How much would it cost to build a small shed?

Are you sick of your significant other using the spare bedroom or the garage as their workspace? Wouldn’t it be nice if they could channel that need to create and build into something more useful…like building a small shed in which they can work?

Building a shed is a smart idea that will not only help you remove project materials from much needed home space, but it will provide a free standing area that removes fumes and noise from the interior of the home. Additionally you get to use that extra room as a nursery or guest room and you can actually put a car in the garage.

But the big question about building a shed is how much will it cost. Well as any good salesperson will tell you, it depends on a lot of factors.

How Small

Small is such a subjective term especially when it comes to building a shed. Someone who has been relegated to a small office or a corner of the garage might find a simple 7 foot by 10 foot shed ideal, while someone upgrading might look for a 12×20 foot shed.

Figure out what type of work will be done in this shed or what items will be stored within it. If you just need it to store things like shovels, rakes, brooms and trash bins then your needs will be different than someone who needs to store boats, motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles. Once you have an idea what the shed will be used for, it will be easier to determine what dimensions you need.

Materials

The next consideration will be tools and materials. If you already have most of the tools needed to build a shed, the cost will drop dramatically compared to someone without any power tools. The cost of renting may be high if the shed isn’t built within a reasonable amount of time.

Then there are the materials required to actually build the shed. Do you have an inexpensive source for the metal, wood or plastic needed to build your shed? If so, your next step is choosing a shed guide to help you build it. This will let you know exactly how much of each type of material you will need.

Pricing Range

Many builders will tell you to expect to spend about $20 per square foot of storage in your shed. This is just an approximation of course, because a simple shed may cost about $15 and a large complicated one can cost upwards of $30.

However there are things you can do to reduce the cost such as repurposing materials that you or friends have lying around. Brand new materials will obviously cost more, but they are in excellent condition so you don’t have to perform additional treatments to keep it dry and safe.

The cost will increase for things like light fixtures, solar panels, flower boxes and concrete flooring. Find a shed guide so you can choose the type of structure you want first, and then you can price new and repurposed materials until you find a price you can live with.