Choosing between different log cabin sizes? I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and I’ve worked with timber garden buildings since 1979.
The right size depends on how you will use your cabin, the furniture or equipment it needs to accommodate and the space available in your garden. Our garden log cabins range from compact buildings for offices and hobbies to substantial cabins suitable for several activity areas.
Browse the sizes below in feet or metres and compare the individual specifications carefully. You can also visit our showrooms near Guildford and Woking to inspect representative garden buildings before choosing.
Purpose of this page: Compare garden log cabins by size · Measurements: Sizes available in feet and metres · Current size categories: Compact cabins through to substantial garden rooms · Typical uses: Garden office, studio, gym, hobby room, games room or retreat · Construction: Interlocking timber log cabin ranges · Glazing: Double glazing featured across our principal ranges · Floors: Wooden floors included on relevant models · Installation: Professional installation available on suitable cabins · Other options: Insulation, coloured finishes, bespoke choices and base services · Important: A category size is a useful guide, but always check the exact external and internal dimensions of the individual cabin before ordering.
The best log cabin size is not necessarily the largest building you can fit into your garden. I recommend starting with what you want to put inside it. A desk and chair need very different space from a sofa, meeting table, exercise equipment or several hobby areas. Mark the proposed cabin out in the garden, then mark out the main furniture inside that footprint. Remember to consider access around the building as well as the footprint itself. The individual cabin’s internal dimensions, wall thickness, door position, windows, roof overhangs and any veranda can all affect the space you can actually use.
We offer size categories in both imperial and metric measurements to make finding a suitable cabin easier. Popular imperial choices include 8×8 log cabins, 12×8 log cabins, 14×10 log cabins, 16×10 log cabins and 20×10 log cabins. Metric choices include 3m x 3m, 4m x 3m, 5m x 3m, 6m x 3m, 5m x 4m and 6m x 4m. Use these categories as a starting point because individual model dimensions can vary around the nominal size.
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, I have learned that headline dimensions only tell part of the story. Two cabins described as a similar size can feel very different once you consider their internal measurements, door and window positions and overall layout. Decide what the cabin needs to do first, then compare the specifications and dimensions. Wall construction, glazing, floor, roof, insulation and base requirements all matter. For more detailed help, read my log cabin buyer’s guide or browse our main log cabins and garden log cabins category.
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. I left school at 15 and started Marina Sheds in 1979. I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money due from the sale. In 1992, we expanded into summerhouses, garages, garden rooms, and log cabins, and changed the name to Titan Garden Buildings. My son Craig joined us that year after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998 and formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings in 2000 so we could retail carefully selected quality garden buildings from other manufacturers. Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I continue to support him and the team as required.
Smaller cabins can be an excellent choice where garden space is limited, or the building has one clear purpose. A compact cabin may provide all the room needed for a single-person office, reading room, craft area or peaceful garden retreat without sacrificing more garden than necessary. Square sizes can be particularly straightforward to furnish, while a small rectangular cabin may offer useful additional wall space.
Moving up in size gives considerably more flexibility. Medium cabins can accommodate larger desks, storage, seating or hobby equipment and may allow two activities within the same room. At this stage, the position of the doors and windows becomes increasingly important because a sensible layout can make better use of the available floor area than simply choosing a larger footprint.
Larger garden log cabins can work as substantial offices, studios, gyms, games rooms or multi-purpose leisure spaces. Longer buildings can create separate zones along their length, while deeper cabins give more freedom to position furniture away from the walls. With a larger cabin, also consider access for installation, the foundation, electricity, insulation and sufficient room around the structure for future maintenance.
One point I particularly want customers to understand is that a nominal category such as 12×8, 5m x 3m or 6m x 4m does not mean every product within that category has precisely those external measurements. Manufacturers use different nominal sizes, and some products are available across several dimensions. Roof overhangs can also extend beyond the wall footprint, while the internal usable area will be smaller than the outside dimensions. Always check the individual product drawing and specification before preparing a base or deciding exactly where the building will stand.
The size of your cabin also affects the preparation required. Whatever size you choose, the building needs a firm, stable and level foundation appropriate for the product and ground conditions. Before preparing the site, our log cabin base guide explains the main foundation options and why getting the base right is so important.
For larger cabins, access and installation logistics deserve particular attention. We can arrange additional garden building services where required. If you intend to use your cabin regularly during colder weather, compare the complete specification and consider our insulated log cabins.
The right size depends on what you plan to put inside the cabin and how much garden space you are comfortable using. Start by listing your furniture, equipment and storage requirements, then mark those items inside a proposed footprint. Allow room to move around comfortably and remember that the usable internal dimensions will be smaller than the external measurements.
There is no single best office size because requirements vary. A compact cabin may be sufficient for one desk and storage, while a larger building may suit two workstations, additional cabinets or a separate meeting and seating area. Door and window positions can be as important as overall floor area, so plan your furniture before choosing the cabin.
Measurements can be presented differently between products and manufacturers, so never assume a category name represents the usable internal room dimensions. Check the individual product specification and drawing to establish how the measurements are taken, the internal floor area and whether roof overhangs or other features extend beyond the main wall footprint.
As a useful guide, one metre is approximately 3.28 feet. For example, 3m is about 9ft 10in, 4m is about 13ft 1in, 5m is about 16ft 5in, and 6m is about 19ft 8in. These conversions are useful for comparison, but use the manufacturer’s exact dimensions when positioning your cabin or preparing its base.
A square cabin can make furniture placement straightforward and can work well where you want one flexible room. A rectangular cabin provides more length, which can be particularly useful for dividing the building into informal zones such as an office and seating area. The better choice depends on your garden shape, intended use and preferred door and window arrangement.
Some additional space can be useful if your requirements are likely to change, but larger is not automatically better. A bigger cabin uses more garden space, requires a larger base, and may add cost when the extra floor area serves little purpose. I recommend choosing enough space for your intended use with sensible flexibility rather than simply buying the largest cabin that will fit.
Floor dimensions are only one consideration when assessing planning requirements. Overall height, position within the garden, proximity to boundaries, intended use and restrictions applying to your particular property may also matter. Read our log cabin planning permission guide for further information, and contact your local planning authority if you require confirmation before ordering.
Yes. You can visit our Surrey showrooms near Guildford and Woking to inspect representative garden buildings and compare different layouts and specifications. Standing inside full-size buildings is particularly useful when deciding how much room you actually need. We cannot display every size and model, so if seeing a particular cabin is essential, contact us before travelling to confirm what is currently on display.
After more than four decades around garden buildings, my advice is not to choose a log cabin from the dimensions alone. Decide what you want the room to do, measure the available garden carefully, mark out your furniture and then compare the actual internal and external dimensions and complete specification. The right cabin gives you enough useful space without paying for, or sacrificing garden for, space you do not need. If you are unsure which of our log cabin sizes is most suitable, visit our showrooms or speak to our team and we will help you compare the choices. Robin Antill, Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
