How to Choose the Right Shed Size

Picking a shed size is really about picking a walkway. Most people size the building to the pile of stuff they own today, then discover they cannot reach the back wall.

Start with the aisle, not the square footage

Lay out what you plan to store, then add a 30-inch walking lane down the middle and a 24-inch clear zone in front of the doors. That usually adds two to four feet to whatever number you first had in mind.

Common footprints and what they actually hold

An 8x10 holds a push mower, hand tools and seasonal bins. A 10x16 handles a riding mower plus a workbench. A 12x24 is where you start getting a real shop area alongside storage. Above 14x30, ask whether you actually want a garage.

Plan for the next five years

Kayaks, a second mower, a trailer. Going up one size at build time costs a fraction of what an addition costs later.

Check the rules before you fall in love with a number

Faulkner County and City of Conway setbacks, plus any POA cap on accessory building square footage, may set your maximum for you.

Related guides