10 of the best garden sheds and how to choose one

To keep your new shed tidy, browse our guide to the best shed storage ideas and garden storage ideas.

What to look for when buying a shed

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

• What do you need the shed for?
• How much space do you have for a shed?
• How big do you need it to be?
• Which style of roof would you like?
• What material is right for your shed?

Follow our guide, to help you choose the right shed.

Purpose

The first thing to consider is what you want to use your shed for. If it’s just a garden storage solution, how much stuff do you need to store and how valuable is it? If you need to store 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, check the dimensions of the shed, so you know if you'll have enough headroom and enough room to work and move around. You'll also need better lighting – consider windows, double doors and electric lighting. If you plan to spend a lot of time working in the shed, you may also want to invest in insulation and some form of heating.

Size

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.

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.

Roof shape

There are two main shapes of shed roof. 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 triangular-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.

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.

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

Material

Sheds can be made from wood, plastic or metal and each material has its own benefits and uses.

Wood

The most 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.

Plastic

Plastic sheds won't rot, they require almost no maintenance, and they tend to be lightweight, making them easy to assemble.

Metal

Metal sheds tend to be the most secure, so they're a good option if you need to store valuable items. They are weatherproof and long lasting.

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

Overlap 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 drafty, so 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

Tongue and groove style cladding interlocks together to keep water and drafts out. 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.

10 of 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.

All sheds featured below come with the 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.

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.

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.

Rowlinson Paramount Buildings 11' x 8' Barn Tongue & Groove Wooden Shed

This barn-style shed has robust tongue and groove cladding and a window fitted with toughened glass. It's easy to get bulky items in and out of the shed, thanks to the double doors, which lock with a key. The barn-style design offers slightly more headroom at the sides than an average apex roofed shed.

Measurements: 2.4m (height) x 2.4m (width) x 3.4m (depth)

Price: £1,434

Buy Rowlinson Paramount Buildings 11x8 Barn Tongue & Groove Wooden Shed from sheds.co.uk

8' x 6' Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Apex Single Door Shed

A classic apex shed, crafted by hand from Nordic White Spruce with a felt roof that's 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: £929.99

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

6'x4' Forest Overlap Apex Pressure Treated Shed with Lean-To

This characterful shed provides two types of storage – an enclosed apex shed for storing items that need protection from the elements and a lean-to for easy access to items that can be kept outside. It features overlap cladding and a window to let in natural light. The eaves are approximately six inches higher than most apex sheds, to give you a little extra headroom.

Measurements: 2.043m (height) x 2.07m (width) x 1.815m (depth)

Price: £269.99

Buy 6'x4' Forest Overlap Apex Pressure Treated Shed with Lean-To from Amazon

7' x 5' Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Pent Shed - Single 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: £899.99

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

BillyOh Tongue and Groove Tall Sentry Box Grande

If space is limited, or you only need to store a few tools, then a 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: £185

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

Shire Iceni 8' x 6' 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: £1,048

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

Mercia Wooden 7' x 7' Shiplap Double Door Corner Garden 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 pressure-treated shiplap cladding. There’s a 15 year anti-rot guarantee from the seller, plus a 12 month warranty from the manufacturer.

Measurements: 1.97m (height) x 2.07m (width) x 1.96m (depth)

Price: £575

Buy Mercia Wooden 7 x 7ft Shiplap Double Door Corner Garden Shed from Argos

6' x 4' Yardmaster Pent 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: £149.99

Buy 6' x 4' Yardmaster Pent Metal Shed from Robert Dyas

National Garden Scheme 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: 2.56m (height) x 2.53m (width) x 2.21m (depth)

Price: from £3,970

Buy National Garden Scheme Shed from The Posh Shed Company

Forest Garden Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7' x 5'

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 comes complete with metal spikes for securing the shed to the ground, if you don't have a solid shed base.

Measurements: 2.03m (height) x 2.09m (width) x 1.53m (depth)

Price: £345

Buy Forest Garden Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7 x 5 from Wickes