Small Sheds for Gardens Where Space Matters
A small shed can provide genuinely useful storage without taking over the garden. The important thing is not choosing the smallest building you can squeeze into the available space, but choosing the smallest shed which comfortably holds your tools, lawnmower, bicycles or outdoor equipment while still allowing you to reach everything inside.
This page forms part of our wider garden sheds range but concentrates specifically on small sheds for sale. The products currently displayed include compact timber sheds, a particularly narrow wooden shed, and several small secure steel stores suitable for restricted gardens, patios, and side passages.
What Counts as a Small Garden Shed?
There is no official size at which a shed becomes small. In practical terms, a small garden shed is one chosen specifically to minimise the garden space it occupies while still providing worthwhile storage.
Typical useful compact footprints include around 4×3, 6×4 and 7×5. Some products displayed on this page extend to larger sizes as well, so always check the particular configuration rather than assuming every model shown is small in every available size.
Which Small Timber Shed Should I Choose?
If you want a traditional timber building, the Shoreham Narrow Shed is one of the most space-efficient products currently shown. It is only 3ft wide and available from 4×3 to 12×3, making it especially useful for narrow side passages or strips of garden where a conventional shed would project too far into the available space.
The Sapphire Swanwick and Cadnam buildings are also displayed in apex, pent and reverse-apex layouts. The Sapphire Swanwick Apex currently starts at 7×5 and offers pressure-treated timber construction, toughened glass, professional fitting, colour-finish choices and a full-insulation option.
The Sapphire Cadnam Apex provides the taller version of the Sapphire design and gives greater flexibility over door and window positioning. I would consider it where you want a relatively compact footprint but expect to spend more time inside or need greater headroom.
What About Portsmouth Apex?
The Platinum Portsmouth Apex is also an actual product on this page, although its published standard range begins at 8×6. I regard an 8×6 as being at the upper end of small-shed territory rather than a genuinely tiny shed. Still, it can make sense when you want compact garden storage with a higher specification, pressure-treated construction and insulation available.
Are Small Metal Sheds Available?
Yes. Several of the most compact products currently displayed are steel buildings. The GardenVault Allandale, Avondale, Silverdale, Tarrickdale and Skelmersdale all provide secure storage within relatively modest footprints.
The Allandale, for example, is approximately 6ft x 3ft and is designed around bicycle storage. The Silverdale Slimline is another useful option where width is restricted, and you want steel rather than timber.
Forestdale, Clydesdale, Birkdale and Deepdale are also shown on this page but extend into larger configurations. They are worth considering when you need more capacity, although I would not describe every available size of those models as a little shed.
Timber or Metal Small Shed?
I would choose according to what you need to store. Timber gives you a traditional garden appearance and, on the Sapphire models, options such as painted finishes and insulation. Steel can make more sense where compact secure storage and relatively low routine maintenance are the priorities.
Neither material is automatically better. Having worked with sheds since 1979, I have learnt that a building is only good value if its dimensions, doors and construction genuinely suit the job.
What Can You Store in a Small Shed?
Little sheds can be surprisingly useful when organised properly. Hand tools, gardening products, folding furniture and plant pots require relatively little floor space, while lawnmowers, wheelbarrows and bicycles need more careful planning.
I would make a list of the largest items before ordering and measure them. A lawnmower handle or bicycle handlebars can determine the shed size more accurately than the nominal square footage alone.
How Do You Make the Most of a Small Shed?
Use the walls rather than filling the floor. Shelves, suitable hooks, and tool rails let you store smaller equipment vertically while leaving clear floor space for a mower or other bulky items.
Keep the equipment you use regularly close to the door and avoid creating a layout where one large item has to be removed every time you need something behind it. A well-organised small shed can be far more practical than a larger building which has become cluttered.
Why Door Position Matters on Small Sheds
Door position becomes especially important as the building gets smaller. A door in the wrong place can remove most of one useful wall or make it difficult to position shelving and larger equipment.
Before ordering, imagine yourself actually taking the lawnmower or bicycle into the building. Check the clear door opening and overall shed size, and make sure there is enough room outside the doors to approach comfortably.
Are Small Timber Sheds Professionally Fitted?
The small Sapphire timber sheds and Shoreham Narrow Shed displayed on this page include professional fitting within their applicable delivery areas, subject to suitable garden access and having the correct firm and level base ready before installation.
The steel storage buildings have their own assembly arrangements, with installation services available on relevant models. Always check the individual product before ordering, as conditions vary between timber and metal ranges.
My Experience With Sheds Goes Back to 1979
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. I left school at 15 and started my own business in 1979 trading as Marina Sheds. I learnt the business hands-on by making sheds, selling them, delivering them and dealing directly with customers, so my understanding of what makes a practical small shed comes from manufacturing experience rather than simply selling products online.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money which was due from the sale. It was a difficult business lesson, but I remained in the garden-building industry and carried on.
In 1992 we expanded beyond sheds to include summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. As the business had moved well beyond Marina Sheds, that wider direction led to the name Titan Garden Buildings. My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990, bringing his own practical carpentry and timber-building knowledge into the business.
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998 and in 2000 formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. Rather than being tied to one manufacturer’s products, Craig and I wanted to use our experience to compare quality buildings from different manufacturers and offer customers a genuine choice.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I remain involved to support him and the team whenever required. You can read more about our history on the About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
Why Does My Experience Matter When Choosing a Small Shed?
Having manufactured sheds myself, I know that compact buildings need just as much thought as large ones. On a small shed, every inch of floor area and wall space matters, so door position, usable height, floor construction and the exact external dimensions become particularly important.
If the Shoreham gives you exactly the narrow storage you need, there is no point buying something larger. If you want a pressure-treated timber building with insulation available, Sapphire may suit you better. If security and a very compact footprint matter most, one of the steel stores may be the more sensible choice.
How Do I Choose the Best Small Shed?
Start by measuring the available garden space and the equipment you need to store. Then consider access, door width, shelving, and whether a square shed, narrow shed, or compact steel store will use the space most efficiently.
If you already know the footprint you need, our sheds by size section can help you compare specific dimensions. If you are unsure which small sheds for sale on this page are most suitable, ask us, and we can help you compare the options.
Can I See Small Sheds Before Buying?
Whenever practical, I strongly recommend seeing garden buildings before making a final decision. You can visit our Surrey garden building display site near Guildford and Woking, where around 80 representative buildings are normally available to inspect.
Photographs can make it difficult to judge usable space. Standing inside a compact shed gives you a much better understanding of the door opening, floor area, headroom and construction. I started selling sheds in 1979, and seeing the quality for yourself is one of the best ways to make an informed buying decision.
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