How To Determine What Shed Size You Need?
Once you’ve decided that you want to construct a shed your next step is to determine your shed size. First, make a list of what you want to store in the shed. Are you going to store equipment and tools or will it be a garden shed where you might be potting plants? Or maybe it will be for kid’s toys like bikes and wagons?
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Once you know what you’re going to put in your shed you’ll want to measure the size of these items and design your shed accordingly. Also if you’re planning to store very long equipment such as ladders and lumber make sure you allow room for these items.
When it comes to sheds there is no such thing as one size fits all. Some sheds can be as small as 2 feet by 4 feet whereas others can be as big as 16 feet by 20 feet. Here are some things you should consider when determining the size of your shed.
- Do you have enough space in your yard to accommodate a shed the size you want to build
- Are there any size restrictions imposed by the local building department, zoning board, or homeowners’ association.
- How far do you need to be from the property line
- How much money can you afford to spend
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To help you better visualize the size of your shed measure the width and length and then drive four stakes into the ground where the shed is to be located so that they correspond to these measurements. Stretch a string from each stake so it shows the “footprint” of the proposed shed. You can also use this outline to get a feel for how the stored items will fit in the shed.
If you have several large pieces of equipment such as a lawn tractor, snow blower, etc. a good suggestion is to assemble all these items together in a manner in which they would be stored. Then measure the perimeter. This will show you how much floor area you will need.
In all likelihood you want your shed to be an asset to your landscape so you want to design it so it adds value to your property. This means you wouldn’t want to build a shed that is proportionally too big for your property and visually detracts from the appearance of your home.
Another factor that will save you money and facilitate construction is to design the shed to even number dimensions such as 8 ft. by 10 ft., 10 ft. by 12 ft., or 12 ft. by 16 ft. Framing lumber is available in lengths that coincide with these dimensions and plywood comes in 4×8 ft. sheets so you will minimize waste by sticking to these sizes.
Your local building department may also have a say in the size of your shed. They will give you a headsup on any restrictions with regard to the minimum and maximum square footage (length times width). There may also be a restriction on the maximum height. While you’re at it, ask the building inspector for a list of documents that you ‘ll need to apply for a building permit.
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