The Best Dimensions For An Outdoor Shed In A Small Backyard

Purchasing a home, whether it's your first or forever home, is a significant investment that shouldn't be taken lightly. While you're likely comparing floor plans and usable counterspace, you might not be considering the backyard space available. There are many brilliant ways to make your small backyard look bigger on a budget, but how do you maximize space for a shed to store all your tools and equipment?

Sheds come in all sizes, from a very modest 4-by-6 foot blueprint to a significantly larger 12-by-16 foot space that requires a permit to build. When you have a small backyard, making the most out of the space you have is key, especially if you have children or pets that also use the space. That's why the best dimensions for outdoor sheds strike a balance between maximizing storage and not overwhelming your outdoor area. To truly make the most of your space, you can follow simple shed organization tips to maximize the available storage.

If you find yourself with the smallest of backyards, choosing a shed that's around 20 to 50 square feet is ideal, which could be either a 4-by-6 foot (24 square feet overall) or a 6-by-8 foot (48 square feet overall). If you have more space to work with, you can opt for a slightly larger standard small backyard shed, which is typically around 60 to 100 square feet in size. These range from 8-by-8 foot for 64 square feet of space, 8-by-10 foot for 80 square feet of space, and 8-by-12 foot for a total of 96 square feet. Before building a shed, it's best to check with your local town or municipality to see what permits, if any, are required. While some areas only require a permit for large sheds, others need approval for any additional structures.

Numbers and dimensions are great, but knowing what you can actually fit in each size shed is invaluable when it comes to planning. For the smallest backyards, you have two main options for shed sizes — 4-by-6 or 6-by-8. The smaller option has minimal space and is best for things like basic garden tools, small bins, and hoses. You won't be able to store a lawn mower in this shed unless it is a very small model or a reel mower. If you have slightly more room in your yard, you can go for the 6-by-8 option. The extra 2 feet in length and width allow you more space for a push mower, wheelbarrow, gardening supplies, and shelving for small tools.

For small backyards that have a little more space, you can go up a size and purchase an 8-by-8 shed. This gives you 2 extra feet in length over the 6-by-8 option and offers a square footprint that fits nicely into a corner. Here, you can store bikes, a push mower, large bins, shelving, and even seasonal decor, so long as you utilize vertical storage. An 8-by-10 outdoor shed gives you even more room and is one of the most popular size options for a small yard. It offers a bit more space than the 8-by-8 option, and can comfortably store equipment while still having room for a small workbench. Finally, if you have a small to medium-sized backyard with adequate clearance, you can comfortably fit an 8-by-12 shed. This size can accommodate larger items like a riding lawnmower, but you'll need to check the door width before making the final purchase. You can also include more expansive shelving in this larger footprint or even create a small hobby area.