Quick answer
The best shed for a small garden is one that fits the space with room to open the door and walk round it. A pent roof sits lowest against a fence, a corner shed uses an awkward corner, and a slim storage shed or tool store keeps tools tidy on a tiny footprint. If no standard size fits, some sheds can be made to measure. Measure first, check the height if you're near a boundary, and put it on a firm, level base.
A small garden doesn't mean you have to go without a shed. You just have to be a bit cleverer about the shape, the roof and where the door goes. This guide explains how to choose a shed for a small space, and which of the sheds we sell are designed for it. We've taken every size and spec from the product pages, and we haven't ranked brands against each other.
Measure before you choose
- Measure the space, not just the shed. Allow room for the door to open, a path to reach it, and enough of a gap around the building to treat the timber later. Lifelong, for example, asks for at least 2ft of working space around its buildings for installation.
- Check the roof overhang. Roofs usually overhang the walls, so the footprint at roof level is a little bigger than the floor. Our shed sizes guide explains nominal and actual sizes.
- Think about height near a boundary. In England, a building within 2 metres of a boundary should be no more than 2.5m high to stay within permitted development. See our planning permission guide.
- Check the door side. In a narrow space, a door on the long side or the end can make the difference between a shed you can use and one you can't. Many sheds let you choose the door position.
Pick a roof that suits a small space
A pent roof slopes one way, so the shed is lower overall and can sit with its back to a fence or wall. That usually makes it the easiest shape for a small garden or a side passage. An apex roof gives more headroom in the middle and room for high shelves, but stands taller. As an example, the Shedlands Dalby Pent has a ridge height of 1953mm, while the Dalby Apex ranges from 1985mm to 2280mm depending on width. Our apex vs pent shed guide compares the two in more detail.
Small sheds we sell, by type
| Type | Good examples | Why it suits a small garden |
|---|---|---|
| Slim storage sheds | Power Pent Storage Shed and Power Apex Storage Shed (6x2 up to 10x8) | Shallow depths for tools and the mower, without a big footprint. |
| Tool stores | Shedlands Tool Tidy (double doors, 1710mm ridge) and Tool Store (door on any side or end wall) | Made to sit neatly at the edge of a house or garden. |
| Corner sheds | Power Corner Shed (five-sided, 6x6), Shedlands Corner Shed, Sovereign Cornwall (6x6 to 10x10) | Uses the corner between two fences that most sheds can't. |
| Small everyday sheds | Suresheds Pent-Dale (from 4x4), Shedlands Dalby Pent, Sovereign Nottingham (from 6x4) | A normal shed in a small size, with a choice of door and window positions on many models. |
| Steel sheds | Lifelong Pent Shed, 6ft wide | No treating, installed for you (typically in 2 to 3 hours) and no concrete base needed on level ground. |
| Bike sheds | Power Pent Bike Shed | Extra-wide double doors and a low pent roof that tucks against a fence, useful in side passages. |
| Small potting sheds | Sovereign Bath Mini Potter (from 6x6) | A compact growing space with a full-length bench under the window. |
| Corner summerhouses | Suresheds Swaledale, Sovereign Devon | Somewhere to sit that tucks into a corner instead of the middle of the lawn. |
Sizes and options vary by model, so always check the product page. Browse all garden sheds.
Made-to-measure sheds for awkward spaces
Small gardens are rarely a neat rectangle. If no standard size fits, a made-to-measure shed can use every centimetre.
- Sovereign bespoke sizes: Sovereign can quote for many of its buildings in your own measurements, including the Rutland Apex, Nottingham Pent, Cornwall Corner and Bath Mini Potter. Installation is included in the price of every Sovereign building.
- Set your own spec: our Shed Builder lets you configure cladding, windows and roofing before you buy.
- Choose door and window positions: Suresheds and many Shedlands models let you choose where the door and windows go, which matters a lot in a narrow plot.
Send us your measurements and a photo of the spot and we'll tell you what fits.
Making a small shed work harder
- Go up, not out. Shelving, hooks and a wall-mounted rack for long-handled tools free up the floor. See our shed storage ideas.
- Double doors make it much easier to get a mower or bike in and out of a small shed.
- Keep the base the same size as the floor. A base that sticks out lets rain splash back onto the cladding. Our base guide explains why.
- Think about security if the shed is by a side gate or path. A proper lock, strong hinges and no low windows help. The Sovereign Security Bolt & Hinge Set is an easy upgrade on Sovereign sheds.
Bike storage in a small garden
Bikes need a wide door more than a big shed. Look for double doors or a wide single door so you can wheel a bike straight in, and a low pent roof if the shed has to sit in a side passage. The Power Pent Bike Shed is designed for this. For extra security, look at the security models in our best garden sheds guide, or a Lifelong steel shed with the deadlock upgrade.
Common questions
What is the best shed for a small garden?
It depends on the space you have. A pent-roof shed is usually the easiest fit, because its low, single-slope roof tucks against a fence or wall. For awkward corners, a five-sided corner shed uses space most sheds can't. If you only need somewhere for tools, a slim storage shed or tool store keeps the footprint tiny. Measure first, and leave room to open the door and walk round the building.
What is the smallest size of garden shed?
Some storage sheds are very small indeed. The Power Sheds Pent and Apex Storage Sheds start at 6x2ft, and the Suresheds Pent-Dale starts at 4x4ft. The Shedlands Tool Tidy and Tool Store are made for narrow spaces beside a house or fence. Check the product page for the exact floor size before you order.
Can I put a shed right up against a fence?
It's best to leave a gap. You need to be able to reach round to treat the timber, and air needs to move behind the shed to keep it dry. Lifelong, for example, asks for at least 2ft of working space around its buildings for installation. Also check the planning rules: within 2 metres of a boundary, a building should be no more than 2.5m high to stay within permitted development in England.
Is a corner shed a good idea for a small garden?
Often, yes. A corner shed fits into the angle of two fences, a spot most rectangular sheds can't use, so it leaves more of the lawn or patio free. We sell corner sheds from Power Sheds, Shedlands and Sovereign, and Sovereign can quote for a corner shed made to fit your exact corner.
Should I get a wooden or metal bike shed?
Both work. A timber bike shed, such as the Power Pent Bike Shed with extra-wide double doors, is easy to fit out with hooks and racks. A steel shed, such as a Lifelong pent shed, needs no treating, is installed for you and can take a deadlock upgrade. Whichever you choose, check the door is wide enough to wheel a bike through without turning it.
Can I get a shed made to measure?
Yes. Many Sovereign buildings, including the Rutland, Nottingham, Cornwall and Bath, can be quoted in bespoke sizes if no standard size fits your spot, and installation is included in the price of every Sovereign building. You can also set your own spec with our Shed Builder. Send us your measurements and a photo and we'll help.
Stand inside before you buy
Seeing a shed in person is the quickest way to judge whether a size will feel cramped. Our Display Site at Buzzards Valley, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3EQ is open 7 days a week. Drop in any day, or book an appointment. What's on show changes, so call 01543 398778 if there's something particular you'd like to see, or WhatsApp us a photo of your garden. Or read more in our Guides & Advice.
Specifications vary by model and size, so always check the product page before you order.