Choosing a 7×5 Shed
A 7×5 shed is a useful middle ground between a very small storage shed and a larger garden building. At approximately 2.1m x 1.5m, it gives you enough room for tools, shelving and everyday garden equipment without taking over too much of the garden. 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, the right shed should be chosen by looking at its construction, layout and what you actually need it to do rather than simply buying the cheapest building of the right nominal size.
A 7ft x 5ft footprint gives you around 35 square feet of nominal floor area. That’s enough to be genuinely useful, but still compact enough that door position, shelving and how you organise the interior can make a considerable difference.
Is a 5×7 Shed the Same as a 7×5 Shed?
You may see a 7×5 shed described as a 5×7 shed or 7ft 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. Precise external and internal dimensions vary between individual products, so use the measurements of your chosen shed when preparing the base and deciding where it will stand.
The 7×5 Sheds Currently Shown on This Page
If you specifically want a timber 7×5 shed, there are several genuine choices on this page. The Sapphire Swanwick Apex, Swanwick Pent, Swanwick Reverse Apex, Cadnam Apex, Cadnam Pent and Cadnam Reverse Apex all have published ranges starting at exactly 7ft x 5ft. The Diamond Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent and Woodgate Reverse Apex also include 7ft x 5ft within their published ranges, as do the Diamond Barnham Apex and Barnham Pent.
The page also displays the Portsmouth Apex Shed, Platinum Alresford Shed, Clydesdale Metal Shed and Forestdale Metal Sheds. These are actual products on this page but have different published starting dimensions, so I would consider them separately rather than describing them as direct 7×5 equivalents.
Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam 7×5 Sheds
If you specifically want a 7ft x 5ft shed, the Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam models deserve close attention because 7×5 is the published starting size of all six ranges. You can choose between Swanwick Apex, Pent or Reverse Apex and Cadnam Apex, Pent or Reverse Apex according to the roof style and layout that best suit your garden.
All six currently show free fitting, a colour paint finish option and a full insulation option. That gives you useful flexibility depending on how you intend to use the shed.
I wouldn’t automatically add insulation simply because it is available. If the building will mainly contain garden tools and equipment, you may decide you don’t need it. If you expect to spend longer periods inside for hobbies or other activities, it may be worth considering.
Diamond Chichester and Woodgate Sheds
The Diamond Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent and Woodgate Reverse Apex have published ranges from 4ft x 4ft to 24ft x 12ft. Hence, a 7ft x 5ft version sits comfortably within their available sizes. All three currently show free fitting, a colour paint finish option and bespoke options.
The Chichester Apex gives you the familiar appearance of a traditional pitched roof, while the Chichester Pent provides a single-slope roof. The Woodgate Reverse Apex gives you another configuration to consider where the roof and door arrangement may work better in a particular garden position.
The bespoke options can be genuinely useful. On a 7×5 shed, changing the position of a door or window may leave you with a more useful uninterrupted wall for shelving or make it easier to move equipment in and out.
Diamond Barnham Apex and Pent
The Diamond Barnham Apex and Barnham Pent have published ranges from 6ft x 4ft to 28ft x 12ft, so they are also relevant when you want a 7ft x 5ft building. Both currently show free fitting and a colour paint finish option.
If you like the Barnham range, your main choice at this size is between the traditional apex roof and the pent roof. The current product cards highlight double doors on sizes 8ft and over, so that particular feature applies when moving into wider Barnham buildings rather than a 7ft-wide model.
Portsmouth and Alresford Sheds
The Portsmouth Apex Shed is an actual product displayed on this page, but its published range begins at 8ft x 6ft. It therefore requires more space than a genuine 7×5 shed. It currently shows free assembly, a colour paint finish option and a full insulation option.
The Platinum Alresford Shed has a published range from 6ft x 6ft to 12ft x 8ft, so its proportions are also different from a literal 7ft x 5ft building. Its current product card shows free assembly, a colour paint finish option and a bench-shelf feature. If either building appeals to you, compare its actual footprint with the space available rather than relying on the 7×5 category heading.
Clydesdale and Forestdale Metal Sheds
The Clydesdale and Forestdale are the metal alternatives currently displayed on this page. The Clydesdale is available in sizes from approximately 60 x 88 inches to 60 x 174 inches and uses 1.2mm galvanised steel with a steel floor base. The Forestdale ranges from approximately 60 x 42 inches to 60 x 132 inches and uses 0.9mm galvanised steel with a steel floor base.
Both currently show an assembly service and a choice of colours. If you prefer galvanised-steel construction, compare their exact dimensions and layouts with the timber sheds rather than treating them as identical alternatives to a nominal 7ft x 5ft building.
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. An attractive door, window or 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 that 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 size and price don’t tell you everything. A 7ft x 5ft shed needs the specification that suits what you actually intend to do with it. For straightforward garden storage, you may need something quite different from somebody who expects to spend hours inside pursuing a hobby.
Construction Matters on a 7×5 Shed
The current 7×5 category highlights quality redwood deal timber rather than cheaper whitewood on its wooden sheds, with at least nominal 2×2 vertical 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 shed around this size should still feel substantial. Look at the timber, framing, floor, roof, doors and glazing of the individual model and compare the complete specification before deciding what represents good value.
Making the Most of a 7×5 Shed
A 7×5 shed gives you useful space for garden tools, pots, watering equipment, outdoor accessories and smaller garden machinery while still leaving scope for shelving and wall storage. Measure your largest items before ordering and check the door opening as well as the available floor area.
Hooks and shelves can make much better use of the walls and help keep the centre of the shed clear. I would avoid filling every inch of floor space because being able to reach equipment at the back makes the building considerably easier to use.
Do You Need an Insulated 7×5 Shed?
The six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam sheds currently show a full insulation option. If you expect to spend extended periods inside the building, that may be worth considering. The larger Portsmouth Apex displayed on this page also currently offers full insulation as an option, although its range begins at 8ft x 6ft rather than 7ft x 5ft.
If you want somewhere for garden storage, don’t assume that insulation is automatically necessary. Choose the specification based on the job the shed has to do, rather than adding features purely because they are available.
Free Fitting and Assembly
The six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam sheds, the Diamond Chichester and Woodgate models, and the Diamond Barnham sheds currently show free fitting. The Portsmouth Apex and Platinum Alresford currently show free assembly, while the Clydesdale and Forestdale metal sheds offer an assembly service.
Whatever building you choose, fitting or assembly still requires suitable access and an appropriate base. If the route into your garden is narrow or awkward, please tell us before ordering rather than waiting until delivery or fitting day.
Get the Base Right
A 5×7 shed still needs a suitable base. An uneven or unsuitable foundation can affect how the building sits and how well the doors operate. A 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 Finish Options
The timber products currently displayed show colour paint finish options, while the Clydesdale and Forestdale metal sheds show a choice of colours. A suitable finish can help your shed blend naturally with the 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 where appropriate 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 7×5 Shed
If you specifically want a timber 7×5 shed, I would start with the six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam models because 7ft x 5ft is their published starting size. I would then compare the Diamond Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent and Woodgate Reverse Apex, followed by the Barnham Apex and Barnham Pent, all of which have published size ranges relevant to a 7×5 requirement.
If you have more space, the Portsmouth Apex starts at 8ft x 6ft. The Platinum Alresford starts at 6ft x 6ft and therefore has different proportions. If you prefer steel construction, compare the Clydesdale and Forestdale separately with the timber buildings.
The best shed isn’t automatically the cheapest one or the building with the longest list of options. It is the one whose size, construction, roof style, door arrangement and available features genuinely suit what you need.
My Advice Before You Order
Mark out approximately 7ft 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 suitable base and adequate access from the road to the position where the building will stand.
If you’re unsure which 7ft x 5ft 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 how you intend to use the building. We’ll help you compare the actual products rather than simply pointing you towards the cheapest or most expensive option.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
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