Choosing a 6×5 Shed
A 6×5 shed gives you useful garden storage in a relatively compact footprint of approximately 1.8m x 1.5m. I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and sheds are where my working life in garden buildings began back in 1979. After more than 45 years in the trade, a smaller shed deserves proper attention to timber, framing, floor, roof, doors and fittings rather than being chosen simply because the headline price looks attractive.
A 6ft x 5ft footprint gives you around 30 square feet of nominal floor area, which can work well for everyday garden tools, pots, watering equipment and smaller machinery when the space is planned sensibly. Before ordering, think about what you actually need to store and measure the largest items rather than simply assuming everything will fit.
Is a 5×6 Shed the Same as a 6×5 Shed?
You may see a 6×5 shed described as a 5×6 shed or 6ft x 5ft shed. These descriptions normally refer to broadly the same footprint with the dimensions reversed, but always check which measurement represents the frontage and which represents the depth. Door position and orientation can make a noticeable difference with a compact shed, so use the precise dimensions and layout of your chosen product when preparing the base.
The Four Sheds Currently Shown on This Page
The current 6×5 category displays four timber sheds: the Diamond Chichester Apex, Diamond Chichester Pent, Woodgate Reverse Apex and Diamond Barnham Pent. The Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent and Woodgate Reverse Apex have published ranges from 4ft x 4ft to 24ft x 12ft, while the Barnham Pent has a published range beginning at 6ft x 4ft and extending to 28ft x 12ft.
All four currently show free fitting and a colour paint finish option. The Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent and Woodgate Reverse Apex also show bespoke options, while the Barnham Pent highlights double doors on sizes 8ft and over.
Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent or Woodgate Reverse Apex?
If you prefer the familiar appearance of a traditional pitched roof, the Diamond Chichester Apex is an obvious model to consider. The Diamond Chichester Pent gives you a single-slope roof, while the Woodgate Reverse Apex provides another apex layout which may work better in a particular position in your garden.
One style is automatically better than another. With a compact 6×5 shed, door position and usable wall space can be particularly important. Think about where you want shelves or hooks, where taller tools will stand and how easily you need to carry equipment through the door.
What About the Barnham Pent?
The Diamond Barnham Pent is the fourth actual product displayed on this page. Its published range begins at 6ft x 4ft, so a 6ft x 5ft requirement falls within the size range for this category. It currently shows free fitting and a colour paint finish option.
The Barnham product information also highlights double doors on buildings 8ft and over. That particular feature therefore applies when moving into the larger Barnham sizes rather than a 6ft-wide building. If you want a straightforward pent-roof shed around this footprint, the Barnham Pent is well worth comparing with the Chichester Pent.
Why My Experience With Sheds Matters
Customers should know who is behind the advice they are reading. I left school at 15 and started my own garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. I was hands-on from the beginning, manufacturing and selling timber sheds, so I learnt about garden buildings by actually working with timber and dealing directly with customers rather than simply reading specifications in a catalogue.
That practical manufacturing background still influences how I judge a shed today. A neat door or attractive paint finish naturally catches your eye, but I also look at the timber, framing, floor, roof, glazing and how the complete building has been put together. Two sheds can look remarkably similar in photographs and still be quite different when you examine their construction properly.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive all the money I was due from the sale. It was a difficult lesson in business, but it certainly didn’t end my involvement with garden buildings.
In 1992 we expanded beyond sheds and added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. Marina Sheds no longer properly described the wider business, so the change in direction also meant a change of name, and we became Titan Garden Buildings.
My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry training brought additional practical woodworking and timber-construction knowledge into a business already built around manufacturing and selling garden buildings.
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998 and, in 2000, Craig and I decided to take a different approach. Rather than manufacturing everything ourselves and naturally being tied to our own products, we wanted to use our experience to select quality buildings from established manufacturers. That decision led us to form 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I continue to support him and the team as required. I’ve been involved with sheds and garden buildings since 1979. That experience matters because I’ve seen the industry from both sides: first manufacturing and selling timber buildings ourselves and later comparing products from different manufacturers for our customers.
What More Than 45 Years Has Taught Me About Sheds
More than 45 years around sheds has taught me that buying by size and price alone is rarely the best approach. A 6ft x 5ft shed may be a relatively modest building, but timber quality, framing, floor construction, roof construction, doors and fittings still matter. I would rather see somebody choose the right shed once than save a little on the initial price and regret the decision later.
Construction Matters on a 6×5 Shed
The current 6×5 shed range highlights quality redwood deal timber with minimum nominal 2×2 timber framing, timber floor and roof construction and toughened glass. These are exactly the sorts of practical details I encourage customers to examine rather than choosing solely from an attractive photograph or headline price.
A compact shed should still feel substantial. With a 6ft x 5ft footprint, you’ll likely use a high proportion of the available floor and wall space, so sound framing, a proper timber floor, and correctly fitted doors remain important.
Making the Most of a 6×5 Shed
A 6×5 shed can work well for garden tools, watering equipment, pots, outdoor accessories and smaller garden machinery. Measure the largest items you intend to store before ordering, and check the door opening and available floor area. It is frustrating to discover that something will fit inside but is awkward to get through the door.
Wall storage can make a big difference in a 5×6 shed. Shelves can organise smaller items while hooks keep hand tools and other equipment off the floor. Try to leave enough clear space to reach items at the back rather than packing every available inch.
Bespoke Chichester and Woodgate Sheds
The Diamond Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent and Woodgate Reverse Apex currently all show bespoke options. On a compact shed, this can be genuinely useful because changing the position of a door or window may improve access or give you a better uninterrupted wall for shelving and storage.
I wouldn’t change a shed simply because bespoke options are available. Start with what you need to store and where the building will stand. If altering the arrangement genuinely makes the shed more practical, then it is worth considering.
Free Fitting on All Four Sheds
The Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent, Woodgate Reverse Apex and Barnham Pent currently all show free fitting. I think that’s an important benefit because even a compact timber shed needs to be assembled correctly if the floor, roof and doors are going to perform as intended.
Free fitting still requires suitable access and an appropriate firm, flat and level base. If the route into your garden is narrow or awkward, please tell us before ordering rather than waiting until fitting day.
Get the Base Right
A 6ft x 5ft shed still needs a suitable base. An uneven or unsuitable foundation can affect how the building sits and how well the doors operate. A smaller shed shouldn’t be placed on an unprepared patch of ground and expected to perform properly.
If you need help preparing the site, take a look at our garden building base and additional services. Getting the base right before your shed arrives is far easier than trying to correct problems afterwards.
Colour Paint Finish Options
All four sheds currently displayed offer a colour paint finish option. A suitable coloured finish can help your shed blend naturally with your house, fencing, and planting, rather than looking like an afterthought in the garden.
Colours displayed online can vary because of photography, lighting and different screens. If a precise shade is particularly important, check the available colour information or obtain a sample before making your final decision.
See Sheds Before You Buy
I have encouraged customers to inspect sheds before buying for many years. Photographs can show style and colour, but they cannot completely tell you how substantial a floor feels, how a door operates or what the timber and framing are like when you see them close up.
You are welcome to visit our Surrey garden building display site at Sutton Green, near Guildford and Woking. We can’t display every model in every possible size, but seeing representative sheds allows you to compare construction and finishes before making your decision.
Take your time, look closely and ask questions. We don’t believe in high-pressure selling. I started my first shed business in 1979, and I still believe that seeing what you’re buying and understanding the specification are two of the best ways to make an informed decision.
Choosing the Right 6×5 Shed
If you prefer an apex roof, compare the Diamond Chichester Apex with the Woodgate Reverse Apex and consider which layout works best in your garden. If you prefer a pent roof, compare the Diamond Chichester Pent with the Diamond Barnham Pent.
All four currently include free fitting and offer a colour paint finish option, while the Chichester and Woodgate models also show bespoke options. The best 6×5 shed isn’t necessarily the cheapest; it is the building whose roof style, door arrangement, construction, and available options best suit what you need to store.
My Advice Before You Order
Mark out approximately 6ft x 5ft in your garden, measure the items you intend to store and check the precise external dimensions and door arrangement of your preferred model. Make sure you have a firm, flat, level base and suitable access from the road to where the shed will be fitted.
If you’re unsure which 5×6 shed is right for you, please contact us. Tell Craig, me or one of the team what you need to store, how much room you have and where the building will stand. We’ll help you compare the right products, rather than simply pointing you to the cheapest or most expensive option.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
From £811
