A shed is an investment that gives you many benefits ranging from offering a cozy bit of privacy to providing extra storage. A shed costs from $200 to $30,000 to build. The final cost depends on the style, type, and material you want to use. The national average cost to build a shed is around $2,500.
Due to the high cost of house construction, many homeowners prefer to build a storage shed to store items that would otherwise take up space in the house. You can go for a garden shed, a backyard shed, or even get a custom shed to use as an office. The cost to build a shed has a wide price range, from the purchase of a small prefab shed kit to the cost of hiring a professional to install a custom model.
What Are The Factors That Affect The Cost Of Building A Shed?
From the information provided above, the cost of building a shed ranges from $200 to about $30,000. But it is also necessary to know the many factors that influence the typical range of prices. The average storage shed cost per square foot is around $15 to $150. The price of a shed will typically change based on the style, size, labor costs, shed kits purchased, and building materials. These are the factors to consider when calculating the cost of building a shed.
Size
Storage shed costs vary depending on the size, as it will cost more to build the larger it is. You can buy a small garden shed about 4 by 7 feet for $100 to $1,000. If you want a large shed, say 12 by 16 feet, you will need to budget around $3,000 to $15,000. When considering the size of the shed, you should pay attention to the height as much as you do to the floor space. Shed prices differ if it has a high or low roof. Based on the shed size, you can calculate the estimated cost using $17 to $24 per square foot of space.
Building Material
One of the main cost factors is the shed materials used to construct the shed. When calculating the total cost of storage sheds, you need to take note of all the materials used. For example, if you want a shed built from vinyl, you can spend as little as $200. Other building materials for sheds include wood, which costs around $3,000 to $15,000, and a metal shed costs about $500 to $7,000.
Labor Cost
Other factors affecting the total cost to build a shed include labour costs. The total project cost will depend on the price of labour, as contractors charge from $50 to $100 per hour.
To save money, you can turn it into a DIY project. As a DIY project, a shed costs about $2000 on average, and you won't have to pay a contractor or shed builders. A custom shed costs less than a professional one. But you need to have experience and provide the labour. You can purchase a prefab kit from your local home improvement store and install it yourself.
Fabrication Style
Before you draw up shed plans, you must know the style and purpose of the shed. If you want your own shed to serve as a storage space to alleviate clutter in your house, expect to pay about $300 to $15,000 based on whether it has some features like shelving. If you are going for a simple garden shed, then it might cost between $100 to $1,000.
Other styles of sheds include a she-shed costing $5,000 to $15,000 or an open-stall shed that costs around $1,500 to $10,000.
Permit
The building codes and ordinances are different in various communities, so you should check to see if you require a building permit to build a shed. If you need a permit, you can expect the final cost of your shed to increase by about $100 or more.
Foundation
Not all prefabricated shed manufacturers make concrete slab foundations a must. However, a significant number of large custom sheds will require one. Various municipalities require custom-built sheds and prefab sheds to have a concrete slab foundation. Ensure you are well informed about the rules in your area concerning construction projects. Needing shed foundation work will add to the final cost of your structure, which could range from $4,000 to $12,000.
Soil Structure
You need to be aware of the soil structure where you are planning on building your shed, as there are places where you cannot lay a concrete foundation, and you don't want to run the risk of a shed that collapses.
Intended Usage And Type
You need to know what you need a shed for. You will be wasting a lot of money if you go ahead and construct a large shed when all you need is some extra space to store some garden tools.
Do you want to build a shed for storing lawn equipment, furniture, bicycles, and other stuff? Then, it would be best if you increased the square footage and invested in a shed material that will not be damaged by water. If you want a she-shed, you should invest in electrical wiring, plumbing, and insulation.
You can choose from wood sheds, plastic sheds, brick sheds, garden sheds, and other sheds made from common shed materials. You should choose the one that best suits your needs.
Geographical Consideration
You need to consider the site where your shed is going to be built. Land preparation is essential as you don't want your building collapsing. You need to call a professional to grade the land if it is sloped or hilly. For many homeowners, paying this extra cost to ensure safety is no big deal. You will need to pay about $1 to $10 per square foot.
Fire Rating
In most cases, people choose to overlook the importance of getting a fireproof shed. You should know that accidents occur, and there is no harm in being prepared. It is advised that you go for a shed that is fire resistant to protect your furniture and equipment from damage.
Overall Durability
Depending on the type of shed you want and its purpose, say a garage shed, you will want to get a durable one to avoid problems in the future. You wouldn't want a situation where flooding or high winds affect your property.
Extra Beautification
You don't need to worry about whether your new shed will complement your house. You can turn your new simple shed or an existing shed into a beautiful focal point by adding a few things.
Flower Beds: You can plant these beauties along the edges of your shed to help it sync with the landscape. Flower beds can help cover any blemishes or cracks while giving your shed a stunning look. Depending on the bed size and the flowers planted, the installation could cost between $650 and $3,000.
Patio and Decking: You can also decide to install a patio or deck around your shed to make it an entertaining outdoor area and not just a workshop. Installing a few string lights and some chairs might be what you need to have a cozy outdoor area. You will spend about $8 to $20 per square foot to install a patio. Constructing a deck costs between $22 and $48 per square foot.
Outdoor lighting: You shouldn't have to worry about walking around your shed at night, so you can have some outdoor lights installed to create a safe environment. The average price for outdoor lighting is about $188 to $325.
Other Additional Costs
These are some extra costs you can incur if you want to add more features to your shed.
Electrical Installation: If you need some wiring done in your shed, you need to call an electrician. This will cost around $44 to $100 per hour of work.
Land Clearing: Odds are you will need to clear and grade the land before your shed is constructed. While several factors influence the cost, most homeowners should expect to pay between $1 and $10 per square foot.
Insulation: The cost of insulation greatly depends on the type of shed you have.
Plumbing: Plumbers typically charge you about $45 to $150 per hour.
What Are The Different Types Of Materials You Can Use To Build A Shed?
There are different shed building materials to choose from when you opt to build one. Each influences how much the shed costs.
Brick
Brick is one of the most expensive materials when it comes to building. If you want a property that will last for a long time, you should install a brick shed. Most sheds that are built with brick are fire-resistant, low maintenance, long lasting, and highly sustainable. You need to go for a professional builder that is well-experienced in laying bricks as it is not like the other common materials, metal, vinyl, and wood.
As expected of a building with amazing features, a brick shed can be expensive to build and can cost up to $30,000.
Wood
Building a wood-framed shed can bring a natural, warm aesthetic to your backyard. Wood costs less than brick and gives you more customization options as you can easily design it as you want. Your colour options are also not limited, as you can paint your wooden shed any colour.
It is also important to note that wood has some drawbacks. For one, it is a high-maintenance material, as it is prone to moisture, rot, and insect activity. The average wooden shed cost is about $6,000.
Metal
Metal sheds are great options because they don't require much attention to maintain and typically have a longer life than wood sheds. Whether you should get a metal shed depends on where you are living. This is because metal sheds don't have as much stability as other materials. So, it might be a bad idea to go for a metal shed if you live in an area with high chances of snow or heavy winds. You can get a metal shed for around $4,500.
Concrete
Concrete sheds are not very popular, but they certainly have their perks. They are very secure, stable, and durable. These types of sheds provide you with low maintenance and a long-lasting solution to any storage problem.
A custom-built shed made from concrete is labour-intensive and has a high cost, which is why some people might choose to not take this route. The average concrete shed cost is about $15,000.
Vinyl
If you want an alternative to wood, vinyl should be your pick. It is one of those raw materials that are low maintenance. However, it does not have the natural aesthetic of wood. It can replicate the texture of wood and avoids its drawbacks like moisture damage, insects, and rot. The cost to build a vinyl shed is about $2,000.
How Much Does It Cost To Build The Different Types Of Sheds?
Just as different materials can be used to build a shed, there are also various types of sheds you can build. You can call a pro for installation or use a prefabricated shed kit.
Storage Shed
Most homeowners don't have enough space to store items like bikes or sports equipment because of the high price per square foot of home construction projects. A storage shed is designed for storing and organizing your items and often features multiple wall shelves.
It is sometimes referred to as a garage shed and has enough room to accommodate your supplies and tools or even serve as a workshop. The cost to build ranges from $300 to $15,000.
Playhouse Shed
You can utilize a shed as a child's playhouse. However, you will need to consider some things when building a custom playhouse, for example, removing the doors for additional safety. The playhouse doesn't have to be big, as the typical size is 5-foot by 5-foot.
Since it is an outdoor play structure, the playhouse requires minor finishes and fewer materials to build. You can build a simple playhouse shed for $1,000 to $1,500.
House Office Shed
A home office shed is a custom building designed to be used as an office. It is more like a she-shed but with a more professional finish to make it seem like a workspace. You should budget around $4,000 to $10,000 if you want a home office shed.
She Shed/Man Cave
A she-shed or a man cave is a shed that has been gaining popularity among many people. They are similar to storage sheds but have a few tweaks, like extra windows or doors. Drywall or panelling is often used for interior finishing, making it perfect as a home office or a relaxation area. You should budget about $5,000 to $15,000 if you want to construct a she-shed.
Modern Shed
Modern sheds offer you more control over design and style as they are made to fit a specific aesthetic. If you want a modern shed built, you will spend more than buying a prefab shed kit or building a plain shed or the typical DIY shed cost. A modern shed will cost around $25 per square foot to build.
Garden Shed
Garden sheds are small sheds that are not as expensive as the other types of sheds available. Because of their small size, they often resemble a standing wardrobe featuring cabinet doors that conceal multiple shelves.
These sheds can be attached to the side or back of a garage for extra stability. You will pay between $100 to $1,000 if you wish to acquire a garden shed.
What's The Cheapest Way To Build A Shed?
The cheapest way to build your shed is to employ DIY building tactics. Cut down on material costs by sourcing cost-effective ones, using a strong foundation such as concrete blocks, and simplifying the roof framing.
Is It Cheaper To Buy Or Build Your Own Shed?
It is generally cheaper to build your own structure than to buy a shed or have it constructed by a professional. This is because there are additional costs to pay when you buy a shed, like delivery and labour costs.
How To Find A Reliable Shed Builder?
If you are looking to pick a general contractor for your project, these are the factors to consider.
Be sure they understand the project and will help you achieve your goals.
Ensure that they will deliver on time as your deadline should not be negotiable.
Find a shed builder with an honest reputation and check their completed projects to assess their work quality.
There should be open communication between you and the contractor.
At Urban Sheds, you can find a team of experienced craftsmen who are ready to take up any project you have and execute it perfectly.
Conclusion
So, if you want to build a shed, you should have enough information from this shed cost guide to answer the question - How much to build a shed? - and choose the best shed for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a shed?
Let's say a 10-foot by 10-foot shed kit needs to be assembled. It would take two experienced workers about eight hours to complete the task. If you need a custom shed built to your taste, it might take about two weeks to complete the project.
Is building a shed hard?
No. It is not difficult to build a shed, but you need to have some experience to avoid running into problems.
How much does it cost to build a shed per square foot?
The average cost of building a shed per square foot is around $17 to $24 per square foot.
How much does it cost to build a 10x12 shed?
If you are looking to assemble a 10-foot by 12-foot shed, you will spend about $6,000 on average.
How much does it cost to build a 12x12 shed?
The average 12 by 12 shed cost is around $8,000 based on various factors like materials and type.