12×7 Summer Houses at a Glance
Size: 12ft x 7ft (approx. 3.6m x 2.1m) · Construction: Quality redwood deal timber · Glazing: Toughened glass as standard · Floors & roofs: Solid timber construction · Roof styles: Apex and pent designs available.
Uses: Garden retreat, home office, hobby room, art studio or extra storage · Installation: Free professional installation on Diamond and Platinum buildings · Insulation: Lining and insulation options for year-round use · Paint finishes: Colour finish options available · Bases: Base building service available · Customisation: Bespoke sizes, door positions, window layouts and other design changes available.
See before you buy: View full-size summer houses at our Surrey show site near Guildford, Woking and Ripley, with more than 60 garden buildings on display.
Need advice? Our experienced team can help with your 12×7 summer house specification, insulation, base requirements, installation and bespoke design options before you order.
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Choosing the Right 12×7 Summerhouse
A 12×7 summerhouse has a nominal footprint of around 84 square feet, or approximately 7.8 square metres. I think this is a particularly useful rectangular size because the twelve-foot length provides plenty of usable wall space while the seven-foot depth gives you more flexibility for furniture than a narrower 12×6 building. It can provide a comfortable garden room without taking up the area required by some larger summerhouses.
Before ordering, I recommend marking out the full 12ft by 7ft footprint in your garden. This lets you see how much lawn and surrounding space will remain and helps you decide where the doors and windows should face. Remember that 12×7 is a nominal size, so always check the precise dimensions, roof overhangs, access requirements and required base dimensions for the particular model you choose.
What Can You Use a 12ft x 7ft Summer House For?
A 12ft x 7ft summer house is large enough for several different uses without necessarily dominating an average garden. You might create a comfortable seating area, hobby room, craft space, art studio or home office. Its rectangular proportions also make it possible to create informal zones, perhaps with a sofa and chairs at one end and a desk or hobby table at the other.
The extra foot of depth compared with a 12×6 building may not sound significant on paper, but it can make furniture positioning noticeably easier. If you already own the furniture you want to use, measure it and sketch the approximate arrangement before ordering your summerhouse.
Is a 7 x 12 Summerhouse the Same Size?
A 7 x 12 summerhouse will normally describe the same nominal 84-square-foot footprint as a 12 x 7 summerhouse, with the dimensions simply written in the opposite order. However, different manufacturers can describe frontage and depth differently, so never rely on the category name alone when preparing your site. Check the individual product drawing and exact measurements to establish which side is 12ft and which is 7ft.
The 12×7 Summer Houses Available on This Page
The current 12×7 range gives you Diamond and Platinum summerhouses to compare. Our Diamond choices concentrate on traditional summerhouse use, attractive designs, colour options and bespoke flexibility. The Platinum choices provide a higher specification and are particularly worth considering if insulation or greater design flexibility is important to you.
I do not believe everyone should automatically buy the highest specification available. Someone wanting an attractive summerhouse for relaxing on pleasant days has different requirements from somebody planning to work inside for several hours during autumn and winter. Start with how you intend to use the building and then choose the specification that meets that requirement.
If you are not certain that 12ft x 7ft is the ideal footprint, compare our complete summer houses range or browse our summer houses by size.
Diamond or Platinum 12×7 Summerhouse?
I would normally start with the Diamond range if your priority is an attractive, well-made timber summerhouse for relaxing, hobbies and conventional leisure use. These buildings provide excellent flexibility, with options varying by model for paint finishes, doors, windows and bespoke alterations.
I would look particularly closely at the Platinum range when you want a higher specification or insulation. The Platinum 12×7 buildings currently shown include the Winchester Apex, Winchester Pent and Winchester Transverse, which offer full insulation as an option. That can make them particularly useful for home working, hobbies or extended seasonal use.
The correct choice is therefore not automatically Diamond or Platinum. It is the building whose construction and available options best suit what you intend to do inside it.
Can a 12ft by 7ft Summer House Be Insulated?
Yes. Insulation is available on selected 12ft by 7ft summer houses, particularly within our Platinum range. If you mainly want somewhere pleasant to sit during spring and summer, you may decide that conventional construction gives you everything you need. If you plan to work, paint, craft or pursue hobbies inside during colder weather, insulation becomes much more worthwhile.
Insulation does not generate heat; it reduces the rate at which heat passes through the building. Heating, glazing, ventilation and the overall construction also affect comfort. If extended-season or year-round use is one of your main priorities, compare our wider selection of insulated summer houses.
Can You Use a 12×7 Summerhouse as a Garden Office?
Yes. A 12×7 summerhouse can make a very practical garden office. The twelve-foot length gives you room for a good-sized desk, shelving or cupboards while the seven-foot depth allows more space behind an office chair than narrower garden buildings. Depending on the door and window positions, you may also have room for an occasional chair or small meeting area.
If the building will only be used occasionally on mild days, a conventional summerhouse might be sufficient. If you expect to work there regularly throughout the year, I would consider insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, electrical requirements and internet connectivity alongside the basic floor size.
Why I Look Beyond the Photograph
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, I know that two summerhouses can look remarkably similar on a computer screen while being very different when you inspect their construction. That is why I look first at the materials and specification rather than decorative accessories or clever photography.
Timber quality is important, but I also look at the framing supporting the cladding, the floor and roof construction, the doors, window joinery and glazing. You should compare the complete specification because no single measurement tells you whether one summerhouse represents better value than another.
Redwood Timber, Floors, Roofs and Toughened Glass
The main summerhouse ranges we offer use quality redwood timber, with solid timber floors and roofs and toughened glass. These are the sorts of basic construction details I believe customers should understand before comparing headline prices.
I would never judge a building solely by the thickness of its cladding. Good cladding needs suitable framing behind it, just as good doors need proper joinery and a solid floor needs adequate support beneath it. The whole structure works together, which is why seeing representative buildings in person can be so useful.
Can a 12 x 7 Summerhouse Be Made Bespoke?
Yes. Selected Diamond and Platinum summerhouses offer considerable bespoke flexibility. Depending on the individual model, changes can include different dimensions, repositioned doors and windows, extra or fewer windows and alterations to the overall layout.
Bespoke design can be particularly useful with a 12 x 7 summerhouse because door and window positions determine how much uninterrupted wall space you retain for furniture. If you already know where you want to position a sofa, desk, cupboards or workbench, tell us before ordering and we can discuss the available design options.
Can You Add Storage to a 12ft x 7ft Summer House?
Selected designs can incorporate an additional storage area or separate room. This can be a useful way to combine somewhere to relax or work with practical space for garden tools, furniture, bicycles or hobby equipment without having to find another position for a separate shed.
The amount of space available for each use depends on the design and the proportions you require. If integrated storage is important, take a look at our summer houses with shed storage or contact us to discuss what may be possible with your preferred building.
Your Summerhouse Is Only as Good as Its Base
One piece of advice I have repeated throughout my working life is that a good garden building needs a good base. A 12×7 summerhouse should stand on a firm, flat and level foundation designed for the particular building. If the base is not level, the structure can sit incorrectly and doors and windows may not operate as they should.
Do not prepare a foundation simply by measuring out twelve feet by seven feet. Always obtain the exact manufacturer’s required base dimensions first. Our summer house base guide explains the main foundation options and the points you should consider before installation.
Professional Fitting Included
Professional installation or assembly is included with the applicable Diamond and Platinum 12×7 summerhouses currently shown, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable access and a correctly prepared base. I regard this as an important part of the package because the installers are familiar with the building and the correct assembly sequence.
You will still need to provide the required level base and suitable access to the installation position. If you have a narrow passage, steps, walls, restricted access or uncertainty about your base, please contact us before ordering so these practical details can be discussed.
See a Summer House Before You Buy
The internet has made researching summerhouses much easier than when I started in 1979, but photographs still have limitations. You cannot feel how solid a floor is, open and close the doors, inspect the joinery or properly understand the internal space until you stand inside a representative building.
That is why I continue to recommend visiting our Surrey garden building display site near Guildford, Woking and Ripley if you can. We cannot display every model in every size, but seeing representative summerhouses gives you the opportunity to compare construction, layouts and specifications before deciding what is right for you.
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 first garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. I was involved hands-on with manufacturing, selling and delivering timber buildings, and that practical experience continues to influence the way I assess garden buildings today.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money I was due from the sale. It was a difficult lesson in business, but my involvement with garden buildings continued.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
By 1992 we were offering much more than sheds. We added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins, and that broader direction resulted in the name Titan Garden Buildings. My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990, bringing his own practical knowledge of woodworking and timber construction into the business.
Craig’s carpentry training and my experience of manufacturing, selling and dealing with customers gave us a useful combination. It reinforced our belief that customers should understand what is actually underneath the attractive exterior of a timber building rather than making a decision solely from a photograph.
Why We Formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998. In 2000 Craig and I decided that rather than manufacturing and being restricted to our own products, we wanted to retail quality buildings from selected manufacturers. That decision led to the formation of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
Being independent gives us the opportunity to offer different specifications rather than trying to make one range suitable for everybody. Someone looking for a conventional 12×7 summerhouse for relaxing has different requirements from somebody wanting an insulated building for regular home working, and I believe customers benefit from being able to compare those alternatives.
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 our history and how we approach garden buildings on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
What More Than 45 Years Has Taught Me
My first piece of advice is to decide what you want your summerhouse to do before deciding which specification to buy. There is little point paying for features you will never use, but buying too basic a building and expecting it to perform as a regularly used garden office can also prove disappointing.
Second, look at the complete construction. Timber, framing, floors, roofs, doors, glazing and insulation all matter. Third, prepare the correct base. Finally, see representative buildings in person whenever possible. Those simple steps will tell you far more than choosing solely by price or photographs.
Frequently Asked Questions About 12×7 Summerhouses
How big is a 12×7 summerhouse?
A nominal 12×7 summerhouse provides approximately 84 square feet of floor footprint, equivalent to roughly 7.8 square metres. Exact external and internal dimensions vary between models, so check the detailed measurements of the particular building before preparing your site or ordering furniture.
Is a 12ft x 7ft summer house a good size?
For many gardens, yes. The twelve-foot length provides useful wall space while the seven-foot depth is large enough for comfortable furniture without requiring the footprint of a much deeper building. It can work particularly well for relaxing, hobbies or a compact garden office.
Is a 7 x 12 summerhouse different from a 12 x 7 summerhouse?
Usually the terms describe the same nominal footprint with the measurements reversed. However, always check the manufacturer’s plans because frontage and depth can be described differently and the precise measurements may vary slightly between models.
What can I fit inside a 12ft by 7ft summer house?
The exact layout depends on the doors, windows and furniture, but the proportions can accommodate substantial seating, a desk, hobby equipment, shelving or storage. You can also divide the room informally into different areas, such as seating at one end and a working or hobby area at the other.
Can I get an insulated 12×7 summerhouse?
Yes. Full insulation is available as an option on selected Platinum 12×7 summerhouses. If insulation is important, compare the complete wall, roof, floor and glazing specification and consider how the building will be heated and ventilated as well.
Can I use a 12×7 summerhouse all year?
A conventional timber summerhouse is primarily suited to seasonal leisure use, although its useful period can be extended. If you want regular use throughout colder months, I recommend considering a suitably insulated specification together with appropriate glazing, heating and ventilation.
Can a 12×7 summerhouse be made bespoke?
Selected Diamond and Platinum buildings can be customised. Depending on the model, options may include changes to dimensions, doors, windows, height and layout. Tell us what you need the building to do and we can explain which alterations are possible.
Can my 12ft x 7ft summer house include storage?
Selected buildings can incorporate a storage area or separate room. This can be particularly useful if you want one structure to provide both leisure space and somewhere for garden equipment instead of installing a separate shed.
Does a 12×7 summerhouse need a base?
Yes. It needs a suitable firm, flat and level base. Do not assume that a base measuring exactly 12ft x 7ft will be correct; use the precise foundation dimensions specified for the individual building.
Do I need planning permission for a 12×7 summerhouse?
Many garden summerhouses can fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on the individual property, building height, position, proximity to boundaries, overall garden coverage and intended use. A 12×7 footprint alone does not determine whether permission is required. Read our summerhouse planning permission guide and check with your local planning authority when necessary.
Is fitting included with these 12×7 summer houses?
Professional installation or assembly is included with the applicable Diamond and Platinum buildings currently shown, subject to the product, delivery area, site access and the correct prepared base. Always check the individual product details for the precise terms applying to your chosen model.
My Advice Before Buying Your 12×7 Summerhouse
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, my advice remains straightforward: decide how you will use the building, mark the 12ft x 7ft footprint out in your garden, plan the furniture and door positions, compare the actual construction and make sure the correct base is ready. A 12×7 summerhouse is a very useful size, but the right specification depends on what you expect it to do for you.
Craig, the team and I are here to explain the differences rather than automatically direct you towards the most expensive building. Tell us how you intend to use your summerhouse and we can help you compare the Diamond and Platinum choices, insulation, bespoke design, integrated storage, bases and installation.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
From £3928
