Best 8x10 pick (matched brand) Aoxun 10x8FT Shed with Floor Galvanized Steel Outdoor Storage $459.98 Check price on Amazon
Comparison
8x10 vs 10x12 shed
Same brand, same base construction: the Aoxun 8x10 with floor at $459.98 covers 80 square feet at about $5.75 a square foot, while the Aoxun 10x12 with base at $519.98 covers 120 square feet at about $4.33 a square foot. The bigger shed is cheaper per square foot and buys real headroom for a lawn tractor plus other equipment, but it also sits right at the size where some towns start requiring a permit.
| 8x10 shed | 10x12 shed | |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | 80 sq ft | 120 sq ft, 50% more |
| Price per sq ft (matched brand pair) | about $5.75 | about $4.33 |
| Gravel pad size (this site's formula) | 10x12 pad, about 1.63 cubic yards, about 2.3 tons of stone | 12x14 pad, about 2.28 cubic yards, about 3.2 tons of stone |
| Fits a lawn tractor (4.5x6 ft parked) with aisle room | Tight, works if it is the only large item stored | Comfortably, with room left for a mower and shelving |
| Fits a zero-turn mower (5x6.5 ft parked) | Very tight to not workable depending on other contents | Workable with careful layout |
| Door clearance for a 42 in tractor (needs 5 ft clear) | Check the specific model's door width before buying | Check the specific model's door width before buying |
| Permit exposure | Clears even a 100 sq ft local amendment to the IRC exemption | Sits at or above common local amendments of 120 or 100 sq ft, check your town |
| Best for | General tool and equipment storage, tighter lots | Anyone storing a riding mower or planning to grow into more equipment |
The options compared
Best 10x12 pick (matched brand) Aoxun 10x12 FT Galvanized Steel Outdoor Storage Shed with Base $519.98 Check price on Amazon
Best 10x12 resin alternative CDCASA 10x12 FT Extra Large Resin Storage Shed with Floor $1,369.85 Check price on Amazon
Prices change often; the button shows today's price on Amazon.
What actually fits in each size?
This site's sizing rule is to take the parked footprint of everything you plan to store, multiply by 1.5 for aisles and reach space, round up to the next standard size, and add 20% for future growth. A lawn tractor parked footprint runs about 4.5 by 6 feet, or 27 square feet; multiplied by 1.5 for aisle space, that alone eats up about 40.5 square feet. In an 80 square foot 8x10 shed, that leaves under 40 square feet for everything else, including a mower, a wheelbarrow, a trash can, and shelving. It can work if the tractor is the main item stored, but it is genuinely tight.
A 120 square foot 10x12 shed leaves closer to 80 square feet after the same tractor aisle math, enough room for a zero-turn or a second mower, a snow blower, bikes, and real shelving without everything touching. If a riding mower or zero-turn is already in your garage or on your shopping list, size up to 10x12 rather than trying to make an 8x10 work around it. Run your own equipment list on the shed size calculator to check your specific mix.
Which one is cheaper per square foot?
The bigger shed, consistently. Comparing the same brand at both sizes, the Aoxun 8x10 at $459.98 runs about $5.75 a square foot, while the Aoxun 10x12 at $519.98 runs about $4.33 a square foot, roughly 25% less per square foot despite covering 50% more space. This pattern holds in resin too: the Suncast Tremont 8x10 at $1,599 runs about $19.99 a square foot, while the CDCASA 10x12 at $1,369.85 runs about $11.41 a square foot. If your yard has room for the bigger footprint and your budget allows the higher total price, you get more storage per dollar by sizing up rather than buying two smaller units later.
How much more does the foundation cost at 10x12?
Meaningfully more, but the ratio tracks the size increase closely. An 8x10 shed needs a 10x12 gravel pad, about 1.63 cubic yards of crushed stone, roughly 2.3 tons. A 10x12 shed needs a 12x14 pad, about 2.28 cubic yards, roughly 3.2 tons, using this site's standard 4 inch depth (6 inches on soft or wet soil) and 10% extra for compaction. That is about 40% more stone for 50% more shed footprint, so the foundation cost scales a bit more efficiently than the shed price itself. Run your exact numbers on the gravel pad calculator before ordering stone.
Does the size change your permit exposure?
It can, and this is the detail most shoppers miss. The IRC exempts one-story detached storage sheds up to 200 square feet from needing a building permit, but many towns amend that threshold down to 120 or 100 square feet. An 8x10 shed at 80 square feet clears even a 100 square foot local amendment. A 10x12 shed at 120 square feet sits right at, or just over, that common amended threshold, depending on your specific town's code. Electrical work needs a permit regardless of size either way, and setbacks and HOA rules apply no matter what threshold your town uses. Check your local code, or run your shed's size through the shed permit size checker, before you commit to either size.
How we chose these picks
Nothing here was assembled or tested by hand. These picks compare the same brand at two sizes specifically so the price-per-square-foot and feature differences reflect scale, not a different manufacturer's build quality. Foundation and permit figures come from this site's own published formulas, applied consistently to both sizes.
Buying tips before you decide
- List every piece of equipment you actually own before picking a size; the aisle-space math changes fast once a riding mower or zero-turn enters the picture.
- Check the door width on any model you are considering; a 42 inch lawn tractor needs at least 5 feet of clear door opening regardless of shed size.
- Run your town's permit threshold before ordering a 10x12; some towns treat it differently than an 8x10.
- Order 10% extra gravel or concrete on either foundation size; running short mid-project costs more than ordering a bit extra up front.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 10x12 shed really worth the extra cost over an 8x10?
If you store or plan to store a riding mower, zero-turn, or snow blower alongside other equipment, yes, the extra 40 square feet solves a real aisle-space problem an 8x10 struggles with. If your storage needs are hand tools, a push mower, and general yard gear, an 8x10 is often plenty and costs less in total dollars even though it runs slightly more per square foot.
Will a 10x12 shed trigger a building permit when an 8x10 would not?
It can, depending on your town. The IRC exempts sheds up to 200 square feet, but many towns amend that down to 120 or 100 square feet specifically. An 80 square foot shed clears even the stricter amendment; a 120 square foot shed sits right at that common threshold, so check your local code before assuming either size is automatically exempt.
How much more gravel does a 10x12 shed need than an 8x10?
Using this site's standard foundation math, an 8x10 shed needs about 2.3 tons of crushed stone for its 10x12 pad, while a 10x12 shed needs about 3.2 tons for its 12x14 pad, roughly 40% more material for 50% more shed footprint.
Can I fit a riding mower in an 8x10 shed?
It depends on what else you are storing. A lawn tractor's parked footprint plus its aisle space alone uses roughly half of an 8x10 shed's total 80 square feet, which leaves limited room for anything else. It can work if the tractor is your primary stored item, but a 10x12 gives noticeably more breathing room.
Do both sizes need the same door clearance?
Yes, door clearance is about the equipment going through it, not the shed's overall footprint. Any shed meant to store a 42 inch lawn tractor needs at least 5 feet of clear door opening regardless of whether the shed itself is 8x10 or 10x12, so check the specific model's door width either way.
This page is researched guidance, not professional engineering, legal or building-code advice. Sizes, loads and permit rules vary by product and by town: check your local code and the kit manufacturer's instructions before you build.