Choosing an 8×7 Shed
An 8×7 shed gives you a useful amount of storage without moving into a particularly large garden building. The nominal 8ft x 7ft size is roughly 2.4m x 2.1m, although exact external and internal dimensions vary by model. 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 a shed should be chosen by looking carefully at its construction, layout and what you genuinely need it to do rather than simply buying the cheapest building of approximately the right size.
An 8ft x 7ft shed gives you around 56 square feet of nominal floor area. That provides useful room for tools, bikes, gardening equipment, shelving and general storage while still leaving space to move around if you plan the interior sensibly. It can also provide a practical hobby or compact workshop space if you choose a building with the appropriate specification.
Is a 7×8 Shed the Same as an 8×7 Shed?
You may see an 8×7 shed described as a 7×8 shed or 8ft x 7ft shed. These descriptions can refer to broadly the same footprint with the dimensions reversed, but always check which measurement represents the frontage and which represents the depth. Door positions, windows and roof orientation vary between models, so use the precise dimensions and layout of the building you intend to order when planning its position and preparing the base.
The 8×7 Sheds Currently Shown on This Page
The current page displays 13 products. If you specifically want a timber 8×7 shed, the choices shown include Diamond Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent, Woodgate Reverse Apex, Barnham Apex and Barnham Pent, together with six Sapphire designs: Swanwick Apex, Swanwick Pent, Swanwick Reverse Apex, Cadnam Apex, Cadnam Pent and Cadnam Reverse Apex. The Platinum Fareham Reverse Apex is also displayed, and its published size range covers an 8ft x 7ft requirement.
The GardenVault Glendale Metal Shed is the other product displayed on the page. It uses different dimensions and galvanised-steel construction, so I compare it separately rather than treating it as a conventional timber 8ft x 7ft shed.
Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam 8×7 Sheds
The six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam models have published ranges from 7ft x 5ft to 12ft x 10ft, so an 8×7 shed sits within their available size range. You can choose Swanwick Apex, Pent or Reverse Apex and Cadnam Apex, Pent or Reverse Apex according to the roof style and layout that suit your garden best.
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 building for hobbies or practical work, insulation may be worth considering. If the shed will mainly contain 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 7ft 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, while the Chichester Pent provides a single-slope roof. The Woodgate Reverse Apex gives you another configuration to consider where its roof and door arrangement may work better in a particular garden position.
The bespoke options can be genuinely useful on an 8ft x 7ft shed. Changing a door or window position may leave you with a better uninterrupted wall for shelving or make it easier to move equipment in and out. I wouldn’t alter a standard design simply because you can, but a practical change can make the building 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 cover an 8×7 requirement. They currently show free fitting and a colour paint finish option.
The main choice is roof style. Barnham Apex gives you a traditional pitched roof, while Barnham Pent provides a single-slope roof. The range information also refers to double doors on sizes 8ft and over. Still, if door width is particularly important because of the equipment you intend to store, I would check the exact specification of the individual 8×7 configuration before ordering.
Platinum Fareham Reverse Apex
The Platinum Fareham Reverse Apex is also shown on this page. Its published range starts at 8ft x 6ft and extends to 20ft x 16ft, so an 8ft x 7ft requirement sits within the range. It currently shows free assembly, a colour paint finish option and a full insulation option.
The reverse apex arrangement gives you another layout to consider if the position of the doors and windows matters to the way you intend to use the interior. If you are interested in the Fareham, compare its individual specification with the Sapphire and Diamond choices rather than assuming one range is automatically better simply because it sits at a different level in the range.
GardenVault Glendale Metal Shed
The GardenVault Glendale gives you a metal alternative to the timber sheds on this page. Its published sizes run from approximately 89 x 88 inches to 89 x 174 inches, or around 2.2m x 2.2m to 2.2m x 4.4m. It is therefore relevant to somebody considering a building of roughly this footprint, although I would not describe it as a conventional nominal 8×7 shed.
The current product information highlights an assembly service, choice of colours, steel floor base and 1.2mm galvanised-steel construction. If metal construction appeals to you, compare the Glendale according to its precise dimensions and specification rather than treating it as an identical substitute for one of the timber sheds.
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 very 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 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 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. 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 8×7 shed is large enough to become an important part of your garden storage, 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 8×7 Shed
The current 8×7 range states that its wooden sheds use quality redwood deal timber with at least nominal 2×2 vertical framing, timber floor and roof construction and toughened glass as standard. These are exactly the sorts of practical details I encourage customers to examine rather than choosing a shed solely from an attractive photograph or headline price.
Specifications still vary between individual Diamond, Sapphire and Platinum buildings, so compare the product you are considering rather than assuming every 8ft x 7ft shed is made in the same way. Timber treatment, framing, floor, roof, doors, glazing and insulation options can all influence which model represents the best choice for you.
Making the Most of an 8×7 Shed
An 8×7 shed gives you useful room for garden tools, bikes, gardening equipment and smaller machinery while still leaving scope for shelving and wall storage. At this size, you can also create a useful hobby or compact workshop area if the building and specification you choose suit that purpose.
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. Leave enough space to reach equipment at the back rather than filling every available inch.
Do You Need an Insulated 8×7 Shed?
The six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam sheds currently show a full insulation option, as does the Platinum Fareham Reverse Apex. Whether insulation is worthwhile depends on how you intend to use the building.
If your 7×8 shed will mainly be used for garden storage, insulation may not be necessary. If you expect to spend longer periods inside for hobbies 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 Reverse Apex shows free assembly, while the Glendale Metal Shed offers an assembly service.
Whatever product you choose, suitable access and an appropriate firm, flat and level base remain important. An uneven or unsuitable base can affect how a timber building sits and how well the 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 the building arrives is considerably easier than trying to correct problems afterwards.
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 8×7 Shed Should You Choose?
If you want a timber 8×7 shed with bespoke flexibility, look closely at the Diamond Chichester Apex, Chichester Pent and Woodgate Reverse Apex. If optional insulation is important, compare the six Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam designs. The Barnham Apex and Pent give you further Diamond choices, while the Fareham Reverse Apex provides the Platinum alternative currently displayed.
If galvanised-steel construction is your preference, compare the GardenVault Glendale separately using its actual measurements and specification. The best building isn’t automatically the cheapest or the most expensive; it is the one whose construction, layout and available options genuinely suit what you need.
My Advice Before You Order
Mark out approximately 8ft x 7ft 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, level base and adequate access from the road to where the building will stand.
If you’re unsure which 8ft x 7ft 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 £1,935
