12×6 Summerhouses at a Glance
Size: 12ft x 6ft (approx. 3.6m x 1.8m) · Construction: Premium redwood timber · Glazing: Toughened glass as standard · Floors: Solid wooden floors included · Roof styles: Apex and pent designs · Doors: Double door options available.
Uses: Garden retreat, hobby room, home office, relaxing space or additional storage · Installation: Free professional installation included · Insulation: Insulated and fully insulated options available · Bases: Base building service available · Finishes: Coloured paint options available · Customisation: Bespoke sizes, doors, windows and layouts available.
See before you buy: Full-size timber summerhouses are on display at our Surrey show site near Guildford, Woking and Ripley, where you can compare construction, styles and specifications before ordering.
Need advice? Our experienced team can help with choosing a 12×6 summerhouse, specification, insulation, base requirements, installation and bespoke design options.
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Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of sumerhouse shed combos
Click on images below to see larger versions of combination garden rooms with shed
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Choosing the Right 12×6 Summerhouse
A 12×6 summerhouse has a nominal footprint of 72 square feet, or approximately 6.7 square metres. What makes this size particularly useful is its rectangular shape. The twelve-foot length gives you considerably more usable wall space than a smaller square building, while the six-foot depth can fit into gardens where an 8ft or 10ft deep summerhouse would project too far onto the lawn.
I would mark out the complete 12ft by 6ft footprint in your garden before ordering. It helps you judge not only whether the building will fit but also how much garden will remain around it. Remember that 12×6 is a nominal size, so always check the precise dimensions, roof overhangs, access requirements and required base size for the individual building you choose.
What Can You Use a 12ft x 6ft Summer House For?
The long proportions make a 12ft x 6ft summer house particularly adaptable. You could arrange comfortable seating at one end and a desk, hobby area or storage at the other. It can work as a relaxing garden retreat, craft room, home office, studio, entertaining space or a combination of several uses.
The important dimension to plan carefully is the six-foot depth. Twelve feet gives you plenty of length, but very deep chairs, cupboards or desks can reduce the space available to move around. I recommend deciding roughly where your furniture will go before choosing the final door and window positions.
Why a 6 x 12 Summerhouse Can Work Well in a Narrower Garden
A 6 x 12 summerhouse is essentially the same nominal footprint described from the opposite direction, and the proportions can be particularly useful where garden depth is restricted. Instead of projecting ten or twelve feet into the garden, the building can run along a fence or boundary while extending only around six feet into the available space, subject of course to the exact model dimensions and any planning or access requirements.
This long-wall arrangement can also provide useful opportunities for windows. Think about what you want to see when sitting inside and where you need solid wall space for furniture, pictures, shelving or a desk before finalising the layout.
Diamond or Platinum 12×6 Summerhouses?
The 12×6 category includes different specifications because customers searching for the same building size do not necessarily want to use it in the same way. A conventional summerhouse for relaxing in pleasant weather does not need the same specifications as a building intended for regular home working or hobbies during colder parts of the year.
I would normally begin with our Diamond buildings when the priority is a well-made traditional summerhouse at a sensible price. The Platinum range is worth comparing when you want a higher specification, greater design flexibility or insulation. Rather than assuming the most expensive option is automatically the best, I recommend choosing the specification that matches what you genuinely intend to do inside the building.
You can browse our complete summer houses collection or compare other summer houses by size if you are still deciding whether 12ft x 6ft is right for your garden.
Can a 12×6 Summerhouse Be Insulated?
Yes. We offer both insulated and fully insulated options within our ranges. Insulation becomes particularly worthwhile if you expect to spend longer periods inside during colder weather, perhaps for home working, crafts, hobbies or as a studio. If the summerhouse will mainly be used for relaxing during warmer weather, you may decide that the additional specification is unnecessary.
Remember that insulation does not create heat. It helps reduce heat transfer, so heating, glazing and ventilation also matter when planning colder-weather use. If year-round comfort is important, compare the individual specifications carefully and see our wider range of insulated summer houses.
Can a 12ft by 6ft Summer House Be Used as a Garden Office?
Yes. A 12ft by 6ft summer house can be a practical, compact garden office. The twelve-foot wall provides plenty of potential space for a desk, shelving, filing or additional seating. The main consideration is the six-foot depth, so I would avoid unnecessarily deep furniture that could restrict the space behind your office chair.
For occasional laptop use during pleasant weather, a conventional summerhouse may be all you need. If you expect to work inside for several hours most days throughout the year, I look more closely at insulation, glazing, electrics, heating, ventilation and the overall building specification rather than choosing purely because it is 12×6.
Why I Look at Construction Before Decorative Extras
Having worked with timber garden buildings since 1979, I still look at how a summerhouse is actually constructed before considering decorative extras. Timber and cladding matter, but so do the framing, floor, roof, doors, windows, glazing, treatment and quality of the joinery. These details determine whether an attractive photograph represents a genuinely worthwhile building.
Specifications can vary significantly between ranges, even where two buildings are both described as 12ft x 6ft summer houses. My advice is therefore to compare the complete individual specification rather than assuming that every building with the same nominal dimensions is essentially the same product.
Redwood, Framing, Floors and Glazing Matter
Our current 12×6 ranges include quality redwood timber, solid wooden floors and toughened glass. I regard those basic construction details as more important than many optional accessories because they form part of the building you will live with every time you use it.
Timber species or cladding thickness on its own does not tell the whole story. I also want to know what is behind the cladding, how substantial the floor and roof are, how the doors have been made and what glazing has been fitted. Comparing the complete construction gives you a much better understanding of value than comparing headline prices alone.
Can Your 12 x 6 Summerhouse Be Made Bespoke?
Yes, selected Diamond and Platinum buildings offer considerable bespoke flexibility. Depending on the model, possibilities can include changing the height or dimensions, adding or removing windows, repositioning doors and windows and adapting the internal arrangement to suit your garden and intended use.
This flexibility can be particularly useful with a long 12 x 6 summerhouse. If you already know that you want a sofa at one end and a desk, workbench or cupboards at the other, tell us before ordering. Moving a door or window can make more difference to the usability of the finished building than adding an expensive accessory later.
Can You Combine a Summerhouse With Storage?
Yes. Selected models can incorporate a separate storage space or additional room, giving you leisure space and practical garden storage within one overall structure. With a 12ft-long building, dividing the available space can work particularly well where you want somewhere to relax without having to find another position in the garden for a separate shed.
The precise options depend on the model and the amount of leisure space you want to retain. You can see further ideas in our summer houses with shed storage collection.
A Good 12×6 Summerhouse Needs a Good Base
One piece of advice I have repeated for decades is that a good garden building needs a good base. Your summerhouse needs to stand on a firm, flat and level foundation suitable for the particular building. An unsuitable base can cause problems with the way the structure sits and can affect the operation of doors and windows.
Do not build a base simply from the description “12×6”. First, obtain the exact manufacturer’s base dimensions for your chosen model. Our summer house base guide explains the main options and what you need to consider before installation.
Professional Fitting Included
Professional installation or assembly is included with the applicable Diamond and Platinum summerhouses shown, subject to the individual building, delivery area, suitable access and a correctly prepared base. This is important because a substantial timber building needs to be assembled correctly, and using installers familiar with the product removes one of the biggest jobs involved in purchasing a new summerhouse.
If you are uncertain about your base, garden access or what needs to be ready before the fitting team arrives, please contact 1st Choice Leisure Buildings before ordering. Resolving those practical details in advance normally makes the whole process easier.
See the Quality Before Choosing Your Summer House
I have always encouraged customers to see garden buildings in person whenever possible. A photograph can show you the design, but it cannot properly demonstrate how solid a floor feels, the weight of a door, the quality of the joinery, the thickness of the framing or what the available interior space feels like when you are standing inside.
You are welcome to visit our Surrey garden building display site near Guildford, Woking and Ripley. We cannot display every possible model and size. Still, representative buildings let you compare specifications, construction, and design features before deciding what you want in your own 12ft x 6ft summer house.
My Garden Building Experience 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. In those early years I was hands-on, making and selling buildings, dealing directly with customers and learning how timber garden buildings perform in the real world.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990. Unfortunately, I did not receive all the money that was due to me from the sale. It was a difficult business lesson, but it did not take me away from the garden building industry.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
By 1992 we had expanded beyond traditional sheds and added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. That broader direction meant changing our name to Titan Garden Buildings. My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990, bringing his own practical knowledge of timber and woodworking into the business.
Craig’s carpentry background complemented the experience I had gained through manufacturing, retailing and working directly with customers. It also reinforced something we have always believed: specifications matter. Two summerhouses can look remarkably similar in photographs while being quite different when you examine how they have actually been made.
Why Craig and I Formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998. In 2000, Craig and I decided to take a different approach and formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. Rather than being restricted to selling the products of one manufacturer, we wanted to retail carefully selected quality garden buildings from established manufacturers and use our experience to help customers compare them.
That approach remains important today. Someone wanting a straightforward 12×6 summerhouse for warm-weather relaxation does not necessarily require the same building as somebody searching for a fully insulated 6 x 12 summerhouse to use as an office. Offering different ranges allows us to recommend according to the intended use rather than trying to make one specification suit everybody.
Today Craig runs the day-to-day business, and I am there to support him and the team whenever required. You can read much more about our history and experience on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
What More Than 45 Years Has Taught Me About a 12×6 Summerhouse
The first thing I would consider is proportion rather than floor area alone. Seventy-two square feet is useful, but a 12ft x 6ft room behaves very differently from a square room with a similar floor area. The extra length provides excellent wall space, while the six-foot depth means furniture needs slightly more thought.
Second, decide where your doors and windows need to be. Their positions determine how much uninterrupted wall space remains for seating, a desk, cupboards or shelving. Third, think about how often you intend to use the building. That will help determine whether you need a conventional Diamond summerhouse, a higher-specification Platinum model or an insulated option.
Finally, do not buy purely from a photograph or headline price. Compare the construction, ask questions, inspect representative buildings if you can and choose a specification appropriate for how you will actually use your summerhouse.
Frequently Asked Questions About 12×6 Summerhouses
How big is a 12×6 summerhouse?
A nominal 12×6 summerhouse has a footprint of approximately 72 square feet, or about 6.7 square metres. The precise external and internal measurements vary by model, so always check the manufacturer’s stated dimensions and required base size before preparing your garden.
Is a 12ft x 6ft summer house a good size?
It can be an excellent size if you want useful internal space without a building projecting too far into the garden. Its twelve-foot length is particularly useful for seating, desks, hobby equipment and storage, although the six-foot depth means it is worth planning larger furniture before ordering.
Is a 6 x 12 summerhouse the same as a 12 x 6 summerhouse?
Usually these descriptions refer to the same nominal 72-square-foot building footprint, with the dimensions stated in a different order. However, manufacturers can describe width and depth differently, so always use the plans and exact dimensions of the individual product when deciding whether it will fit your site.
What can I fit inside a 12ft by 6ft summer house?
The exact answer depends on the position of the doors and windows, but there is normally enough length for substantial seating, a desk, a hobby area or storage. You can also create separate zones, using one end for relaxing and the other for work or hobbies.
Can I get an insulated 12×6 summerhouse?
Yes. Fully insulated choices are available. If regular colder-weather use is important, compare the complete wall, roof, floor, glazing and insulation specifications rather than relying solely on the word “insulated”. You should also consider suitable heating and ventilation.
Can a 12×6 summerhouse be made bespoke?
Selected models can be customised, with options potentially including changes to dimensions, doors, windows, height and layout. Bespoke positioning of doors and windows can be particularly helpful on a 12×6 building because it allows you to protect the long wall areas you need for furniture.
Can I have a shed combined with my 12ft x 6ft summer house?
Storage can be incorporated into selected designs, subject to the particular model and space available. If you require both leisure space and garden storage, please tell us how much room you need for each purpose, and we can explain the most suitable options.
Do I need planning permission for a 12×6 summerhouse?
Many domestic summerhouses can be installed under permitted development rights, but the rules depend on factors including the property, building height, position, amount of garden occupied and intended use. The 12×6 footprint alone does not determine whether permission is required. Read our summerhouse planning permission guide and check with your local planning authority where appropriate.
Does a 12×6 summerhouse need a base?
Yes. The building needs a suitable firm, flat and level base. Check the precise base dimensions required for your chosen model before carrying out any foundation work, as the nominal 12ft x 6ft description should not be used as a substitute for the manufacturer’s actual measurements.
Is fitting included with a 12×6 summerhouse?
Professional fitting or assembly is included with the applicable ranges shown, subject to the individual product, delivery area, site access and a suitable prepared base. Check the individual product details for the exact terms applying to the model you are considering.
My Advice Before Buying Your 12×6 Summerhouse
After working with garden buildings since 1979, my advice is straightforward: decide what you want your building to do, mark the footprint out in the garden, plan your furniture, compare the actual construction and choose the specification required for the way you intend to use it. A 12×6 summerhouse is a particularly versatile size, but the best building is the one that fits both your garden and your intended use.
Craig, the team and I are here to explain the differences rather than automatically steer you towards the most expensive option. If you tell us what you want from your summerhouse, we can help you compare the relevant Diamond and Platinum models, insulation choices, bespoke options, storage, bases and fitting.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
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