Shed Size and Shed Height Guide to Choosing the Right Fit

Picking the right shed size is the decision that matters most in any shed build. Get it wrong and you end up with a shed that’s too tight to open a car door in, or a roller door that sits 200mm too low for your caravan.

Most people only find out once the slab is poured and the frame is up. At that point, adding a bay or lifting the walls costs far more than getting it right on paper.

This guide gives you common shed dimensions for every type of property, clear shed height recommendations by use, and a simple method to work out your own size. It draws on our experience as a family-run business building sheds Perth property owners rely on, from backyard garages to large industrial sheds and commercial sheds Perth businesses operate from.

When you’re ready to plan yours, our online shed builder lets you set the length, width and height yourself.

Here’s Everything You Need to Know in Under a Minute

Table of Contents

Common Shed Sizes at a Glance

Shed sizes range from compact garden lockers under 1m x 1m up to large rural and commercial structures of 15m x 36m or more. Most sheds fall into three groups: small garden storage, medium workshops and garages, and large farm, industrial and commercial buildings.

Garden and Small Storage Shed Sizes

• Compact lockers: about 1.5m x 0.75m to 2.25m x 1.5m. Ideal for pool pumps, bins and a small set of tools.
• Standard garden sheds: 2.25m x 3m, 3m x 2.25m or 3m x 3m. These fit a lawnmower, bikes and basic shelving.
• Approval note: in many Australian council areas, sheds under about 10m² (roughly 3m x 3m) may not need a permit. Always check your local rules first.

Medium Workshop and Garage Shed Sizes

• Small workshops and single garages: 6m x 6m or 6m x 9m. Room for one or two cars, heavy tools and a workbench.
• Medium sheds: 7m x 7m, 7m x 9m or 8m x 8m. Good for a double garage with storage or a hobby workshop.
• Home use: most residential sheds Perth homeowners choose sit in this range, with lengths adjusted to suit the block.

Large Farm Industrial and Commercial Shed Sizes

• Large garages and sheds: 8m x 10m, 9m x 9m, 9m x 12m or 10m x 10m.
• Rural and farm sheds: 7m x 12m up to 15m x 36m. Multi-bay designs hold machinery, hay and large equipment.
• Commercial and industrial sizes: 9m x 24m up to 36m x 15m and beyond for warehouses and workshops.

Most rural sheds are sized around the largest machine on the property, then extended by the bay as needs grow.

Shed Size Chart by Use

Footprint is only half the story. Floor area in square metres tells you how much usable space you’ll actually get.

Treat these as starting points rather than fixed products. Our guide to planning your shed around your needs walks through how to match the space to how you’ll really use it.

What Is a Standard Shed Height?

A standard domestic shed has a wall height of 2.4m to 3m. That suits cars, garden equipment and general storage.

Taller vehicles and machinery change the numbers quickly. Caravans and boats on trailers usually need a 3.6m wall or more, while trucks, headers and forklift work need 4.5m to 6m and beyond.

Wall Height vs Ridge Height vs Door Height

Shed height is quoted three ways, and mixing them up is a common and costly mistake.

• Wall height (eave height): the height of the side walls. This is the figure most quotes and kit names use, such as 20m x 12m x 4m.
• Ridge height (apex): the highest point of the roof. On a gable shed it sits well above the wall height, depending on roof pitch and span.
• Door height: the clear opening of the roller or sliding door. It’s always lower than the wall height to leave room for the door drum and framing.

Councils usually measure the overall height from natural ground level to the highest point. Your roof style changes this figure, so compare the options in our overview of shed roof styles before you lock in a design.

Shed Height Chart by Use

Always measure your tallest vehicle with any roof racks, aerials or air conditioners fitted. Then add at least 300mm of clearance to the door opening.

Machinery owners should also plan for turning space at the door. Our machinery shed design tips cover door placement and access in more detail.

Why Going Taller Often Beats Going Wider

Adding height usually costs less than adding floor area. A taller shed uses longer columns and more wall cladding, but the slab and roof stay exactly the same size.

That extra height gives you room for mezzanine floors, high racking, overhead hoists and better airflow. It also leaves the door open for a caravan or larger machine later on.

How Do You Work Out the Right Shed Size?

Work from what you’ll store, not from a standard size list. These steps give you a reliable number.

1. List everything going in. Include vehicles, trailers, machinery, benches and shelving.
2. Measure each item. A typical car is about 1.9m wide and 4.8m long. A dual cab ute is closer to 1.9m x 5.4m.
3. Add clearances. Allow about 1m around each vehicle to open doors and walk past, and 1m of working space in front of a workbench.
4. Plan the doors. Position roller doors where vehicles can drive straight in, and add a personal access door for daily use.
5. Check the tallest item. Use the height chart above to set wall and door heights.
6. Allow for growth. Add at least one extra bay or 20% more space for the next vehicle, hobby or business stage.
7. Check the site. Confirm boundary setbacks, slope, drainage and access for delivery trucks.

The last step often decides the final size. Our tips on choosing the best spot for your shed explain how block shape and access affect what will fit.

How Shed Size and Height Affect Cost

Floor area drives most of the cost of a shed. A larger footprint needs a bigger slab, more roof sheeting, more steel and more labour.

Height adds cost too, but more gently. Longer columns and extra wall cladding usually cost less than the slab and roof needed to add the same capacity sideways.

Other factors that move the price include:

• Number and size of roller doors
• Wind rating for your location
• Cladding choice, such as COLORBOND® or ZINCALUME®
• Site preparation, slab thickness and access
• Extras like insulation, windows, whirlybirds and mezzanine floors

For current figures, see our breakdown of shed prices in Perth. It shows how the shed cost changes as the size and specification go up.

Shed Size and Height Limits Before You Need Approval in WA

Size and height decide whether your shed needs a building permit. Under the WA Building Regulations 2012, a freestanding Class 10a shed generally doesn’t need a building permit if:

• the floor area is no more than 10m², and
• the height is no more than 2.4m.

Some councils count the combined area of all small outbuildings on the lot toward that 10m² limit. Planning approval, setbacks and local laws can still apply even when no building permit is needed.

Anything larger, such as a 6m x 6m garage, will need approval. Our full guide to council approval for a shed in WA explains the process step by step.

Custom Shed Sizes Built by Action Sheds

At Action Sheds, we don’t ask you to fit your needs to a fixed size. Based in Perth, we’re a family-run business that has supplied and built thousands of steel sheds Australia-wide, and every one is sized to the job.

Our range includes ready-to-quote kits like a 20m x 12m x 4m open-front machinery shed, a 30m x 15m x 5m hay shed and a 45m x 18m x 7m machinery shed kit. From there, we adjust length, width, height and doors to suit your site.

We build across every scale, including:

• Domestic garages, workshops and carports
• Farm sheds, hay sheds and machinery sheds
• Warehouses, commercial workshops and industrial buildings

Every shed is engineered for its wind region and finished to a high standard of workmanship. Dimensions, doors and colours are all set to suit how you’ll use the shed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in NSW?

In most NSW residential zones, a shed can be built as exempt development if it’s no larger than 20m² and no higher than 3m. In rural zones (RU1 to RU6) and large lot residential zones (R5), the limit rises to 50m².

The shed must also sit behind the building line and meet setback rules, usually 900mm from boundaries in residential zones and 5m in rural zones. The NSW exempt development rules list the full conditions, and heritage or flood-prone land can remove the exemption.

What Is the Maximum Size Shed I Can Build Without a Permit in Victoria?

In Victoria, a freestanding shed doesn’t need a building permit if its floor area is 10m² or less and it’s no more than 3m high. If it sits within 1m of a boundary, the height limit drops to 2.4m.

The shed also can’t be built of masonry. These rules come from the Victorian Building Regulations 2018, and a planning permit may still be needed in some zones or overlays.

What Is the Largest Shed Size Without Planning Permission?

The largest common exemption in Australia is around 50m², which applies on rural and large lot residential land in NSW and on larger blocks in the ACT. Most other states cap permit-free sheds at about 10m² to 15m².

Anything bigger, including most garages, workshops and farm sheds, needs approval. Rules also change with zoning, bushfire, heritage and flood overlays, so check with your council before you order.

How Big Is a 200 Square Metre Shed?

A 200m² shed is most often built as 10m x 20m. Other layouts with the same floor area include 8m x 25m and 12.5m x 16m.

That’s enough room for six to eight cars with space to move, or a mix of machinery, a caravan and a full workshop. At a 4m to 5m wall height, it suits most farm and small business uses.

Is It Cheaper to Build Your Own Shed?

Building a shed yourself from a kit can save on labour, but the saving is often smaller than expected. You still pay for the slab, engineering, approvals, equipment hire and your own time.

Mistakes in setting out, squaring or fixing can lead to leaks, failed inspections or costly rework. For anything larger than a garden shed, a professional builder usually delivers a better result for a similar total cost.

How High Should My Shed Be Off the Ground?

The shed floor should sit higher than the surrounding ground so water drains away. Most builders set the slab at least 100mm to 150mm above finished ground level.

On sloping, poorly drained or flood-prone sites, go higher and add drainage around the shed. For small garden sheds on a timber or steel base, a raised base of 100mm to 150mm keeps the floor dry and protects it from rot and pests.

Get the Size Right the First Time

The right shed size starts with what you’ll store, the clearances you need and the height of your tallest vehicle or machine. Add room to grow, check your local limits and remember that going taller often beats going wider.

Use the size and height charts in this guide as your starting point. Then talk to a builder who can tailor every dimension to your site.

Action Sheds has delivered quality steel sheds for homes, farms and businesses across Australia. Explore our range of sheds in Perth and get a design built around exactly what you need.