Forget Garages: The Harbor Freight Find That'll Store And Protect Your Lawn Mower

You don't have to splurge on a $1,000 garden shed or leave your lawn mower to fend for itself in the elements to reclaim valuable garage space. Harbor Freight sells a COVERPRO 10-foot by 10-foot Portable Shed for under $200 that can fit everything from a classic push mower to a bulky riding mower or zero-turn mower. Lawn mowers are expensive in their own right and need protection from sunlight and precipitation to prevent them from rusting and degrading over time. While you might be tempted to throw a tarp over it and call it a day, the lack of airflow around the equipment can lead to trapped moisture and rust. A portable shed offers more substantial coverage and helps keep the weather at arm's length.

Customers generally rate this product positively, with more than 1,900 reviews, a 4.2 out of 5-star rating, and 88% saying they would recommend it. A common theme is that it was easy to assemble and roomier than first expected. Some customers say the cover lasted them about a year, while others reported getting two to three years of use before replacing them. Most reviewers seemed to agree that this Harbor Freight outdoor storage offers good value for the price and amount of space. One customer even took and assembled the shed to store their ATV and equipment while on a hunting trip, putting its portable qualities to the test. 

Since the shed measures 10 feet long and wide and 8 feet tall, you need to measure the proposed installation spot first to ensure there's enough room for it — this is especially important in a smaller yard or near overhanging trees. Due to its size, it should accommodate many push, riding, and zero-turn mowers, though you should still compare the mower's dimensions with the available space. You may also need to take measurements if you want to store multiple or different types of lawn mowers at the same time.

Avoid putting the shed in low areas of your yard or spots that frequently become waterlogged. This will keep rainwater from gathering inside the shed since it doesn't have a bottom, thus keeping your outdoor equipment from sitting in puddles of water. If you plan to store and charge electric mowers, you'll need to position the shed close to an exterior outlet. One customer review highlighted trimming away overhanging tree branches to prevent damage or tears to the cover from falling branches.

As for securing the structure in place, the portable shed comes with ground anchors. If you're installing it on concrete, Harbor Freight specifies using concrete anchors, which aren't included. Since it's 8 feet tall, you may benefit from having a ladder and a helper when assembling the upper parts of the frame and attaching the cover. Some customers said pieces didn't fit together well, covers arrived torn, or components were missing, so make sure to open and inspect all parts of the product right away to ensure you meet the return window for a replacement. 

If you're looking for a permanent lawn mower storage solution, this might not be the best option. However, if you need a temporary, budget-friendly cover to protect your mower for up to a couple of years, this could be the perfect answer. Since it's under $200, you could just use it as supplemental lawn storage while you build a more permanent structure to house your mower and equipment. 

Although it's advertised as being UV-resistant, some customers noted fading or tearing after a few seasons of intense sun exposure — of course that's better than having direct sunlight on your lawn mower! Others mentioned that the cover was more likely to tear in the wind, so if you live in an area that gets a lot of sun and wind, you may need to reinforce this product or replace the cover more often due to deterioration from sun exposure or wind damage. Checking the cover and anchors periodically can also help you spot loose connections, small tears, or other problems before they become more significant. However, for homeowners who only need a few years of inexpensive mower storage, those compromises may be easier to accept than the cost and commitment of building a permanent shed.