Measure twice. Buy the shed once.
Shed World is an independent guide for first-time shed owners: build or buy, what size, which base, and what it really costs. Plain answers from people who've dug the footings.
- 6 ft 6×4: tools, bikes, a mower
- 8 ft 8×6: the all-rounder
- 10 ft 10×8: room for a bench
- 12 ft 12×8: workshop or hobby room
Most first sheds land between 6 and 12 feet long. Pick the size from what you'll store, then add a foot of base on every side.
Start with your question
Most people arrive here with one thing to sort out. Each topic answers it first, then gives you the detail if you want it.
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Costs
What a shed, a base and the extras cost, and where you can save without regretting it.
4 articles -
Bases and foundations
Gravel, slabs, pavers, plastic grids and timber skids, and which suits your ground.
5 articles -
Materials
Timber, metal or resin: how each one weathers, and what the cladding names actually mean.
4 articles -
Sizes
How to size a shed from what you'll keep in it, and the planning limits to check first.
3 articles -
Storage ideas
Shelves, hooks and wall rails that double what fits, mostly from offcuts and a free weekend.
4 articles
How much does a shed cost?
A timber kit shed you put up yourself, plus a gravel base, usually falls in these ranges. The low end is a basic overlap-clad kit; the high end is tongue-and-groove with a thicker floor.
Show these numbers as a table
| Size | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| 6×4 ft | $450 | $1,100 |
| 8×6 ft | $800 | $1,900 |
| 10×8 ft | $1,400 | $3,200 |
| 12×8 ft | $1,900 | $4,200 |
The Shed Review Guide, free
A printable checklist and planner for choosing a shed: what to measure, how to read a kit's spec sheet, which base fits your ground, and a budget sheet you fill in as you go. Take it to the garden centre, or keep it open while you compare kits online.
Latest articles
New guides, written after building, measuring or pricing the thing ourselves.
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Bases
12 min read
Step-by-step gravel shed foundation New
A timber-framed gravel pad is the cheapest base that drains well and stays level. Eight steps, a materials list and costs for an 8×10 shed.
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Costs
9 min read
How much does a shed cost in 2026?
Kit price is only part of it. The base, delivery, felt, paint and a lock add up, so here's the whole bill.
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Materials
7 min read
Overlap, shiplap or tongue-and-groove?
The three timber claddings explained, and why the cheapest one lets the rain in sooner.
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Sizes
6 min read
What size shed do I need?
List what goes in, measure the bulkiest thing, then add walking room. A worked example for a mower, two bikes and tools.