Cheap Large Sheds

What counts as a large shed?

Most shed sellers call anything from 8x6 upwards "large", but that's only 4.8m² of floor. On this page a large shed means 10ft in at least one direction or a floor of around 6m² or more: the 10x6, 8x9, 10x8 and 10x10 sizes. That's the point where a shed stops being a tool cupboard and becomes proper garden storage space you can walk round, or a small workshop with a bench along one wall.

• 10x6 (3.03m x 1.97m): long and fairly shallow. Good along a back fence, with room for cycles side on and tools on the end wall.
• 8x9 (2.42m x 2.80m): deeper than it is wide, so it suits a narrow garden. Mower and cycles in front, outdoor chairs at the back.
• 10x8 (3.03m x 2.37m): the most popular big shed size. Enough for the mower, bicycles, a barbecue and garden furniture together.
• 10x10 (3.03m x 2.98m): about 9m² under the roof. The biggest shed on the site and the best for a workshop or a family's worth of kit.

For something smaller, see cheap 8x6 sheds or cheap small sheds.

Cheap large sheds compared

All eight sheds in the grid above, with sizes from Yardmaster's specs. Prices change daily, so take the price column as a rough guide and check each card for today's figure. Price per m² uses the size including the roof overhang.

The best value pick is the 10x10 green at roughly £50 per m², with the two Castleton models close behind. The cheapest way into a 10x8 is the Castleton or the green 10x8 at under £400. The Balmoral and Shiplap models cost more because they're taller (2.24m at the ridge, 1.78m doors) and have a wood-effect finish.

Why are these large sheds so cheap?

Steel is simply cheaper than timber at this size. A 12x8 Forest Beckwood pressure treated shiplap shed is listed at around £1,100 in the same Shedstore feed, while a 10x10 Yardmaster is under £500. A large wooden shed needs thick cladding, a heavy frame and a floor to stay rigid; a steel shed gets its strength from folded galvanised steel panels just 0.3mm thick, packed flat in boxes. That keeps the price and the delivery cost down.

The savings on storage space come with trade-offs you should know about:

• No floor: you need a concrete or paving slab to stand on, or Yardmaster's optional floor support kit.
• Condensation: thin steel walls cool quickly, so damp air can drip from the roof on cold nights.
• Dents: the panels are thin, so a careless knock with a wheelbarrow can mark them.
• Hard to customise: you can't screw shelves into steel walls the way you can with timber; use freestanding shelving instead.

For tools, cycles and the mower, none of that is a problem. For a home office or a hobby room, a timber building is the better choice. Read more in our guide to cheap metal sheds.

Large metal shed vs large wooden shed vs plastic shed

Smaller plastic options are in cheap plastic sheds.

Apex roof, height and doors

Every model on this page has an apex roof; there are no large pent sheds in the range, as a single slope over 3m gets too low at the back. For a lean-to style, see pent sheds. The ridge runs front to back, so you get the most headroom down the middle, and rain runs off both sides. Two heights are on offer:

• Standard (green and Castleton): 2.02m at the ridge, 1.63m at the eaves and 1.57m tall doors. Most adults will stoop through the door but can stand in the centre.
• Tall (Balmoral and Shiplap): 2.24m at the ridge, 1.82m at the eaves and 1.78m doors 1,250mm wide. Better if you'll spend time inside or want to stack higher, and the Shiplap models add two clear roof panels for light.

All of them have sliding double doors, so you don't need a clear arc in front to open them, which helps when the shed sits close to a path. More apex styles are in apex sheds, and timber sheds with double doors in double door sheds.

The base for a large garden shed

A big steel shed has no floor in the box, so the slab does two jobs: it's the floor and the thing the frame bolts to. Get it level and square or the sliding doors will stick.

1. Mark out a base a little bigger than the shed's footprint: 2.85m x 2.26m for a 10x8, 2.85m x 2.85m for a 10x10.
2. Dig out the turf and lay a compacted hardcore sub-base.
3. Lay a damp proof membrane, then a concrete slab around 75mm to 100mm thick, or bed paving slabs on mortar.
4. Check it's level both ways, then bolt the frame down with the anchor kit supplied. A big steel shed acts like a sail in a gale, so never skip this.

If you'd rather not lay concrete, the optional Yardmaster floor support kit is a galvanised frame you board over, set on firm level ground.

Putting up a large steel shed

Yardmaster puts assembly at 4 to 6 hours for two people on most large models. You'll need a drill driver, a spanner set, a step ladder and gloves, as panel edges are sharp. Sort the panels and screws before you start, build the frame square on the slab, then fit the roof and doors last. The boxes are heavy (the Castleton 10x10 ships at 118kg in total), so plan to carry them round with a helper. Pick a calm, dry day: a 3m roof panel is hard to hold in the wind.

Storage ideas for a large garden shed

A big storage shed only feels big if you use the walls. Some simple layouts:

• Bikes: a floor stand or wall rack on a freestanding frame along one side. A 10x8 takes three and still leaves the middle clear.
• Mower and wheelbarrow: keep these by the doors so they come out first.
• Tools: freestanding steel shelving or a pegboard on a timber frame along the back wall.
• Garden furniture and cushions: furniture at the back; cushions in sealed plastic boxes so condensation can't reach them.
• Workshop: a 10x10 fits a 1.8m bench along the back with room to work. Choose a tall Balmoral or Shiplap model if you'll stand for long.

To keep condensation down, keep the vents clear, don't put a wet mower straight in and open the doors on dry, breezy days.

Do you need planning permission for a large shed?

Usually not. In England a garden shed is permitted development if it's single storey, isn't in front of the house and all outbuildings together cover no more than half the garden. Within 2m of a boundary it can be no more than 2.5m tall; further away, up to 4m for a dual-pitched roof (Planning Portal outbuildings guide). The tallest model here is 2.24m, so any of them can go next to a fence. Listed buildings, conservation areas and National Parks have tighter rules, so check the government's permitted development guidance if that's you.

Building regulations don't apply to a detached outbuilding with less than 15m² of floor and no sleeping space (Planning Portal building regulations). Even a 10x10 is about 8m² inside, well under that.

Security and storage safety

A large garden shed often holds the most valuable kit you own, so it's worth a little extra effort. These Yardmaster sheds have padlockable sliding doors, but no padlock is supplied: buy a good closed-shackle one. Bolt the frame down, keep bicycles locked to a ground anchor inside, and photograph serial numbers. The police-backed Secured by Design site lists tested locks and anchors.

Delivery

Shedstore delivers free as standard to most UK mainland postcodes. These arrive flat-packed in boxes rather than as big timber panels, so they fit through a side gate or the house more easily than a large wooden shed. Delivery times and any charge for remote postcodes are shown on each product, so check before you order, and have a second person ready to carry the boxes from the kerb.

Cheap large sheds FAQs

What is the cheapest large shed here?

The Yardmaster 8x9 green apex and the Castleton 10x8 anthracite apex, both at around £380.

What size shed do I need for a lawnmower and bikes?

A 10x6 fits a push mower and two bikes. For a mower, three bicycles and outdoor furniture, go for a 10x8 or 10x10.

Which big shed is the best value?

The 10x10 green, at about £50 per m² including the overhang.

Do large metal sheds come with a floor?

No. They need a concrete or paving slab, or the optional floor support kit.

Can I use a large shed as a workshop?

Yes, for DIY and repairs. A 10x10 fits a bench, and the tall Balmoral and Shiplap models give 2.24m at the ridge. For a heated workshop or office, choose timber you can insulate.

How long does a steel shed last?

Each one has a 15 year anti-rust guarantee. On a dry, level slab with clear vents and scratches touched in, expect well beyond that.