Storing your outside essentials: the best garden sheds

Find the perfect garden shed for your outdoor space.

The best garden shed

by Ellen Kinsey |
Updated on

If you are on the lookout for the best garden shed to keep your space looking pristine, we have got you covered. Sheds are garden storage essential, that's why, at Modern Gardens, we've curated the ultimate guide to the best garden sheds on the market.

Sheds and garden storage boxes are great for storing just about anything, from seasonal furniture and accessories like BBQs and sun loungers, to, of course, all your gardening tools. The best sheds will keep all your outdoor accessories protected and safe all year round from the weather and any little animals that may venture into your garden during the night.

Best garden sheds at a glance:

• Best small plastic shed: Keter Manor Outdoor Plastic Garden Storage Shed - View on Amazon UK
Best premium wooden shed: Pinelap Wooden Garden Shed - View on Amazon UK
• Best value wooden shed: Mercia Wooden Overlap Garden Shed - View now on Argos

So whether you are looking to build a tool shed or storage unit - we have picked a range of sheds in different sizes and materials to fit your needs.

We want to make finding the right shed for you as simple as possible, so on top of our online best buys, we’re giving you some pro tips on ensuring your shed suits your needs, as well as some great shed interior ideas you can find below.

Best garden sheds

Best small plastic shed

Keter Manor Outdoor Plastic Garden Storage Shed
Price: $260

Keter is a well-known shed brand because it frequently shows up in Amazon's best-selling product lists. This plastic shed will store all of your garden tools, plus a BBQ and lawnmower while looking great. It features a wood-effect exterior so won't look out of place, and has built-in ventilation ducts to keep things fresh. Most importantly, it's great for smaller spaces, is easy to assemble, and has a padlock hasp for optional added security. However, some buyers had issues trying to put this together, while others had no problems, so make sure to read the reviews for their top tips.

Customer review: "Positives, it's strong yet lightweight, looks very nice, maximises space, and is well worth the price. The only negative is that it can be a little tricky to assemble, I had to drill pilot holes and it would have been much easier had they just been there in the first place. Either way, I'm very happy with this purchase and strongly recommend it."

Pros

  • Great design
  • Good ventilation
  • Perfect for small spaces

Cons

  • Not as sturdy as a wooden shed
Size 4 x 3 ft
Material Fade-free, weather-resistant plastic

Best premium wooden shed

Pinelap Wooden Garden Shed
Price: $798

This wooden shed from Pinelap is of excellent quality and will look stunning in any garden. You can count on this classic timber shed for years to come. The package includes roof felt, fixings and instructions, and you can order it with or without windows. This is one of the best garden sheds available right now. Top tip: Treat the wood with exterior wood paint to give it an even longer life.

Customer review: "Excellent shed, fantastic value for money, well constructed and easy to put up. Great company and would recommend anytime, in fact, already have."

Pros

  • Very pleasing to the eye
  • Sturdy and well-made
  • Easy assembly

Cons

  • Expensive, but you get what you pay for
Size 8 x 6 ft
Material Timber

Best value wooden shed

This spacious Argos garden shed is great for storing bicycles, lawn mowers and general garden accessories. Made in the UK using ethically sourced, FSC-certified timber this building is perfect for those looking for a storage solution that offers excellent value. The floor and roof are constructed using solid sheet board, a durable material made up of several layers of tightly compacted oriented strands.

Review: "Great quality, easy to put up I'm very pleased. And it's so much better than most other sheds that I have seen, well worth a little extra. Fast delivery, too."

Pros

  • Easy assembly
  • Looks fantastic
  • Good price

Cons

  • Smaller than some wooden sheds on the market
Size H198, W190, D241cm
Material Timber

Best shed for gardeners

If you only need a bit of extra space to store your tools and trinkets, this Dunster House garden tool shed is for you. This shed is discreet and nice to look at. For example, it comes with a shelf and tool rail so it's ready to go once built - plus, it's the perfect height for taller tools. In addition, there is a roof felt included and its foundations are protected with pressure-treated bearers, which come with a 10-year guarantee.

Review: "This is a smashing little shed. I put it together, with a bit of help from my partner in about an hour, then another hour kitting it out with the provided shelf (and a few others made from the packing timber provided). Simple to follow instructions and all the pieces were there. Be warned, there are lots of extra bits of ‘packing timber’, don’t think you have missed something (like I did). It’s made from good timber, I was impressed that the shelf was made from tongue and groove timber, most suppliers would make it from chipboard."

Pros

  • Easy assembly
  • Perfect for smaller gardens

Cons

  • We can't find any!
Size 63 x 113 x 221 cm
Material Timber

Best budget metal shed

If budget is your top priority, this metal shed from Dakota Fields should do the job. It doesn't have the luxury feel of some of the more expensive options, but it's of good build quality and should last for many years. Recruit your family to put this shed together because it can take a little while**.**

Review: "Once erected/assembled, it looks good and is reasonably stable in construction. The only negative aspects are the fairly poor instructions that are not written in order of the needed assembly, and the subsequent 10 hours it took to build."

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Spacious

Cons

  • Not as sturdy as some of the other options on the list
Size 9 x 4 ft
Material Metal

Best shed storage box

Lifetime Heavy Duty Plastic Shed Storage Box
Price: $669.46
Alternative retailers
Tractor Supply$649.99View offer
Wayfair$669.46View offer
Overstock$692.54View offer

If a classic shed isn't what you're looking for right now, why not try a shed storage box? The heavy-duty build of this shed ensures that is robust. Not only that, but special UV protection means it can withstand all conditions. To keep it looking good, it has weather-resistant steel hinges to boot and lockable doors. Most importantly, it'll happily fit in two dustbins or a couple of bikes so will be suitable for a range of uses.

Review: "After being disappointed with a box I ordered from Argos, I pushed the boat out on the Lifetime 492-litre box and I have to say that's amazing. I was worried when other reviews said they needed power tools to build it but thought it looked worth the effort... and it is! The box is very rigid, sturdy and well made. The instructions are pretty simple and there's a QR code so you can view the installation videos online, too. The box panels slide in and are secured by screws so that part is easy... it's the lid that takes the installation time! Again this wasn't too fiddly and I didn't need a socket wrench to tighten the nuts, just the right sized screwdriver (you need a 10 and a 17 I believe). Well worth every penny and much better than other boxes out there!"

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Sturdy and long-lasting

Cons

  • Assembly can be difficult
Size 191.1 x 108 x 132 cm (also available in other sizes)
Material High-density polyethene

Best aesthetic shed

The Manor 6 x 5 garden shed is an elegant yet durable outdoor storage shed with a double wall construction that is fully weather-resistant. It also has double doors for easy access and a floor panel to ensure all of your items are off the ground, keeping them clean and dry. There is also a built-in ventilation for safety and a fixed window for natural light.

Customer review: "It looks great when up and easy to maintain. I can’t say what it was like to assemble as I got a professional to do it. It’s been up a couple of weeks in rain and wind and it’s great so far."

Pros

  • Lockable option 
  • Floor panel to keep all objects clean and dry
  • Built-in ventilation

Cons

  • Bit fiddly to assemble
Size 6 x 5 cm
Material Plastic

How to find the perfect shed for you:

Size – size will be a major factor when choosing a garden shed, take into account the space you have available in your back garden and how much you’re willing to lose. As well as this, make sure to note down what you’re looking to do with your shed and if the size will accommodate, for example not all sheds may be able to fit bikes.

Purpose – of course, what you will be using your shed for is key. If you’re only planning to store small gardening tools and inflatable pools, a small shed will be enough for you. However, if you’re looking to store bikes or even convert the shed to an outdoor office, you’ll need to get your measuring tape out and plan a size that works for practicality.

Price – price and budgets will be different for everybody. As per usual, the price is determined by the materials used and the size. Plastic and metal sheds will be more budget-friendly, whereas hardwoods like Timber are more expensive. But, you get what you pay for.

Shed interior ideas

Perfect for any avid gardener, this organisation is on point, with a dedicated potting station and all your small gardening tools right where you can see them.

Ideal for any DIY-ers among us, have everything right where you can see them and make your home tasks that little bit easier.

Stuck on how to store you're larger gardening tools? Utilise all your wall space with shelves and hooks, yes even on the inside of the door!

Think vertical when storing bikes to utilise as much space as possible.

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Ellen Kinsey is a senior health and wellness product writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in sustainable living and health. She lives and breathes all things natural health, cooking and nature.

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