Shed planning, by the numbers
Size the shed before you buy the shed.
Most shed regret is one size too small or a door too narrow for the mower. Enter what you own, see it drawn to scale, then get the gravel, anchors and kit that fit.
Or jump to a size:
The calculators
All 1001Shed size calculatorEnter your mower, bikes, snow blower and tools to get the smallest standard shed size that fits them with room to reach, plus the door width you need.02Shed foundation calculatorCompare a gravel pad, a concrete slab and a paver base for your shed size: volume, tons, bags, paver count and material cost side by side.03Gravel pad calculatorHow much gravel for a shed pad: cubic yards and tons for any shed size, border and depth, with a timber or paver frame and weed fabric count.04Shed anchor calculatorEstimate how many ground or concrete anchors a shed needs from its size, base and wind exposure, and which anchor type suits gravel, soil or a slab.05Roof pitch calculatorTurn a shed roof pitch into degrees, ridge height, rafter length, roof area and shingle bundles for a gable or single-slope shed roof.06Snow load calculatorEstimate the design roof snow load on a shed from your ground snow load, roof slope and roof surface using the ASCE 7 flat-roof method, and the total weight on the roof.07Permit size checkerCheck your planned shed against the common permit-exemption thresholds (100, 120 and 200 sq ft), height limits, setbacks and the triggers that always need a permit.08Shed cost calculatorEstimate the total cost of a shed kit by size and material using real per-square-foot kit prices, plus foundation, anchoring and fit-out.09Paint and stain calculatorWork out the wall area of a shed including gables, subtract doors and windows, and get gallons of paint or stain for your siding type and number of coats.10Shed ramp calculatorFind how long a shed ramp must be for your door threshold height, for a lawn tractor, a push mower or a hand cart, with angle and lumber estimate.
What a shed really costs per square foot
The full table| Material | Kits tracked | Median per sq ft | 8x10 at median | 10x12 at median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resin | 65 | $18.18 | $1,454 | $2,182 |
| Vinyl | 7 | $20.24 | $1,619 | $2,428 |
| Steel | 69 | $5.25 | $420 | $630 |
| Wood | 12 | $20.84 | $1,667 | $2,500 |
Best picks at three budgets
All roundupsBest bike storage shedsLean-to and compact metal sheds sized to actually fit adult bikes, from a single-bike budget unit to a triple-door shed for a whole family.Best garden tool organizersCorner racks, wall-mount hook systems, and rolling storage compared for keeping rakes, shovels, and long-handled tools off the floor.Best horizontal storage shedsThe best horizontal storage sheds for trash cans, patio gear and low-profile storage, compared by capacity and price.Best large shedsThe best large storage sheds at 10x12 and bigger, across steel, resin and true wood kits, for a full workshop or multi-vehicle setup.Best lean-to shedsThe best lean-to storage sheds for a narrow side yard or fence line, from budget metal to a vinyl model with a foundation kit included.Best metal shedsThe best steel storage sheds by price per square foot, from budget 6x8 boxes to Arrow Elite high-gable sheds built for decades of use.Best resin shedsThe best resin storage sheds for the money, from budget 6x8 boxes to steel-reinforced 8x10 models built for decades of weather.Best shed anchor kitsGround anchor kits compared for tying a shed down against wind, from a budget four-pack to a heavy arrowhead-style anchor for exposed sites.Best shed floor kitsArrow-brand floor frame kits matched to specific shed sizes, from a compact Elite kit to the largest 14x16 frame, plus what to check before you order.
Complete builds, every part priced
Compare all sixBEGINNER · $422.92Beginner garden tool shed build11 items, from the shed to the lock.INTERMEDIATE · $1,012.13Buy-once garden tool shed build13 items, from the shed to the lock.EXPERT · $2,475.63Performance ceiling garden tool shed build14 items, from the shed to the lock.BEGINNER · $650.86Beginner mower shed build11 items, from the shed to the lock.INTERMEDIATE · $1,091.50Buy-once mower shed build12 items, from the shed to the lock.EXPERT · $2,744.64Performance ceiling mower shed build15 items, from the shed to the lock.
Shed kits from budget to premium
Spread across the price range of the kits we track.
Prices change often; the button shows today's price on Amazon.
Reference charts
All charts- Shed size chart
- Equipment footprint chart
- Gravel for a shed pad, by size
- Concrete for a shed slab, by size
- Shed roof pitch chart
- Shed roof snow load table
- Shed paint coverage chart
- Shed permit size thresholds
- Shed cost per square foot
Guides
All guides- How to anchor a shed
- How to assemble a metal storage shed
- How to assemble a resin storage shed
- How to build a gravel pad for a shed
- How to choose the right shed size
- How to keep a shed dry
- How to level the ground for a shed
- How to organize a shed
Brands
Compare brandsArrow · Keter · Duramax · Aoxun · Rubbermaid · Lifetime · Suncast · Patiowell · Devoko · Polar Aurora · AECOJOY · AMERLIFE · Breezestival
What goes with the shed
Foundation, anchors, storage and light: the parts people forget to budget.
Prices change often; the button shows today's price on Amazon.






