If you are considering building your own shed from scratch, you have probably asked yourself the question: “How much will building my own shed cost?” Further, you have probably wondered if building your own shed is more economical than simply buying a pre-made shed. If you are looking for the answer to either of these questions, keep reading!
The average cost to build a shed is approximately $5,000 with most homeowners spending between $1,500 and $10,000. Small, simple sheds can be built for under $500 while upscale sheds with plumbing and electrical can cost nearly $35,000. Factors such as shed size, materials used, finishes, etc. can greatly impact the overall shed building cost. The key to accurately estimating the cost to build a shed comes from a comprehensive plan of the shed’s size and materials that will be used for constructing the shed.
The Cost to Build a Shed can be broken down into the following categories:
- Shed Foundation Cost
- Lumber Cost
- Shed Siding Cost (T1-11 or LP SmartSide)
- Window and Door Cost
- Shed Roof System Cost
- Trim Boards
- Paint, Caulk, etc.
- Hardware (Nails, Screws, etc.)
- Tools
- Misc. Costs (Deliveries, Shed Ramp, Lighting, etc.)
This article will give you a complete cost breakdown for all of the shed construction costs listed above. By the end of this article, you will know exactly how much it will cost to build your own shed and be able to decide if building a shed is more economical than buying a pre-made shed.
Shed Foundation Cost
The shed foundation cost can sometimes be the most expensive part of the shed building process. The cost to build a shed foundation will depend on a few factors, but is mostly dictated by the type of shed foundation you select. Concrete slab and gravel shed base foundations are typically the most common and durable. Let’s take a closer look at both of these shed foundation options.
Concrete Shed Foundation
A concrete shed foundation is constructed using concrete “forms” to form the overall footprint of the shed. Next, stone backfill is placed within the forms and then concrete is poured (typically 4″ thick) within the forms. Rebar or steel wire mesh is typically used to reinforce the concrete slab. Refer to the typical concrete slab detail below.
If you mix your own concrete using bags, you can save a bit of money on the shed foundation cost. It is often easier to have the concrete delivered via a concrete truck, but this will typically introduce additional cost.
Depending on the size of your Shed, plan to budget anywhere from $500 to $2,500 for a concrete shed foundation.
Gravel shed foundation
A gravel shed foundation is constructed using a lumber frame (typically 4″x4″ or 6″x6″ pressure treated lumber) that is then filled with gravel. This type of foundation is typically less expensive than a concrete slab foundation. Plan to budget around $300-$1000 for a gravel shed foundation.
Although there are a few other shed foundation options (concrete blocks, etc.) they are typically not as durable as a concrete or gravel shed base foundation.
For more information on Shed Foundation Options, Check out the Video Below:
Below is a summary of the Shed Foundation Costs:
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
Lumber Cost
Framing lumber is also one of the larger costs associated with building your own shed. Framing lumber typically consists of the following components:
- Shed Base Floor Joists
- Plywood Subfloor
- Wall Studs, Top Plate(s), Bottom Plate(s)
- Plywood Wall Sheathing
- Window and Door Headers
- Roof Rafters
- Plywood Roof Decking
Obviously, the size of your shed will heavily impact how much money is spent on lumber. The more wall studs, roof rafter, sheathing, etc. you have, the more expensive your shed lumber package will be.
For example purposes, the lumber costs for the 10’x10′ lean-to shed (pictured below) that I built cost approximately $2,700:
For small sheds, plan to spend around $500 for framing lumber. Budget around $4,000 for the lumber needed to build a larger shed. Shed Lumber costs are summarized in the Table below
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
For more information on the lumber required to build a shed, check out the shed framing video below. This video will help you determine the lumber components you will need to budget for.
Shed Siding Cost
Typically, T1-11 or LP SmartSide Panels are the most common shed siding options. Both T1-11 or LP SmartSide Panels come in 4’x8′ panels and are installed similar to plywood sheathing. Let’s take a closer look at each of these shed siding options.
What is T1-11 Siding?
T1-11 Siding is a pine plywood material that is typically used for exterior siding applications such as sheds, dog houses, chicken coops, etc. T1-11 is weather resistant and resists impact marks and denting. Additionally, T1-11 siding can be painted or stained to suit the look you are going for. Although T1-11 Siding does not offer a manufacturer’s warranty, it is still commonly viewed as a durable exterior siding option.
What is LP SmartSide Siding?
LP SmartSide Siding is a 4’x8′ pressure treated engineered wood panel that is commonly used for exterior siding applications. LP Smartside comes pre-primed with excellent pain adhesion and is manufactured with “overlap” and “underlap” edges for a seamless installation. This product comes with a 50 year manufacturer’s warranty and is strong enough to be nailed directly to to wall studs – eliminating the need for additional sheathing in many applications.
Although T1-11 and LP SmartSide Siding are similar in nature, there are a few differences. A comparison between T1-11 and LP SmartSide Paneling is listed in the following table.
T1-11 vs LP SmartSide Siding Comparison Table
| T1-11 Siding | LP SmartSide | |
| Panel Size | 4’x8′ | 4’x8′ |
| Panel Material | Weather Resistant Pine | Treated Engineered Wood |
| Approx. Cost per Panel (2022) | $39.72 | $42.98 |
| Warranty | None | 50 year |
| Paintable | Yes | Yes |
Although LP SmartSide Siding is slightly more expensive than T1-11 Siding, the warranty and additional pressure treatment give it a slight leg-up over T1-11.
To determine the shed siding cost for your specific shed, simply multiply $42.98 by the number of siding panels you will need for your shed.
For my 10’x10′ shed, I needed 8 LP SmartSide Panels, for a total cost of approximately $350. Below is a summary of the shed siding costs you will want to budget for:
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
For more information on T1-11 or LP SmartSiding, check out my blog article linked here or my “How to install Shed Siding Youtube Video”.
Window and Door Cost
The windows and door costs associated with your shed depend heavily on the style and type of doors/windows you select. For my 10’x10′ modern shed, I purchased a 6′ wide x 7′ tall steel roll up door that cost approximately $500. The delivery fee for the door was approximately $200.
In terms of windows, I purchased two small windows from Amazon that were approximately $50 each. I also purchased an acrylic panels for the windows on the front of the Shed which cost me around $40.
Obviously, if you have a larger shed that needs numerous windows, your costs will go up. I would plan to budget the following for the windows and doors:
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Windows and Doors | $400 | $800 | $2,500 |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
For more information on how to install shed window, check out my blog article linked here or my Youtube video.
Shed Roof System Cost
The cost for your shed roof system will depend on two factors:
- The Size (square footage of the shed roof)
- The Style of Shed Roof (Shingles, Metal, Tin, etc.)
Although metal roofing systems for sheds are becoming more common, asphalt shingles are still the most common shed roof system. Based on my experience, both metal and asphalt shingle roofs are similar in cost per square foot.
To determine the cost for a shingle shed roof, you first need to determine the overall square footage of your shed roof. Next, determine how much tar paper (underlayment), shingles, and drip edge you will need to cover your roof.
For a 100SF shed roof, you will typically need one roll of tar paper underlayment (one roll typically covers 500SF), four bundles of shingles (each bundle of shingles typically covers 33.33SF) and, enough drip edge to cover the total perimeter of your shed roof (which is approx. 40 linear feet for a 10’x10′ shed). Drip edge typically comes in 8′ segments, which will require 5 pieces of drip edge. Below are some typical costs associated with the shed roof components discussed:
| Roof Material | Approximate Cost per Unit | Typical Coverage |
| Tar Paper | $50 | 500 Square Feet |
| Shingles | $40 | 33.33 Square Feet |
| Drip Edge | $10 | 8 Linear Feet |
You will also likely need some asphaltic roofing mastic for your installation as well – which typically costs around $12. Overall, for a 10’x10′ shed roof, plan to spend around $400 for a shed shingle roof. If you have a larger shed roof, simply use the values listed above to determine how much material you will need for your specific shed roof.
Tools (and the associated costs) needed to install a shed roof are discussed later on in this article. Below is a table showing the typical shed roof material costs.
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Shed Roof | $350 | $500 | $1000 |
| Windows and Doors | $400 | $800 | $2,500 |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
If you want more information on how to install a shed roof or to get an idea of exactly what tools and materials you will need to budget for, check out my “How to Install Asphalt Shingles on a Shed Roof Blog” or watch my shed roof installation video below:
Trim Board Cost
When building your own shed, you will likely be surprised by how much trim board is needed. If you go with a high quality trim board material (such as PVC), you will also likely be surprised at how the trim board costs can add up.
For most sheds, you will need trim boards for the following:
- Outside corners of the shed
- Trim along the base of the shed
- Window Trim
- Door Trim
- Fascia Boards (not shown in image below)
Below is a image showing the typical installation locations for trim on most sheds. Trim boards are shown in black:
To determine the total cost for your shed trim boards, simply add up the total linear footage you will need. For my 10’x10′ shed, I needed approximately 150 linear feet of trim. With PVC trim costing approximately $25 for an 3.5″x8′ piece, I needed around 19 pieces of 8′ trim. This equates to a total trim cost of approximately $475. If you use a cheaper trim board material option (such as pressure treated lumber), you can likely save a bit of money. Below is a summary of approximate shed trim costs:
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Shed Trim | $250 | $500 | $850 |
| Shed Roof | $350 | $500 | $1000 |
| Windows and Doors | $400 | $800 | $2,500 |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
Paint, Caulk, Etc.
In addition to aesthetics, paint and caulk also perform an important waterproofing and protection function for sheds. As a result, you will definitely want to budget for paint and caulk when planning your shed project.
For most sheds, you will want a high quality exterior (100% acrylic paint). Further, one gallon of paint typically costs around $40 and has a coverage of 400SF. Therefore, simply determine the total square footage of your shed that requires painting and then divide by 400SF. Then multiply the result by the cost per gallon of paint.
For my 10’x10′ shed I applied two coats of paint and needed two gallons of paint to accomplish this – which came out to around $80. I applied the paint using a Graco Paint Sprayer, as shown in the photo above.
You will also typically need a few tubes of caulk to seal all of the gaps between shed trim and around doors and window. Plan to spend around $20 on caulk.
Overall, I would budget around $100 for paint and caulk. Costs for shed paint and caulk are summarized below:
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Paint, Caulk, etc. | $50 | $100 | $300 |
| Shed Trim | $250 | $500 | $850 |
| Shed Roof | $350 | $500 | $1000 |
| Windows and Doors | $400 | $800 | $2,500 |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
Hardware (Nails, Screws, etc.)
The costs for nails, screws, rafter ties, etc. can add up quickly. As a result, you definitely want to consider these costs when budgeting for your shed. At a minimum, you will need exterior rated screws, framing nails, roofing nails and rafter ties to secure the rafters to the top of the shed walls. Overall, I would plan to budget around $150 for hardware.
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Hardware (Nails, Screws, etc.) | $30 | $100 | $300 |
| Paint, Caulk, etc. | $50 | $100 | $300 |
| Shed Trim | $250 | $500 | $850 |
| Shed Roof | $350 | $500 | $1000 |
| Windows and Doors | $400 | $800 | $2,500 |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
Tools
Although you theoretically could build a shed with a hammer, drill, and a paint brush, I HIGHLY recommend that you consider purchasing or renting a few key tools. Some of the tools you will need to make the shed building process as possible are listed below:
- Framing Nailer (Used to frame wall, etc.)
- Roofing Nailer
- Air Compressor (For framing and roofing nailer)
- Miter Saw or Circular Saw
- Jig Saw
- Bar Clamps
You will also need some other basic tools (hammer, drill, etc.), but it is assumed that most of these basic tools are already owned by the average homeowner.
If you are new to building and do not plan on using a lot of the tools listed above in the future, I recommend that you rent these tools from your local big box store.
Below is a rough estimate of what it will cost to rent the tools above in comparison to what it would cost if you bought all of the tools above:
| Tool Acquisition Method | Estimated Cost for Tools Listed Above |
| Rent | $250 |
| Purchase | $550 |
Obviously, the cost for tools will be different for everyone based on the tools already owned. Spend some time thinking about the tools you will need to complete your shed and budget accordingly.
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Tool Cost | $0 | $250 | $750 |
| Hardware (Nails, Screws, etc.) | $30 | $100 | $300 |
| Paint, Caulk, etc. | $50 | $100 | $300 |
| Shed Trim | $250 | $500 | $850 |
| Shed Roof | $350 | $500 | $1000 |
| Windows and Doors | $400 | $800 | $2,500 |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
Misc. Costs (Deliveries, Shed Ramp, Lighting, etc.)
As with most projects, there are miscellaneous costs that you may encounter when building your shed shed. If your goal is to build a small, basic shed, you will likely not encounter additional miscellaneous costs. However, if you want a high end shed with many features (e.g. shed lights, shed ramp, etc.), there will obviously be additional costs. Examples of Miscellaneous features that can add cost to your shed are listed below:
Although these features can take your shed to the “next level”, they do cost money. Since all of this features are optional and not necessary, they are not included in the total shed cost table. If you plan to include any of the “bonus” shed features listed above, I recommend that you check out my blog articles and YouTube videos linked at the end of this article.
Total Cost to Build A Shed
Below is a summary of the Low End, Average, and High End costs associate with building a shed based on all of the information provided in the previous sections:
| COST | LOW END | AVERAGE | HIGH END |
| Tool Cost | $0 | $250 | $750 |
| Hardware (Nails, Screws, etc.) | $30 | $100 | $300 |
| Paint, Caulk, etc. | $50 | $100 | $300 |
| Shed Trim | $250 | $500 | $850 |
| Shed Roof | $350 | $500 | $1000 |
| Windows and Doors | $400 | $800 | $2,500 |
| Shed Siding | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Lumber Cost | $500 | $2,250 | $4,000 |
| Shed Foundation | $300 | $1,075 | $2,500 |
| TOTAL COST (Approximate) | $2,080 | $6,075 | 13,200 |
Based on the Table above, I would plan to budget approximately $2,080 for a small, low end shed, $6,075 for an Average shed, and approximately $13,200 for a high end shed.
Keep in mind that the costs listed above are an estimate only. Additionally, the costs above do not account for “bonus” features such as a shed ramp, epoxy, floor electricity, etc.
Cost to Build VS Cost to Buy a Pre-Made Shed
Now that you know the approximate costs associated with building you own shed, you might be asking yourself the following question:
“Is building a shed cheaper than simply purchasing a pre-made shed?”
Well, the answer to this question depends on quite a few factors.
In general, you can purchase a basic, pre-made shed from a local big box store for less than $2,000 dollars. The image below shows a screenshot of some of the basic shed options you can buy from a local big box store.
In my opinion, however, these sheds are typically made of low quality materials (2″x3″ lumber, OSB, etc.) and are not as well made as a shed you can build on your own.
On the High End side of pre-made sheds, you can spend upwards of $25,000. See image below for a pre-made shed option that is similar to the shed I built
Overall, purchasing a pre-made shed and building your own shed are typically pretty similar in cost. Below is a summary of some of the Pros and Cons of building vs buying a shed:
PROS OF BUILDING YOUR OWN SHED
- Customization – you can build a shed that fits your exact needs
- Construction Materials – you can use high quality materials to build your shed
- Satisfaction – building your own shed is highly satisfying
CONS OF BUILDING YOUR OWN SHED
- Time – Planning and Building your Own Shed Takes a Lot of Time and Energy
- Tool Costs – You Will Likely Need to Purchase or Rent Tools to Build You Own Shed
At the end of the day, the decision to build VS buy a shed is a personal decision. Although building a shed from scratch allows for customization and the satisfaction of building something with your own hands, it also takes a lot of planning and time. Overall, the decision is yours.
If you want to build a 10’x10′ modern shed similar to mine (shown below), check out my “How to Build a Modern Shed” Course which will show you how to perform every single step of the shed building process.
Thanks so much for checking out ATImprovements! If you learned something from this project, you might also like these other DIY Projects:
- How to Apply Epoxy to a Shed Subfloor: https://atimprovements.com/epoxy-on-wood-floor/
- How to Add Electricity to a Shed: https://atimprovements.com/how-to-run-electricity-to-a-shed/
- How to Build a Concrete Slab Shed Foundation: https://atimprovements.com/how-to-build-a-shed-base-concrete-slab-step-by-step-diy-guide/
- How to Frame a 10’x10′ Shed Base: https://atimprovements.com/how-to-build-a-shed-floor-base-diy-step-by-step-guide/
- How to Frame Shed Walls:https://atimprovements.com/how-to-frame-a-shed-how-to-frame-walls-for-a-10×10-modern-shed-step-by-step-with-pictures/
- How in Install a Shed Window: https://atimprovements.com/shed-window-installation-how-to-install-a-window-in-a-shed-diy/
- How to Install a Roll Up Door in a Shed or Garage:https://atimprovements.com/roll-up-door-installation/
Thanks!
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