Top 10 Best Shed Kits for Your Outdoor Storage Needs

The best shed kits simplify the building of an outdoor storage space. They’re not all equal though. Some excel in capacity, ease of assembly, security features, durability, affordability or a combination of these factors. This review sheds light on what features to look for, and which shed kits have them.

Top 10 Best Shed Kits Reviews

1.  Suncast’s Plastic Vertical Shed (2.5’ W x 2’ D)

Suncast’s Plastic Vertical Shed is a great addition to a patio without requiring much floor space. With just a screwdriver and screws, you can assemble the storage in less than an hour. The plastic parts are relatively lighter, making construction more manageable. You can keep your garden accessories and long handheld tools inside this vertical shed. It won’t fit cumbersome equipment though.

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2.  Lifetime’s Outdoor Storage Shed (8’ W x 12.5’ D)

Capacity-wise, Lifetime’s Outdoor Storage Shed is easily the best storage shed kit among medium-sized options. You can keep as many as seven bikes inside. Or, you can hide away one bike, a lawn tractor, and foldable table and chairs. You can also dedicate half of the space to your craft-making and other hobbies. Despite its size, it doesn’t require much effort to assemble. Due to the material used, it may not last that long.

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3.  Keter’s Store-It-Out Max (57” W x 32” D)

Horizontal shed kits reviews tend to feature Keter’s Store-It-Out Max. With this shed, you can conceal your outdoor waste bins. Instead of waste bins, you can also put playthings inside. Install some shelves if you like your tools and supplies to be more organized.

Its top lid and double door provide easy access. With its thick latch and padlock compatibility, you’ll be assured that your kids and pets can’t open them right away. Pests aren’t likely to go over your waste as well.

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4.  Outdoor Living Today’s Grand Garden Chalet (6’ W x 3’ D)

Outdoor Living Today’s Grand Garden Chalet is a form of wood shed that’s bound to boost the looks of your yard. This is mainly made from Western red cedar, a kind of lumber that’s known for being less prone to rot and insects.

With a mono-pitched roof and narrow body, you can set this up beside a wall. This can serve as a bike shed, garden shed, waste management shed, or an outdoor storage for your sports equipment. You can also keep power tools inside.

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5.  Arrow’s EZEE Shed (6’ W x 5’ D)

For a metal shed kit, Arrow’s EZEE Shed boasts of easy construction. Made from galvanized steel, this is likely to last for a long time. It’s also remarkable for looking like a modernized version of the traditional wooden shed.

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How to Assemble the EZEE Shed from Arrow Storage Products

6.  Duramax’s Sidemate (4’ W x 8’ D)

Duramax’s Sidemate matches narrow yards. It stands out among the many types of shed kits because its solitary door is located on its narrow side. It can serve as storage room for a bike, garden tools, and playthings. While simple, Sidemate’s design may not complement your backyard garden or patio.

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7.  Palram’s SkyLight (6’ W x 7.5’ D)

Palram’s SkyLight is among the many kinds of plastic shed available on the market. It has an aluminum frame that makes it more stable than others.

With just a power drill, screw driver and screws, you can assemble this shed all by yourself. You can put it in the corner, side, or even the center of a spacious yard.

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How to Assemble Palram SkyLight™ Shed 6′ Series

8.  EZ-Fit Sheds’ Riverside (10’ W x 14’ D)

If capacity is your main criterion for choosing the best shed kits, EZ-Fit Sheds’ Riverside will match that. It can fit different cumbersome equipment without looking like they’re crammed inside.

Thanks to its size, capacity, and design, this will be the best shed kit for multiple purposes as well. Aside from storage, you can tap it as a workspace or as a leisure place. As long as there are no heavy and sharp items inside, it can even work as a playhouse for kids.

Riverside’s aesthetics also stands out. You can surround it with ornamental plants and make it part of your landscape.

It has glaring downsides though. It’s not an ideal shed kit for those who aren’t savvy with power tools. If you’re going to do it all by yourself, the assembly may take several days. It comes unpainted but primed; thus, you can paint it with your preferred colors. This comes as an additional task, but it can help you ensure that your shed blends well with your home’s exterior design.

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9.  Rowlinson’s Wooden Horizontal Bike Shed (6’ W x 2.5’ D)

Despite not being the most spacious type, Rowlinson 6’ W x 2.5’ D bike shed can house two bicycles and biking gears such as helmets. In addition to those items, you can fill it with a toolbox or a box of playthings on the corner of the shed.

You can replace the bikes with exercise equipment as well. Just make sure you set the equipment as gently as possible to avoid dents on the wooden flooring.

Rowlinson’s bike shed is made from solid-manufactured wood. Such material makes the shed more durable than other wooden types.

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10.  Best Barns’ Aspen (12’ W x 8’ D)

Best Barns’ Aspen is a garden shed that resembles the typical barn. This wooden shed can house a variety of equipment. It doesn’t come with a window but you can modify the wooden parts to fit a small window and even a skylight.

Doug fir, spruce and pine are used to form the parts of Aspen. Everything from its floor, walls to roof are made from the said wood species. The wooden parts come unpainted. You can apply your preferred finishing touches.

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Buying Guide for The Best Shed Kit

A shed that can accommodate bikes, lawnmowers and other cumbersome equipment is not necessarily the best. On the other hand, a compact one that can only house a hose and a few garden tools may not be that bad. The ideal shed kit is something that suits your storage needs, budget and yard. Below are the different factors you should consider before buying a shed kit.

Purpose

Sheds in residential areas can be categorized based on their purpose. These categories include bike sheds, garden sheds, tool sheds, wood sheds and waste management sheds. Storage sheds are those that accommodate various things. All in all, they serve as storage room for things you often use outdoors.

To choose a shed, focus on what kind of things you want to store inside it. For costly equipment, it’s only fitting to buy more expensive yet more secured and more durable storage sheds. If you want something that will suit your yard’s landscape, consider the design and material of the shed as well.

Dimensions

The dimensions determine the storage capacity of the shed and the floor space that the structure requires. The ideal dimensions depend on the purpose of the shed. If you’re going to keep a lawn tractor, vertical and horizontal sheds won’t suit you. Nonetheless, if you’ll only store gardening tools and supplies, compact designs with as low as 20 cubic feet capacity will serve you just fine.

Design

For a single-story structure, you don’t really need a shed with an elaborate design. The walls are more likely to feature a single pattern or two. As for the roofing, mono-pitched or gable roof are good enough.

For vertical and horizontal sheds, you don’t need to consider ventilation and lighting. But if you’re after the standard-looking shed, search for something with one window at least. Some of the bigger options even have skylights and multiple windows.

Material

Shed kits can be made from plastic, metal, wood or a combination of two or more materials. Each material has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages.

Wood is traditionally used to create sheds. Wooden sheds excel in terms of aesthetics. They can even form part of a landscape. Unless they’re treated though, they’re at risk of rotting and pest infestation. In addition to wood sealant, you have to re-coat it with wood stain, varnish or paint. In case of damage, wood sheds are the easiest to repair.

Metal sheds won’t get damaged by wood-boring insects. On the downside, they’re prone to rust, unless they’re made from stainless steel. To prevent rust, you have to re-coat one with anti-rust paint and other treatment. Repairing metal sheds isn’t that easy as well.

Plastic sheds aren’t prone to rust and pest infestation. They’re the easiest to transfer as well. However, their damaged parts won’t be easy to replace. They tend to discolor over time, too.

Some sheds can have metal roofing and wooden sides. Others can be structured using a metal frame but with plastic or wooden panels.

Durability

Shed kits can cost as low as $200 to as high as $3200. Instead of obsessing over the costs, pay attention to their durability.

The materials mainly determine the durability of a shed kit. Treated wood and galvanized steel are usually long-lasting. They’re the best when it comes to withstanding the elements.

Plastic ones are less durable. With proper maintenance and usage, they can last for at least a few years. However, they’re at a higher risk of damage in case of catastrophes.

Security

If you’re going to store expensive, heavy, sharp and fragile objects in your shed, make sure your structure has the right security features. If the items are dispensable, your shed should have a latch at the very least. In case you have kids and pets, go for a shed kit that has a built-in lock and allows you to use a padlock.

Ease of Assembly

It’s a no-brainer that you’re buying a shed kit because it’s easier to build. The problem is not all options have straightforward design.

Before you buy, go over the manufacturers’ websites and see if they provide building instructions therein. This will save you the hassle of requesting for additional shipment in case they forgot to include the instructions in the delivered package.

Don’t forget to check the equipment and skills needed to build the shed. If the shed kit requires different kinds of nails, screws and other attachments, you might want to pick something else.

Capacity and Storage Options

Again, the kinds of items you wish to store will determine the capacity and storage options you’ll need for a shed. Disregard shelving options if you’re just going to keep bulky equipment. If you’ll use the shed to hang some tools, make sure they’re equipped with detachable hooks or racks. As for wooden sheds, you can just install those hooks, racks and shelves yourself.

Access

The standard sheds have either single or double door. Double door allows easy access for cumbersome equipment. Single door tends to limit items you can store inside the shed, unless the opening is more than three feet wide.

Sizable sheds can have two access points; the front one tends to be double door while the side has a single door. The horizontal types, such as those used for hoses and garbage bins, can have a double door and a top lid. Having three doors and beyond is too much for a shed.

Conclusion

Whether it’s for several outdoor equipment or for a few garden tools, there’s a shed kit that’s right for you. For a narrow yard, the compact wall-type options are more ideal than those that look like small houses. On one hand, the sizable sheds are highly recommended for those with spacious yards and have many equipment to store.

If you’re after a simple yet spacious shed, Outdoor Living Today’s Grand Garden Chalet (6’ W x 3’ D) and Rowlinson’s Wooden Horizontal Bike Shed (6’ W x 2.5’ D) are there to meet your needs. Arrow’s EZEE Shed (6’ W x 5’ D) beats the others in terms of durability and security. If your yard and budget can accommodate it, EZ-Fit Sheds’ Riverside (10’ W x 14’ D) can serve as storage and even as a living space. Out of all the ten best shed kits, it also stands out for its aesthetics, durability and access options.