Choosing an 8×6 Shed
An 8×6 shed is one of the most useful all-round garden shed sizes. The nominal 8ft x 6ft dimensions equate to roughly 2.4m x 1.8m, although precise external and internal measurements vary between individual buildings. At this size, you have enough room for garden tools, bikes, equipment, shelving and general storage without automatically moving into a large workshop. I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and sheds are where my working life in garden buildings began in 1979. After more than 45 years in the trade, I still believe the right shed should be chosen by looking at its construction, layout and what you genuinely need it to do rather than simply buying the cheapest building of the right nominal size.
An 8ft x 6ft shed gives you around 48 square feet of nominal floor area. That extra depth compared with a smaller shed can make a noticeable difference once you add shelving, tools and larger equipment. However, I would still plan the interior before ordering rather than assuming everything will fit.
Is a 6×8 Shed the Same as an 8×6 Shed?
You may see an 8×6 shed described as a 6×8 shed or 8ft x 6ft shed. These descriptions normally refer to broadly the same footprint with the dimensions reversed, but always establish which measurement represents the frontage and which represents the depth. Door position, window position and roof orientation can make a considerable difference, so use the precise dimensions and layout of your chosen model when planning its position and preparing the base.
The 8×6 Sheds Currently Shown on This Page
The current page gives you a broad choice of Diamond, Sapphire and Platinum sheds. The Sapphire choices include Swanwick Apex, Swanwick Pent and Swanwick Reverse Apex together with Cadnam Apex, Cadnam Pent and Cadnam Reverse Apex. The Diamond products include Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent, Woodgate Reverse Apex, Barnham Apex and Barnham Pent.
The Platinum choices include Fareham Apex, Fareham Pent, Fareham Reverse Apex, Portsmouth Apex, Alresford Shed, Southampton Apex, Southampton Pent and Southampton Transverse. With this much choice, I would focus on construction, roof style, door position, and the options you will actually use, rather than comparing buildings on price alone.
Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam 8×6 Sheds
The six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam models have published ranges from 7ft x 5ft to 12ft x 10ft, so an 8×6 shed sits within their available size range. You can choose between Swanwick Apex, Pent and Reverse Apex or Cadnam Apex, Pent and Reverse Apex according to the roof and door arrangement that best suits your garden.
All six currently show free fitting, a colour paint finish option and a full insulation option. If you expect to spend longer periods inside the shed for hobbies or practical work, insulation may be worth considering. If your building will mainly store garden tools and equipment, you may decide you don’t need it.
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, an 8ft x 6ft 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 traditional pitched-roof appearance, while the Chichester Pent provides a single-slope roof. The Woodgate Reverse Apex gives you another configuration where its door and roof orientation may work better in a particular garden position.
The bespoke options can be genuinely useful on an 8ft x 6ft shed. Moving a door or window may give you a better wall for shelving or make it easier to move larger equipment in and out. I wouldn’t change a standard layout just because the option exists, but a practical alteration can make the finished shed considerably easier to use.
Diamond Barnham Apex and Pent
The Diamond Barnham Apex and Barnham Pent have published ranges from 6ft x 4ft to 28ft x 12ft, so both are relevant to an 8×6 requirement. They currently show free fitting and a colour paint finish option.
The main difference is roof style. Barnham Apex provides the traditional pitched roof, while Barnham Pent gives you a single-slope roof. The range information also refers to double doors on sizes 8ft and over. Still, if door width matters because you need to move larger equipment through the opening, I would check the precise specification of the individual 8×6 configuration before ordering.
Platinum Fareham Sheds
The Fareham Apex, Fareham Pent and Fareham Reverse Apex are particularly relevant because their published ranges start at exactly 8ft x 6ft and extend to 20ft x 16ft. All three currently show free assembly, a colour paint finish option and a full insulation option.
The three designs give you useful flexibility. Fareham Apex provides a traditional pitched roof, Fareham Pent gives you a single-slope roof, and Fareham Reverse Apex provides another layout to consider. If you want a Platinum building beginning at a genuine 8×6 shed footprint, I would include all three in your comparison.
Portsmouth Apex Shed
The Portsmouth Apex is another Platinum building whose published range starts at exactly 8ft x 6ft and extends to 20ft x 16ft. It currently shows free assembly, a colour paint finish option and a full insulation option.
If you prefer an apex-roof Platinum building and want the option of insulation, the Portsmouth deserves comparison with the Fareham and Southampton ranges. I would base the final choice on the individual construction, layout and options rather than assuming that all Platinum sheds are the same.
Platinum Southampton Sheds
The Southampton Apex, Southampton Pent and Southampton Transverse are also products on this page. Their published ranges begin at 8ft x 6ft and extend to 20ft x 16ft, making the 8×6 footprint a genuine starting point.
All three currently show free assembly, a colour paint finish option and a full insulation option. The Apex, Pent and Transverse arrangements give you different layouts to consider, which can matter if you plan to use the shed regularly rather than simply filling it with storage.
Platinum Alresford Shed
The Platinum Alresford Shed has a published range from 6ft x 6ft to 12ft x 8ft and the current information highlights free assembly, a colour paint finish option and a bench-shelf.
The bench-shelf makes the Alresford particularly worth considering if you want a practical internal surface for pots, tools or small jobs. As with every building on this page, check the exact dimensions and specification of the size you are considering rather than relying solely on the nominal description.
Why My Experience With Sheds Matters
I think 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 business lesson, 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 or being tied to one source, we wanted to use our experience to retail quality garden buildings from manufacturers we trusted and give customers a genuine choice. 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, and I believe 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. An 8×6 shed is large enough to be used for much more than a few garden tools, so timber quality, framing, floor construction, roof construction, doors and fittings all deserve attention. I would rather see somebody choose the right shed once than save a little initially and regret the decision afterwards.
Construction Matters on an 8×6 Shed
The current 8×6 range highlights quality redwood timber on the wooden sheds, substantial framing and timber floor and roof construction. These are exactly the sorts of practical details I encourage customers to examine rather than choosing solely from an attractive photograph or headline price.
Specifications vary between Diamond, Sapphire and Platinum products, so compare the individual building rather than assuming every 8ft x 6ft shed is constructed in the same way. Timber, treatment, framing, floor, roof, doors, glazing and insulation options can all influence which building best suits you.
Making the Most of an 8×6 Shed
An 8×6 shed gives you useful space for garden tools, bikes, pots, garden furniture, outdoor equipment and smaller machinery while still leaving scope for shelving and wall storage. At this size it can also work as a hobby or compact workshop space if the model and specification you choose are suitable for that use.
Hooks and shelves can make good use of the walls and help keep the centre clear. Measure your largest items before ordering and check the door opening as well as the floor area. I would always leave enough room to reach equipment at the back rather than filling every available inch.
Do You Need an Insulated 8×6 Shed?
The six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam models currently show full insulation as an option. The Fareham Apex, Fareham Pent, Fareham Reverse Apex, Portsmouth Apex, Southampton Apex, Southampton Pent and Southampton Transverse also currently offer full insulation options.
If your building is primarily for garden storage, insulation may not be necessary. If you expect to spend longer periods inside for hobbies, DIY or practical projects, it becomes much more relevant. I would choose insulation because your intended use justifies it rather than simply because the option appears on the specification.
Fitting, Assembly and Your Base
The Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam sheds, Diamond Chichester and Woodgate models and Diamond Barnham sheds currently show free fitting. The Fareham, Portsmouth, Southampton and Alresford Platinum buildings currently show free assembly.
Whichever shed you choose, suitable access and an appropriate firm, flat and level base remain important. An unsuitable or uneven base can affect how the shed sits and how well its doors operate.
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 much easier than trying to correct problems afterwards.
Colour Finish Options
The products currently displayed offer colour paint finish options. An 8ft x 6ft shed is large enough to be a noticeable feature in the garden, so think about how your chosen finish will work with your house, fencing, paving and planting.
Colours displayed online can vary because of photography, lighting and different screens. If a precise shade is particularly important, check the available colour information 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.
Which 8×6 Shed Should You Choose?
If you want a timber 8×6 shed with strong size and layout flexibility, compare the Diamond Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent, Woodgate Reverse Apex and Barnham Apex or Pent. If optional insulation is important, the six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam models deserve close consideration.
If you want to move towards a Platinum building, compare the Fareham Apex, Pent and Reverse Apex, Portsmouth Apex and Southampton Apex, Pent and Transverse. If an internal bench-shelf appeals to you, include the Platinum Alresford in your comparison.
The best shed isn’t automatically the cheapest or the most expensive. It is the model whose construction, roof style, door arrangement, internal features and available options make sense for how you actually intend to use it.
My Advice Before You Order
Mark out approximately 8ft x 6ft in your garden, measure the items you intend to store and check the precise external dimensions, door arrangement and window positions of your preferred model. Make sure you have a suitable firm, flat and level base and adequate access from the road to the position where the building will stand.
If you’re unsure which 6×8 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 shed. We’ll help you compare the actual products shown on this page and choose the building that makes sense for you.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
From £1449
