20×6 Summer Houses at a Glance
Size: 20ft x 6ft (approx. 6.0m x 1.8m) · Construction: Quality redwood timber · Glazing: Toughened glass as standard · Floors & roofs: Solid timber construction · Roof styles: Apex and pent designs · Doors: Double door options available.
Uses: Garden retreat, hobby room, home office, entertaining space or combined summerhouse and storage area · Installation: Free assembly included on Diamond and Platinum ranges · Insulation: Lined and insulated options available on selected models · Bases: Base building service available · Customisation: Bespoke sizes, window and door positions, internal partitions and additional rooms available · Paint finish: Colour paint options available.
See before you buy: Full-size garden buildings are on display at our Surrey show site near Guildford, Woking and Ripley, where you can compare construction, designs and options before ordering.
Need advice? Our experienced team can help with your 20×6 summer house specification, bespoke requirements, insulation, base preparation, installation and other options before you order.
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Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
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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
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Click on images below to see larger versions of combination garden rooms with shed
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Why Choose a 20×6 Summerhouse?
A 20×6 summerhouse has a nominal footprint of around 120 square feet, or approximately 11.1 square metres. What makes this size particularly useful is its unusual proportion. Twenty feet gives you a considerable amount of usable wall length while the six-foot depth allows the building to fit into gardens where an eight, ten or twelve-foot-deep summerhouse might project too far onto the lawn.
I recommend marking out the complete 20ft x 6ft footprint before ordering. Stand inside it, think about where your furniture will go and consider where you want the doors and windows positioned. Remember that 20×6 is a nominal description, so always use the manufacturer’s precise external dimensions, roof overhangs, and required base measurements when planning the site.
What Can You Use a 20ft x 6ft Summer House For?
A 20ft x 6ft summer house can work particularly well where you want different activities arranged along the length of the room. You might have comfortable seating at one end with a desk, workbench, hobby table or cupboards at the other, or use the whole building as a studio, craft room or long garden office.
The six-foot depth is the dimension I would plan most carefully. You have plenty of length, but very deep sofas, desks or cupboards can restrict the walkway. Measure important furniture before ordering and use those measurements when deciding on the final door and window arrangement.
Why a 6 x 20 Summerhouse Can Suit a Long or Narrow Garden
A 6 x 20 summerhouse will normally describe the same nominal 120-square-foot footprint as a 20 x 6 summerhouse, with the dimensions stated in the opposite order. Its long, relatively shallow shape can be particularly useful alongside a fence or boundary where you have plenty of width but do not want the building extending too far into your main garden area.
Manufacturers do not always describe frontage and depth in the same order, so always check the individual product plan. Confirm which elevation is twenty feet, which is six feet and how much additional clearance is required for fitting, roof overhangs and future maintenance.
Which 20×6 Summerhouses Should Be on This Page?
The confirmed Platinum products whose published size ranges include 20ft x 6ft are the Winchester Pent and Winchester Transverse. The Platinum Winchester Apex is also published as available from 8×6 up to 28×16, so its stated size range includes 20×6, and I would check whether it should also be assigned to this category.
The Kingclere Apex is currently displayed on this page, but its published maximum size is 16×12. I would correct that product-category assignment unless 20×6 can genuinely be supplied and the product size information itself needs updating. Keeping product data consistent matters for customers, Google, and AI search systems.
Winchester Apex, Pent or Transverse?
The Winchester range gives you different ways of approaching a large 20ft-long summerhouse. The Apex provides the familiar pitched-roof appearance, the Pent has a cleaner single-slope profile and the Transverse changes the relationship between the roof ridge and the main frontage.
I would not choose between them on roof shape alone. Consider where the building will stand, which direction you want to look while sitting inside, how the doors need to open, and whether the window positions leave enough uninterrupted wall space for your furniture, shelving, or equipment.
Should a 20×6 Summerhouse Be Insulated?
The Winchester summerhouses offer full insulation as an option. Whether I recommend it depends on how you intend to use the building. If it will mainly be a pleasant place to relax during spring and summer, you may decide the additional cost is unnecessary. If you intend to work, paint, craft or spend several hours inside during colder periods, insulation becomes considerably more useful.
Insulation does not create heat; it slows heat transfer through the structure. Heating, glazing and ventilation also matter. If extended-season use is important, compare our wider range of insulated summer houses and look at the complete construction rather than relying only on the word “insulated”.
Can a 20ft by 6ft Summer House Be Used as a Garden Office?
Yes. A 20ft by 6ft summer house can make a particularly useful long garden office because twenty feet gives you considerable room for desks, shelving and storage. You could potentially create two distinct working zones or combine a main workstation with seating or storage at the other end.
The six-foot depth needs sensible planning. Very deep desks or oversized office chairs can reduce the walkway, so measure your intended furniture first. For regular year-round use, also consider insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, electricity, lighting and internet connectivity.
A 20×6 Summerhouse for Hobbies, Crafts or a Studio
The long interior can work extremely well for hobbies because you have substantial linear wall space for desks, workbenches, shelving or cupboards. Artists may prioritise natural light, while crafters, model makers and collectors may prefer more uninterrupted wall space for storage and equipment.
This is why I recommend deciding what you intend to do inside before finalising the glazing. More windows aren’t automatically better if they take up the wall space where you wanted cupboards, shelving, or a workbench.
Can You Create Separate Areas Inside a 20×6 Summerhouse?
Yes. Twenty feet of length means you can divide the room informally into different zones, even though it is relatively shallow. You might have a seating area at one end, a desk or hobby area at the other and storage between them without necessarily needing permanent internal partitions.
Selected bespoke designs can also allow changes to doors, windows and internal layouts. If you already know what you want each end of the building to do, tell us before ordering so the design can be planned around your intended use.
Why I Look Beyond the Photograph
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, I know that two attractive photographs can hide considerable differences in construction. Photographs show a building’s style well, but they cannot tell you everything about the timber, framing, floor, roof, doors, glazing, or joinery.
I look at the whole structure. Good cladding needs suitable framing behind it, substantial doors depend on proper joinery, and a solid floor needs adequate support. One impressive headline measurement should never replace a look at how the complete building has actually been made.
Why Timber, Framing, Floors and Toughened Glass Matter
Our main timber summerhouse ranges use quality redwood timber, solid wooden floors and toughened glazing. These basic construction details interest me more than many decorative accessories because they are part of the building you will depend on every time you use it.
I encourage customers to inspect the details that can be difficult to appreciate online. Stand on the floor, open and close the doors, examine the window joinery and look at the framing and roof construction where possible. Those practical details often tell you far more about quality than an attractive photograph.
Can a 20 x 6 Summerhouse Be Made Bespoke?
Yes. Bespoke options are available on selected Platinum designs and can include changes to dimensions, doors, windows and layout. With twenty feet of length available, changing a door or window position can make a considerable difference to the amount of usable wall space inside.
If you already know where your sofa, desk, workbench, cupboards or hobby equipment will go, plan those positions first. We can then explain which layout and options best suit how you intend to use the building.
Can a 20ft x 6ft Summer House Include Storage?
A twenty-foot-long summerhouse can lend itself particularly well to combining leisure or working space with a separate storage section. Depending on the design, part of the building could provide space for garden equipment, furniture, bicycles, or hobby materials, while the remainder remains available as your summer room or office.
If integrated storage is important, explore our summer houses with shed storage. Work out how much room you genuinely need for each purpose before settling on the final layout.
A Long 20×6 Summerhouse Needs the Right Base
One piece of advice I have repeated throughout my working life is that even the best garden building needs a proper foundation. This becomes especially important with a twenty-foot-long structure because small differences in level across that length can affect the way the building sits and how its doors operate.
The base should be firm, flat and level and should match the exact requirements of the individual building. Do not simply prepare a foundation measuring twenty feet by six feet from the category name. Check the manufacturer’s precise base dimensions before any work begins.
Professional Fitting Included
The applicable Platinum 20×6 Winchester summerhouses include professional assembly, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable site access and the correct prepared base. At twenty feet long, this is a substantial timber structure, so having installers familiar with the building assemble it correctly removes a major part of the project.
Access is worth checking particularly carefully with a long building. If your garden has narrow passageways, tight turns, steps, high walls or other restrictions, please contact us before ordering so the practical details can be discussed.
See a Summerhouse Before You Buy
When I started in garden buildings in 1979, there was no internet, so customers naturally inspected buildings before buying them. Online research makes comparison far easier today, but photographs still cannot show you how solid a floor feels, how a door operates or what a twenty-foot-long room actually feels like when you stand inside it.
That is why I continue to recommend visiting our Surrey garden building display site if practical. We cannot display every model in every size, but representative buildings let you compare construction, materials, doors, glazing, and overall quality before deciding.
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 garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. I learnt the trade hands-on by making and selling timber buildings, delivering them and dealing directly with customers, and that practical experience still influences the way I assess garden buildings today.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money that was due to me from the sale. It was a difficult business lesson, but I remained involved in the garden building industry and continued building on the experience I had gained.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
By 1992 we had broadened what we offered beyond sheds and added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. Marina Sheds no longer properly described the direction of the business, so this expansion led to the name Titan Garden Buildings.
My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry training brought additional practical knowledge of timber and woodworking to the business, alongside the experience I had already gained through manufacturing, retailing, and dealing directly with customers.
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. Rather than manufacture everything ourselves and naturally be restricted to our own products, we decided to retail carefully selected quality garden buildings from established manufacturers. That decision led to the formation of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
I still believe that independence matters because customers genuinely need different specifications. Someone wanting an attractive summer retreat does not necessarily need the same building as somebody planning a regularly used insulated garden office or studio. Our job is to explain those differences rather than automatically sell the highest specification.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I am there to support him and the team whenever required. You can read more about my background, Craig and the history of the business on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
What More Than 45 Years Has Taught Me About Summerhouses
The first lesson is that dimensions alone do not define a garden building. Two 20ft x 6ft summer houses can occupy virtually the same amount of garden while differing considerably in timber, framing, floors, roofs, doors, glazing, insulation and general construction.
The second lesson is to buy according to how you genuinely intend to use the building. There is no benefit in paying for features you will rarely need. Similarly, I would not choose a basic seasonal specification if I already knew the building would become a regularly used office, studio, or hobby room during colder weather.
Frequently Asked Questions About 20×6 Summerhouses
How big is a 20×6 summerhouse?
A nominal 20×6 summerhouse provides around 120 square feet of footprint, equivalent to approximately 11.1 square metres. Exact internal, external and required base dimensions vary between models, so always use the manufacturer’s precise measurements when preparing your site.
Is a 20ft x 6ft summer house a good size?
It can be an excellent choice where you want considerable usable wall length without a garden building projecting too deeply into the garden. Twenty feet gives you substantial room for seating, desks, workbenches and storage, while the six-foot depth means furniture needs slightly more careful planning.
Is a 6 x 20 summerhouse different from a 20 x 6 summerhouse?
Usually the two descriptions refer to the same nominal 120-square-foot footprint with the dimensions reversed. Manufacturers may describe frontage and depth differently, however, so always check the individual product plan and exact measurements before preparing the site.
What can I fit inside a 20ft by 6ft summer house?
The exact arrangement depends on the doors, windows and furniture, but a twenty-foot-long interior can accommodate seating, desks, shelving, cupboards, workbenches and hobby equipment. The length also makes it practical to create several different activity areas within the same room.
Can I get an insulated 20×6 summerhouse?
Yes. The Platinum Winchester models that accommodate this size offer full insulation as an option. If insulation is important, compare the complete wall, roof, floor, glazing, and internal lining specification, and consider suitable heating and ventilation.
Can I use a 20×6 summerhouse throughout the year?
That depends on its specification and how it is equipped. A suitably insulated building, combined with appropriate heating, glazing, and ventilation, can be considerably more comfortable during colder periods than a conventional seasonal summerhouse. Choose the specification based on how often and when you intend to use it.
Can I use a 20×6 summerhouse as a home office?
Yes. Twenty feet of length provides substantial room for desks, office storage and shelving and may allow more than one working zone. Because the building is relatively shallow, measure desks and chairs carefully and consider insulation, heating, ventilation, electricity and internet connectivity for regular use.
Can a 20×6 summerhouse be made bespoke?
Selected Platinum designs offer bespoke options which can include changes to dimensions, doors, windows and layout. If the standard arrangement is nearly right but a door or window interferes with your furniture plans, ask what can be changed before ordering.
Can a 20ft x 6ft summer house include storage?
Summerhouse and storage combination buildings are available within our wider range. A twenty-foot-long footprint can work particularly well when you want a leisure or working area alongside a separate storage section.
Does a 20×6 summerhouse need a proper base?
Yes. A firm, flat and level foundation suitable for the individual building is essential. This is particularly important with a twenty-foot-long structure. Do not assume that the required base should measure exactly twenty feet by six feet; confirm the manufacturer’s precise requirements before carrying out any work.
Do I need planning permission for a 20×6 summerhouse?
Many domestic summerhouses can fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on factors including the property, overall building height, position, proximity to boundaries, total garden coverage and intended use. The 20×6 footprint alone does not determine whether permission is required. Read our summerhouse planning permission guide and check with your local planning authority where appropriate.
Is fitting included with these 20×6 summer houses?
The applicable Platinum Winchester buildings include professional assembly, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable access and the correct prepared base. Always check the individual product information for the precise installation conditions applying to the building you choose.
My Advice Before Buying Your 20×6 Summerhouse
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, my advice is straightforward: decide how you genuinely intend to use the building, mark the 20ft x 6ft footprint out in your garden, measure your furniture, compare the actual construction and choose an insulation specification appropriate to your intended use. A 20×6 summerhouse can make excellent use of a long garden position, but its shallow depth makes good planning particularly important.
Craig, the team and I are here to explain the differences rather than automatically direct you towards the most expensive option. Please tell us how you intend to use your summerhouse, and we can help you compare the appropriate Winchester designs, insulation, bespoke layouts, bases and professional fitting.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
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