Secure Bike Sheds

What makes a bike shed secure?

Almost any garden shed can be called secure storage on a shop listing. In practice a thief only needs one weak point, so a properly secure bike store has to close off every one of them:

• Walls that resist cutting and prising: galvanised panels rather than timber boards or plastic.
• Fixings you can't undo from outside: hidden screw heads, or bolts with lock nuts on the inside.
• A strong lock: a multi-point system with a pick-resistant cylinder, or locks with an independent rating.
• A floor it can't be lifted from: an integral metal floor fixed down during installation.
• Something to lock each bicycle to inside, so the bikes are still fixed down if the door is forced.
• Proof: independent attack testing by a body such as the LPCB, or police approval through Secured by Design.

The models on this page tick all six. That is why they cost more than a standard bike storage shed of the same size, and why some insurers treat them differently.

A lockable shed is the first layer of protection, not the last. Treat it like a garage and still lock each bicycle to something solid inside.

How thieves get into bike sheds, and what stops them

A lot of bike theft happens at home, from sheds, garages and gardens rather than the street. The common methods are simple, so the defences are worth knowing before you buy:

Cycling UK's guide to home bike storage gives the same advice: a lockable shed is only the first layer, and bikes should still be locked to something solid inside it.

Security ratings explained

Look for these independent marks rather than words like "heavy duty" or "high security".

LPS 1175 (LPCB)

LPS 1175 is the Loss Prevention Certification Board's attack test for doors, shutters and enclosures. Security Rating 1 (now called A1) means a product held out against an opportunist with basic hand tools for at least a minute of working time. That sounds short, but it is sustained, skilled attack on the weakest point, and most garden storage has never been tested at all. The Trimetals Protect-a-Cycle holds this rating, and the Protect A Bike stores list LPCB levels 1 and 2. You can check any certified product on RedBookLive.

Secured by Design

Secured by Design is the official UK police crime prevention initiative. Products carrying its Police Preferred Specification have been tested to a recognised standard, so it is a quick way to spot genuinely secure cycle storage. Both Trimetals security ranges carry it, and Asgard lists police approval for the Annexe.

Sold Secure

Sold Secure, run by the Master Locksmiths Association, grades locks and anchors Bronze, Silver, Gold or Diamond. Bronze is aimed at the opportunist with one tool, Silver at a thief with a wider set of hand tools, Gold at a planned attack with heavier kit and Diamond at power tools. The 6ft x 3ft Trimetals stores come with Silver-rated locks and anchor; the Protect A Bike stores add a Gold-rated anchor.

Thatcham

Thatcham Research is the motor insurers' testing centre. Its approval on the chain supplied with the Protect A Bike stores matters most if you keep a motorbike or scooter inside.

Secure bike sheds compared

Shop pages show one model at a time. Here is the security kit you get with each secure cycle storage unit in this range, from Shedstore's UK listings. Prices change daily, so we show bands.

The ramped model also comes in anthracite and cream with the same sizes and kit, so colour never costs you security.

Metal, wooden or plastic: which is most secure?

Steel wins on security, and it is the same reason councils and workplaces use steel bike lockers. A timber store can be opened with a crowbar or a cordless saw, and plastic sheds can be cut or flexed open with little effort. That is why every approved store on this page is galvanised metal. It is also fire-resistant, stands up to the weather and needs almost no maintenance: no staining or treating, just a wash once or twice a year.

A wooden store can still be made much safer: fit coach bolts through the hinges, swap the hasp lock for a closed-shackle rated one, and fix an anchor through the floor. If you prefer the look of timber, see our wooden bike sheds, and add an anchor inside.

Layer your security inside the shed

Insurers and the police both recommend layers, so that beating one defence still leaves a thief with work to do:

1. Fix the shed down through its floor with the fixings supplied as part of installation.
2. Fit a ground anchor inside. The Trimetals stores include one; for the Asgard Annexe, add a Sold Secure Gold anchor.
3. Lock each bike through the frame and rear wheel to the anchor, keeping the lock off the floor so it can't be rested on the ground and hammered.
4. Add an alarm. The walk-in stores come with a battery PIR unit, and the 6ft x 3ft Trimetals models with an alarmed cable.
5. Mark and register your bikes on BikeRegister, the UK police-backed database, and keep photos and frame numbers.
6. Check your insurance. Many home policies only cover bikes in an outbuilding if it is locked, and some name an approved lock grade.

Size, e-bikes and motorbikes

Bikes stand side by side across a store's width, so the internal space needs to beat the length of your longest bicycle, with room left to turn the bars. Most adult bikes are about 1.7m to 1.8m long, which the 6ft x 3ft models (1,725mm to 1,800mm inside) take. Bigger e-bikes and 29ers can be closer to 1.9m, so measure first.

• Up to three bikes: the Asgard Annexe or a 6ft x 3ft Trimetals unit. If space is tight, compare them with our small bike sheds.
• Heavy electric bikes: the ramped Trimetals model, whose one-piece aluminium ramp folds back into the floor and takes a rider and an e-bike.
• Four bikes or more: a Protect A Bike walk-in store, or see our 4 bike sheds and large bike sheds.
• Motorbikes: the 940 and 950 have doors 1,160mm and 1,395mm wide; the 960 holds two motorbikes.

Where to put a secure bike store

Siting matters almost as much as the lock. Think about the space around the store, not just the footprint: out of sight from the street, behind a locked side gate, works best: thieves often spot bikes first and come back later. Placing the doors or lid against a fence or wall makes them harder to work on, and a security light helps.

Every model needs a level concrete or paved base, and good installation is part of the security: bolts go through the floor into the slab. The Protect A Bike stores are heavy (195kg to 224kg packed), so plan the delivery route. Most garden storage in England is permitted development if it is not in front of the house and stays under 2.5m tall within 2m of a boundary. The tallest model here is 2.1m. Flats, listed buildings and front gardens may need permission, so check with your council.

Asgard or Trimetals?

Both are UK makers of galvanised steel storage with real security approvals. Asgard puts its locking inside the door, so there is nothing on the outside to attack, and its Annexe is approved by four separate bodies; see the full Asgard bike sheds range. Trimetals adds a PVC coating over the galvanising, backs the panels for 25 years and ships the anchor and locks in the box; compare every Trimetals bike shed. In short:

• Asgard: doors, a hidden 5-point lock and a 10-year guarantee.
• Trimetals: a lift-up lid or walk-in doors, the full kit included and a 25-year panel guarantee.

Bike security FAQs

What is the most secure bike shed?

On paper, the Trimetals Protect A Bike stores: LPCB levels 1 and 2, Secured by Design, a Gold anchor, a Thatcham chain and an alarm. For three bikes, the 6ft x 3ft Trimetals models and the Asgard Annexe are the strongest options here.

Can approved bike storage lower my insurance?

Some insurers recognise Secured by Design or LPCB-rated storage. Ask yours before you buy, and keep the receipt and certificate.

Do I still need to lock my bicycle inside?

Yes. Locking it to an anchor means a thief who gets the door open still can't wheel the bike away.

Are the locks included?

The Trimetals models include locks, hasps, an anchor and a cable or chain. The Asgard Annexe has a built-in 5-point lock, but you add your own anchor.

Can I put a bike storage shed on grass?

Not if you want it secure. It needs a level, solid base so it can be fixed down; on grass or loose slabs it could be tipped or lifted.

Will it keep electric bike batteries safe?

Steel is fire-resistant, which helps, but follow the maker's advice on charging and keep batteries indoors in very cold weather.