tile-effect shingles. 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. 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, plastic isn’t a sustainable material. Plastic sheds won't rot, they require almost no maintenance, and they tend to be lightweight, making them easy to assemble. However, plastic isn’t a sustainable material. 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 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.In a hurry? Here are useful quick links to the essentials:

How much are garden sheds?

The price of a garden shed depends on the materials and size you choose, as well as additional features like shelving and security lights. As a general guide, you should be able to pick up smaller, sentry-style sheds for under £150. Budget for at least £200 for a good quality medium-sized shed, while you’ll need to spend over £500 for a larger wooden shed. Though you’ll want to get the largest shed for your money, it’s worth keeping in mind that the quality of materials, a strong roof, thick frames and sturdy doors will always be money-well-spent.

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.

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 for your shed, such as concrete or paving slabs, you will need to lay one or you can buy a purpose-made shed base.

How to maintain your garden shed?

General upkeep shouldn’t take up too much of your time. The key things to keep in mind are ensuring the roof is kept clear of dirt, debris and moss; treating wood and metal with protective stains or paint every year or two; greasing hinges to avoid rust setting-in, and repairing any holes or leaks as and when they appear. This Product Guide was last updated in October 2022. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

gardenersworld.com - The best garden sheds for 2022 and how to choose one
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