What Size Potting Shed Do I Need? A Practical Guide
Share
Choosing the right size is the most important decision when you buy a potting shed. Too small and you'll be squeezing past bags of compost to reach your bench. Too big and it'll dominate the garden. The good news is that a few simple questions will point you to the right size.
Start with what you'll do in it
Make a quick list of everything the shed needs to hold and every job you'll do in it. Most people need room for:
- A potting bench under the windows
- Shelving for pots, seed trays and supplies
- Floor space for compost bags, watering cans and tools
- Larger items such as a lawnmower, bikes or garden furniture
- Space to stand and move around comfortably
If your list stops at the bench and a few shelves, a smaller shed will do. If it includes a mower and bikes, size up.
Potting shed sizes explained
6ft x 6ft: compact and practical
A 6x6 suits smaller gardens. There's room for a potting bench along the glazed side and shelving on the back wall, plus space for hand tools and a few bags of compost. It's ideal if you mainly sow seeds and raise young plants and keep larger equipment elsewhere.
8ft x 6ft: the popular all-rounder
An 8x6 gives you a longer bench and noticeably more floor space, without taking over the garden. For most gardeners it's the sweet spot: enough room to work comfortably and store a good range of tools.
10ft x 6ft: room for a long bench
A 10x6 is ideal if you raise a lot of plants from seed. You get a long run of windows and bench space, and still have room for tools and supplies.
8ft x 8ft and 10ft x 8ft: workshop and storage space
The deeper sizes give you real floor space as well as bench space. Choose one of these if you want to store a mower, bikes or garden furniture alongside your growing space, or if you'd like room for a chair to sit and enjoy it.
Norven Classic Potting Shed sizes at a glance
| Size | Base needed | Windows | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6ft x 6ft | 1750 x 1750mm | 3 | Smaller gardens, seed sowing and potting on |
| 8ft x 6ft | 2350 x 1750mm | 4 | Most gardens, a good balance of bench and storage |
| 10ft x 6ft | 2950 x 1750mm | 5 | Lots of seedlings and a long potting bench |
| 8ft x 8ft | 2350 x 2350mm | 4 | Growing space plus storage for a mower or bikes |
| 10ft x 8ft | 2950 x 2350mm | 5 | The most bench and storage space |
How to measure your space
- Mark out the base. Use pegs and string to mark the base size on the ground, so you can see how much room it takes up.
- Allow for the roof overhang. The roof sits a little wider than the base, so leave clearance from fences and walls.
- Leave room to get around it. You'll need to reach every side to apply wood treatment, so allow a gap of at least 60cm where you can.
- Check the door side. Make sure the door can open fully and you can get a wheelbarrow in.
- Think about light. Face the windows south, or as close as you can, for the best light on your bench.
Do I need planning permission?
Most garden sheds in England fall under permitted development, so they don't need planning permission. In general, an outbuilding within 2 metres of a boundary should be no more than 2.5 metres high, shouldn't sit in front of the house, and outbuildings shouldn't cover more than half the land around your home. Different rules can apply in conservation areas, for listed buildings and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so if you're unsure, check with your local planning authority before you buy.
Our advice: if in doubt, go one size up
It's very rare to hear someone say their shed is too big. Gardening collections grow, and the extra space soon fills up. If your garden allows, choosing the next size up is usually money well spent.
Ready to choose?
See all five sizes of the Norven Classic Potting Shed, or browse our full range of potting sheds. If you'd like help choosing the right size for your garden, get in touch.