The 5 Best Easy-to-Build Shed Kits to Buy This Summer
Updated: Mar. 19, 2024
These easy-to-assemble shed kits match your project ideas, budget and style.
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Thinking of adding more storage space to your backyard? You’ve come to the right place. Shed kits come in various sizes and price points can match your project needs and budget. Traditionally, sheds store lawn and garden tools, infrequently used home items and even trash receptacles. These days, many shed owners have kindled their creativity and turned seemingly single-use structures into garden sheds, offices or flex spaces for kids and guests.
When buying a DIY shed kit, consider the overall size, material and time needed. Sheds are available in wood, metal, or plastic blend options, each with its perks. With wood sheds, you can personalize with stains or paints to match your home or garden. Metal or plastic blend sheds offer durability and a modern look. Consider your climate when deciding. Look for features like sliding or double doors for easy access, as well as windows, vents, and sunlights for added functionality. Here are a few options for shed kits that might fit your needs, whether that’s simply looking for additional storage or launching a bigger project like crafting a personalized dream shed.
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Best Overall Shed Kit
Hopkins Towing Solutions Custom Shed Kit
Looking for a sturdy and reliable all-purpose shed for your tools and lawn equipment? This custom shed kit is an ideal structure. The galvanized steel brackets are sturdy enough for building wooden structures—like sheds and chicken coops. One kit can build a 10-foot shed, but you can buy more kits for a larger shed up to 22 feet. It will blend well with almost any property or yard and can be utilized in countless ways to organize multiple-size mowers, yard tools and other equipment.
Pros
- Includes galvanized steel brackets
- Can combine with more kits for a larger shed
- Peak roof
- Affordably priced
Cons
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Lumber not included
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Best Budget Shed Kit
EZBuilder Storage Shed DIY Framing Kit
Purchasing a shed frame kit instead of a fully-equipped one with all parts included is a less expensive option. The best feature of this DIY framing kit is that it only requires straight, 90-degree cuts of wood. No complex measurements are needed as the galvanized angle brackets create the perfect angle every time by eliminating the need to angle cut the wood-framing slats.
This frame is a game changer and a perfect complement for experienced builders who want to use materials that are already available. Curious if extra materials you have work with this framing kit? Check out our wood guide for more information on the types of wood suitable for building your shed.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Multiple options for framing and materials
- No miters or complex measurements required
- Combine two or three kits for an expanded design
Cons
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Wood and finish materials not included
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Best Wooden Shed Kit
Best Barns Aspen Wood Shed Kit
As families spend more time working or multitasking from home, investing in a shed for additional personal, office or kids space is an option many homeowners turn towards. This wood shed kit is a traditional wooden style shed with a few more features, like extra-wide double doors.
Remember the luxury “she-shed” craze from a few years ago? Well, the possibilities for creating an outdoor garden space are ever-expanding. This wood storage shed is wider than it is deep. Furthermore, it includes pre-cut roof trusses, wood gussets, wall studs, trim and hardware.
Pros
- Made with high-quality Louisiana Pacific SmartSide engineered and primed wood
- Customizable and ready-to-build kit
- Includes all pre-cut components
- Includes all necessary hardware
Cons
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Shed shape is best for smaller lawns only
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Best Shed Kit for Small Storage
E-Z Frames DIY Storage Shed Kit
This storage shed kit is designed to be assembled in just a few hours. Its 4-foot-by-6-foot footprint is perfect for storing small patio furniture, garden tools or firewood. The kit includes heavy-duty brackets and instructions that are easy enough for a first-time builder. Check out more tips to get your small space hideaway project underway.
Pros
- Low profile and compact for a new builder to assemble in a few hours
- Brackets made of heavy-duty polypropylene material
- Brackets have a built-in UV inhibitor that prevents them from cracking or getting brittle
- Lumber cut list included
Cons
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Size might be too small for optimal storage
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Best Modern Design Shed Kit
Fairmont Double Door Shed Kit
This Fairmont Double Door Shed Kit gets the job done in style. Customize this wooden shed for a modern look with unpainted panel siding and OSB roof sheathing. Windows with trim and shutters and fiberglass doors put this kit a cut above the rest. Fit the space with insulation, lighting or solar power to complete this modern and sleek design.
Pros
- Customizable siding and trim
- Floor included
- Five-year limited warranty
- Fiberglass doors
Cons
- Expensive
What to Consider When Buying a Shed Kit
The shed kits mentioned above can take anywhere between a few hours to a full weekend to put together. Before investing the time and resources, consider everything below to empower your purchases and project planning.
Secure the foundation or base of the shed first. Clear a level base with wood, cement or gravel. If replacing an old shed, ensure the foundation is secure before building a new shed on the same base. Before selecting a shed kit, consider the overall aesthetic of the space in comparison to the existing property or home design.
Location is key. Smaller sheds complement most yard sizes and can fit easily in most spaces alongside a house or yard. For larger sheds, clear a path away from potentially damaging tree limbs, from overexposure to heat and out of the way of water or mud run-off to prevent the possibility of water damage or shifting foundations.
Review the product’s longevity. Consider if the materials used to build the structure are long-lasting and can withstand the elements and weather in your local environment. Check with your local HOA or city for any regulations or building codes you must adhere to before purchasing a shed kit.
Types of Shed Kits
- Wood, metal or plastic blend sheds: Wood shed kits allow for the option to stain, paint, treat or add siding to the shed to complement your home or garden. Metal or plastic blend and resin sheds provide little to no options to add to the exterior of the shed structure but can provide as much longevity and sleekness of finish as their wooden shed counterparts, especially as it relates to their modern look. The material of the shed may fare differently in your particular climate or environment.
- Door and window features: Large sheds have doors that allow for large equipment to move in and out of the shed easily. Consider your needs for a sliding or double door option opening at 180 degrees. Shed features also include windows, vents and sun lights. Screened vents keep airflow moving while preventing bugs from nesting on the inside of the shed.
- Colors and styles: Sheds can come in various colors and styles. Select a shed kit that blends with your garden, landscaping, home style, fence or outdoor furniture. Some shed designs have elevated over the years to reflect especially the more modern style of home building, but traditional and barn-style sheds remain wildly popular.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a seasoned writer specializing in DIY home organization and decor trends, I possess a keen eye for identifying both classic and contemporary design trends. With my regular shopping articles for Family Handyman, I offer practical tips and essential tools to elevate living spaces with well-researched, quality products.
How We Found the Best Shed Kits
To find the best shed kits, we turned to the most trusted retailers in the space, combing through their offerings and researching the best brands. We considered things like the quality of materials used, ease of construction and aesthetics. Additionally, we read hundreds of customer reviews to see how these shed kits fared in the real world.
FAQ
Do I need a concrete slab for a shed?
A foundation is needed for any shed, but for most small and medium size sheds, a concrete slab is not specifically required. If your property has adequate water flow, filling gravel between wooden trenches will be sturdy enough for a shed kit that comes with its own base. Be sure to check for HOA regulations, as additional requirements may be imposed.
How high should a shed be off the ground?
The shed should sit about four inches off the ground. If using untreated wood planks as a base, ensure that the wood does not have direct contact with the ground, and do not use cement blocks. Some common mistakes can be avoided by reviewing our best practices when planning your shed’s foundation.
Originally Published: July 12, 2023
