The best sheds

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Whether you're storing gardening tools, a mower, or off-season patio furniture, the best outdoor storage sheds are a convenient way to protect your items and keeping your yard tidy and pristine. Made from resin, wood, or steel, they're designed to keep your tools and outdoor furniture safe from the elements and potential thieves.

After researching, talking to a design professional, and testing a shed for myself, I picked the best sheds based on user-friendliness, efficient storage, and durability. My top pick is the Suncase Tremont Plastic Storage Shed, which features wide, lockable doors, shelving, and a huge capacity. If you're looking for a shed to hold smaller items, I recommend the Rubbermaid Small Horizontal Resin Outdoor Storage Shed. Its compact, horizontal design is perfect for holding small garden tools and pest repellent.

Our top picks for the best sheds

Best overall: Suncast Tremont Plastic Storage Shed - See at Amazon

Best small: Rubbermaid Small Horizontal Resin Outdoor Storage Shed - See at Amazon

Best large: Lifetime Dual Entry Plastic Storage Shed - See at Amazon

Best storage cabinet: Suncast Resin Vertical Storage Shed - See at Amazon

Best with a floor: Rubbermaid Resin Storage Shed - See at Amazon

Best for bikes: Keter Manor Resin Outdoor Storage Shed - See at Amazon

Best for garden tools: Handy Home Products Majestic Do-It-Yourself Outdoor Wood Storage Shed - See at the Home Depot

Best overall

This versatile shed can hold just about anything. The Suncast Tremont Plastic Storage Shed is our pick for the best outdoor storage shed because its versatility will appeal to the broadest range of homeowners. The 8-by-10-foot shed accommodates a range of items, including landscaping machines and garden tools. The door sports a 60-inch opening and no lip to make storing wheelbarrows, riding lawnmowers, and snowblowers a breeze. You can choose from eight locations to install the two included corner shelves for a custom build.

It's built to last. Perhaps the biggest perk of the Suncast Tremont is its durable construction. The multi-wall resin panels are steel-reinforced for stability and strength. It's designed to take on the elements, offering UV protection and water resistance for 10 years. While a lock isn't included, the double-door entry features pad-lockable metal handles.

I appreciate the skylights. The Suncast Tremont is convenient to use thanks to features like six skylights for easy daytime visibility. While it's pricey at nearly $2,000, this is a durable shed that will last you.

Best small

Horizontal sheds are perfect for storing small items. Pool chemicals, pest repellants, and other hazardous items need to be stored securely to protect kids and animals. A small horizontal shed gets the job done without costing much or taking up much space. The Rubbermaid Small Horizontal Resin Outdoor Storage Shed is our best small shed pick because you can use your padlock to lock up the lid and double doors.

It's durable and easy to assemble. The shed features a floor and is made entirely of heavy-duty resin for resistance to leaks, harsh weather, and denting. While it doesn't come with shelves, the molded-in shelf brackets make them easy to install. Assembling the Rubbermaid Small Shed is a breeze as the panels just snap together. You don't need any tools, though a rubber mallet may come in handy. Overall, this is a good basic, compact shed for storing smaller items.

Best large

This hefty shed comes with peg strips and shelves. The Lifetime Dual Entry Plastic Storage Shed's roomy 14.6-foot-by-7.7-foot interior offers plenty of space for tools, machinery, and other items. It comes with two 16-inch peg strips with tool hooks, four corner shelves, and a 90-inch-by-9-inch shelf for keeping smaller items organized. The double doors offer a 59-inch opening that will fit most home landscape equipment.

It looks good, too. The combination of steel and HDPE plastic ensures that the shed will withstand the elements for many years to come. The Lifetime shed also has charming aesthetic features, like shutters, two polycarbonate windows, and a weather-resistant gable roof.

It includes screen vents and a floor. Screen vents keep pests out while allowing air circulation. When coming in from the elements, you'll appreciate the high-density slip-resistant flooring. This is the best large outdoor storage shed if you want to prioritize organization while storing a bunch of equipment. It's even backed by a 10-year limited warranty.

Best storage cabinet

This cabinet is slim and compact. The Suncast Resin Vertical Storage Shed is our pick for the best storage cabinet because of its small footprint and unobtrusive appearance. It doesn't have shelves, so you can easily fit rakes, shovels, ladders, and pool accessories.

It's durable. The storage cabinet is made of heavy-duty resin that can withstand precipitation and extreme temperatures. It includes a reinforced floor, and the door padlocks shut to protect your belongings, though the padlock isn't included.

It won't hold large lawn equipment. The cabinet has double doors to make accessing the contents easy, but due to its small size, you may want to look elsewhere for lawn equipment storage. Also, the cabinet doesn't have vents. This is great for keeping out pests but not so good for minimizing corroding moisture. Suncast claims assembly takes "minutes," but browsing the instructions, it looks more like an hour. Fortunately, the process looks simple, and no special tools are required.

Best with a floor

Most sheds don't need to have a floor. However, a shed floor offers several benefits, including stability and protection from the elements. The medium-sized Rubbermaid Resin Storage Shed balances durability, value, and capacity.

It's designed to handle the weather. It's made of rugged resin and has a sturdy roof to support heavy snowfalls. Rain gutters help deal with water runoff, and built-in vents control the humidity inside.

Assembly is an involved process. There are several pieces, and getting them to fit together just right requires patience and a drop or two of liquid soap, according to the instructions. Unfortunately, professional assembly isn't available through the sites we found it for sale.

It has a smart design. The double doors have an extra-wide opening to fit large lawnmowers and other heavy-duty equipment. A dormer window lets in sunlight, helping you find your tools. The shed doesn't come with shelving, but Rubbermaid sells a variety of compatible accessories.

Best for bikes

I personally assembled and tested this shed. The Keter Manor Resin Outdoor Storage Shed is the best shed for bikes because it can fit several bikes without taking up too much space in your yard. Previously, my kid stored their bike in the basement. But since it was a pain to carry it up and down the stairs, they'd leave it outside instead, where we've had bikes stolen. With the Keter shed, it's easy to store the bike away from thieves. We just had to buy a padlock to affix to the handle.

It's great for garden tools, too. The shed has plenty of room for other items, including our lawnmower, rakes, shovels, and my wife's gardening tools. We've also received several compliments on its appearance. It's shown no wear and tear, despite plenty of severe summer weather.

It doesn't have windows and assembly was challenging. The Keter Manor has many features we look for in a shed: plenty of ventilation, a window, and durable flooring. However, it doesn't come with shelves. Also, the door is only 24 inches wide, and the lip made it hard for us to put our snowblower in there. Assembly was a challenge. It took about four hours. Much of the difficulty was getting the pieces to fit together just right. I would have liked it if there were holes where the fasteners were supposed to go, but instead, it took a little guesswork. Fortunately, the instructions were clear.

Best for garden tools

This is the best shed for storing lawn and garden equipment. The spacious Handy Home Products Majestic Do-It-Yourself Outdoor Wood Storage Shed is a great option for storing garden tools and lawn equipment thanks to impressive interior shelving, including an 8-foot shelf and a loft.

It's customizable. The shed comes primed and ready to paint, so you can customize it to look however you want, including adding shingles of your choice. It doesn't come with flooring, though for an extra $700, you can choose the "premier package," which comes with heavy-duty wood flooring, wall vents, metal ramps for getting over the door's threshold, and a large operable window.The 64-inch double doors are wide enough for a riding lawnmower to fit through. Over the doors are transom windows to let in daylight and make finding items easier. The doors' metal handle features keyed locking.

Assembly is labor intensive. Judging from the 67-page instruction manual, the assembly is quite involved. You'll need a power drill, nail gun, caulk gun, ladder, and more. For $1,300 more, you can get the Majestic shed installed, including the floor.

Our top picks, compared

What to look for in a shed

Since choosing an outdoor storage shed depends on your personal circumstances, we've put together a list of factors to consider.

Size: Get out your tape measure and start measuring the size of the items you hope to store in your shed. Also, look at how much space you have for your shed. You'll need a flat surface and may require a foundation. In general, get the largest shed your budget and space will allow to ensure you have somewhere to store new items. A small shed is less than 100 cubic feet. Medium sheds are between 100 and 600 cubic feet. And, large sheds are over 600 cubic feet.

Assembly: While most sheds come with easy-to-follow instructions, assembly is generally a two-person job. If you don't have anyone to help you or just don't want to build your shed yourself, consider buying a model that comes with professional installation.

Features: Several seemingly minor features can actually be quite helpful. For example, vents will keep the humidity down in the shed and protect your items. Windows or skylights help you see during the day. Shelves make better use of the space and keep you organized. And a floor offers added stability to the shed.

Material: Most of the sheds we looked at were made of plastic resin. This material is great because it's affordable yet resists damage caused by precipitation and the sun. Wood is another popular option because it can be painted and tends to be sturdier, but it can sometimes be susceptible to rot and pests. Metal, especially steel, is often used to reinforce sheds, giving resin more stability.

Customizability: Some sheds can be customized to fit your space and needs. If you have a tight space for your shed, look for a unit that has customizable door positioning. Customizable shelves also help you stay organized while fitting everything you want in the shed.

Security: A lockable door is a must when choosing a shed, whether you're protecting kids from harmful chemicals or expensive equipment from thieves. Most will require you to purchase your own padlock.

Warranty: A warranty provides you with some recourse if your shed proves defective and tells you how long it should last. Most of the best sheds come with 10-year warranties, though cheaper models tend to have a one-year or no warranty.

How we researched and tested sheds

How we chose the best sheds

We combined expert consultation, hands-on testing, and research to find the best sheds. Here are the main factors we considered:

Durability: You'll want a shed that can withstand your local climate's worst, including snow, ice, high-speed winds, heavy downpours, and intense sun. In addition to examining material specs, we considered what weather conditions each shed could handle.

Capacity: The best size will depend on your personal needs. However, we looked at how well each shed used its required footprint. For instance, sheds with shelves you can position to your preferences receive bonus points.

Design: We assessed each shed's aesthetic and functional design. A shed should look nice in your yard, and if there are several design options to match your home, it's even better. Windows and plenty of ventilation were also important.

Assembly: When we could find them online, we looked at the assembly instructions for each shed and mentally (and sometimes physically) went through the steps of putting the sheds together. We noted which steps were confusing and when special tools were needed.

Accessibility: The shed door should be large enough to accommodate your items. The shed's layout should also make accessing items easy without having to move tools out of the way. We noted which sheds provided the best accessibility.

Meet the expert behind the guide

James Brains, former senior reporter: I test and review outdoor products, from sheds to cold plunges to mowers, in my own backyard. I conducted thorough research to choose the best sheds for this article.

Shed FAQs

What type of outdoor shed is most durable?

"The most durable sheds are really, in my experience, the wood sheds that have some kind of compressed wood panels for the outside," said Kevin Connors, who, as owner of Inspired Organizers in Phoenix, has installed dozens of sheds for clients.

Connors added that these sheds are built much like houses, making them heavy-duty. He cautions against using metal paneling, especially as a roofing material.

He noted resin sheds hold up pretty well for about 8 to 10 years, though you'll want to install it on a stable, level foundation.

Do sheds come with floors?

Most of the sheds in our guide have floors. Floors add stability to the shed and better protect your contents from the elements. If you plan on storing heavier items, like riding lawnmowers, a floor is a must. So, while you don't need a floor, we strongly recommend choosing a shed with a floor. Also, even if your shed comes with a floor, it will require a level foundation or surface. This is especially important for larger sheds.

Do sheds need a foundation?

"They don't have to have, say, a concrete or a brick or paver foundation," said Connors. "They should have a level foundation." However, he warns that a foundation is a must in low-lying areas that may be prone to flooding, as it can help protect the shed's contents.

What should you not store in a shed?

"Pretty much the same items that you'd want to avoid storing in your garage," said Connors. So, avoid storing flammable materials, including gasoline, in your shed. Most chemicals are legally required to have labels saying if they're flammable. Connors also cautioned against storing wood in a shed as it can attract insects and is often flammable.

Do you need a permit to build a shed?

Many areas have zoning rules and regulations regarding sheds. Check with your local county or city to determine if you need a permit before building a shed. Generally, smaller sheds up to 8'x10' don't typically require special permission.

Can you convert a shed into a tiny house?

Again, depending on your town's ordinances and the condition of your shed, you can convert it into a tiny house, office, or guest space, but you will likely need a permit. Ideally, you want a larger shed that's new or in near-perfect condition. You'll also want to budget for electricity, heating/cooling, plumbing, furnishings, and labor. Making these changes may void warranties on pre-fab designs, however.