Will it fit? Real shed sizes

A grey timber apex shed in the corner of a back garden, with room to walk round it beside the fence and patio.

Short answer: An “8x6” shed is a size category, not a measurement, so check the specification for the external footprint, the overall size with the roof overhang and the height. Measure your gap at ground level and at roof height, and leave working room round it: makers ask for anything from about 45cm to a metre.

By the Yard & Field team

Updated

The real footprint of an “8x6” can be several inches smaller or larger, so measure the building, not the name.

Nominal and actual sizes

The name usually rounds the floor size to the nearest foot, and the overall size is bigger once you add the roof overhang. One maker's “8x6”, for example, is 242 x 199cm overall on a floor of 236 x 183cm. Some sheds come out smaller than their name. Always check the specification for:

  • The external footprint of the walls.
  • The overall size including the roof overhang.
  • The internal floor size.
  • The eaves height and the ridge height.
  • The door width and height, and which side the door is on.

How to measure your space

  1. Measure the gap at ground level and at roof height, in case of fences, trees or walls that lean in.
  2. Allow for the roof overhang, which is wider than the walls.
  3. Leave working room round it to build the shed and to treat the timber later. Makers ask for anything from about 45cm to a metre, so check the guide for the building you buy.
  4. Check the door can open fully and that you can get a mower or bike through it.
  5. Check the height if the shed will sit close to a boundary: taller buildings near the fence can need planning permission.

Bike and bin stores

For a bin store, check the height and depth of your bins with the lid open, and whether the store's lid lifts high enough to empty them. For a bike store, measure your longest bike, handlebars included.

See also: shed bases and choosing a garden shed.

Please note: this guide is general advice to help you choose, not professional or legal advice. Every garden and every product is different, so always follow the maker's instructions and check with your council or a qualified tradesperson if you're unsure.

Sources for this guide

The pages we checked this guide's facts against, so you can read them for yourself. A link here isn't a recommendation.