13/05/26
Getting shed size wrong is expensive twice. Build too small and you're extending or replacing within a few years. Build too big with no plan for the space and you've paid for square metres sitting empty.
Wide Span Sheds sizes every build the same way: what you own now, what you'll own in ten years, and the site it's going on.
Two cars, a boat, and a workbench: Wide Span Sheds typically sizes this at a 9m x 6m double garage with a minimum 3m stud height to clear a boat on a trailer, plus a dedicated 2m workbench bay. Indicative cost: $30,000 - $40,000 exc GST
3-bay lifestyle shed: A 12m x 6m, 3-bay configuration covers a vehicle, a workshop, and general storage. This is one of the most common sizes Wide Span Sheds builds for lifestyle block customers. Indicative cost: $30,000 - $35,000 exc GST
American barn style: Wide Span Sheds' American barn sheds start around 12m x 9m with a raised centre bay, giving extra height for machinery, a horse float, or a mezzanine storage deck. Indicative cost: $40,000 - $50,000 exc GST
Future-proofing. Most owners fill their shed faster than expected. Wide Span Sheds recommends sizing for what you'll own in 10 to 20 years, not just what's parked in the driveway today, whether that's a bigger boat, another vehicle, or more machinery.
Height and door width, not just floor area. A high stud and a wide roller door do more for usability than an extra metre of length. Measure the tallest item you plan to store, add clearance, and size the door to match. Wide Span Sheds engineers every roller door opening to the equipment specified, not a standard size.
Storage vs workshop space. If the shed needs to do both jobs, allocate room for each separately rather than assuming one open bay will cover it. A shed that's half storage and half workshop needs a plan for where the line sits.
Room to move. Interior space isn't just about fitting belongings; it's walkways and working clearance if the shed doubles as a workshop.
The site. Wide Span Sheds provides site-specific engineering on every build, so wind zone, snow loading, and ground conditions factor into the size and footing design from the start, not as an afterthought.
Multi-bay gable sheds
The most common choice across rural, lifestyle, and industrial customers, usually 3 to 5 bays with a mix of open and enclosed space. Wide Span Sheds' 4-bay lifestyle shed at 12m x 16m ($50,900) and 4-bay design at 9m x 18m ($55,800) are two of the most-built configurations in this category.
High-stud vehicle and boat storage
Demand here is driven by caravans, motorhomes, and trailer boats getting bigger. The stud height and door clearance matter more than floor area, since an undersized door defeats the purpose regardless of how much space is behind it.
Farm implement sheds
Open-front or part-open configurations built for fast access to tractors, balers, and attachments. Wide Span Sheds' 5-bay design with an open tractor bay at 9m x 20m ($51,400) is built specifically for this kind of access.
Lifestyle hobby sheds and flex-use spaces
Insulated, lined, multi-purpose builds used as workshops, gyms, home offices, or a combination. Wide Span Sheds' studio shed configuration at 8m x 12m ($29,900) is a common starting point for this use case.
A well-sized shed is one less job for the next owner. Wide Span Sheds sees the strongest resale interest in multi-bay sheds combining storage, workshop, and vehicle space, American barns with mezzanine or loft storage, and garages with high stud height and wide door access, the sheds that are immediately usable rather than needing more work.
Sizing a shed properly the first time means measuring what you have, planning for what you'll have, and accounting for the site it's going on. Wide Span Sheds works through all three before recommending a size, so you're not guessing and not paying to fix it later.
Talk to your local Wide Span Sheds team to size your next shed properly.
Speak to your local Wide Span Sheds team today - 0800 WIDE SPAN
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