Small Bike Sheds

How big is a compact bike shed?

There is no official size, but in practice a compact bike shed takes up about two square metres of garden or less. In this range that means footprints from 6ft x 2ft 6in (1.89m x 0.75m) up to 7ft 5in x 3ft 4in (2.3m x 1m), with heights between roughly 1.1m and 1.5m. That low, slim shape lets a bike storage shed sit under a window or along a boundary without blocking light or taking over the view.

The number that matters most is the internal width, not the size in the product name. A typical adult bike is around 1.7m to 1.8m long from tyre to tyre, and a 29er mountain bike or a long-wheelbase e-bike can be closer to 1.9m. The steel sheds here offer between 1,725mm and 2,230mm of clear width inside, while the slimmest wooden shed is just 630mm deep at the base.

Measure your space first

1. Measure the longest bike from the front of the front tyre to the back of the rear tyre, and the widest handlebars.
2. Mark out the footprint on the ground, allowing for any roof overhang (often 40-130mm on each side).
3. Check the opening: a lift-up top needs clear air above it, and double doors need room to swing out in front.
4. Look for obstacles such as drainpipes, meter boxes, gates, window sills and the bins.
5. Check the ground: most steel bike sheds need a level concrete or paved surface they can be bolted to.

How many bikes fit?

Most of the compact steel sheds here are rated for up to three adult bicycles, the two Access models take four, and the timber sheds suit one to three bikes plus a few garden tools. Bikes go in side by side, so the depth decides how many you get in.

Turning the handlebars and alternating the bikes nose to tail helps a lot. Pedals are usually the part that snags, so set them level before you wheel each bike in.

Small bike sheds compared

Shop pages usually show one bike store at a time. Here are the main sheds in this range side by side, using the specs from Shedstore's UK listings. Prices move every day, so we give bands rather than exact figures.

The cream and green versions of each Trimetals shed share the same sizes as the anthracite ones listed above, so you can pick a colour to suit the house without losing any space.

Metal or wooden: which bike storage shed suits you?

Both materials work well on a small footprint. The choice comes down to budget, how much security you need and how you want the shed to look in the garden.

Metal bike sheds

• Security: steel walls can't be prised apart like timber boards, and several models carry independent security approvals.
• Low maintenance: galvanised, PVC-coated panels never need painting or treating.
• Long guarantees: 25 years on Trimetals panels, 10 years on the Asgard sheds.
• Trade-off: they cost two to four times as much as a timber shed, and need fixing down to a hard surface.

Our full metal bike sheds range has the same makers in bigger sizes, and you can browse every Trimetals bike shed or Asgard bike shed in one place.

Wooden bike sheds

• Price: the cheapest outdoor bike storage, giving bikes a dry, lockable home out of the weather.
• Looks: natural timber softens a fence line and can be painted to match the house.
• Space for tools: the Forest Garden sheds hold around 2,000 litres, enough for bikes plus a mower or garden tools.
• Trade-off: a hasp and staple and thin cladding (7mm overlap, 12mm shiplap) are easier to force than steel.

All the timber sheds here are pressure treated, which is why they carry 10 or 15-year anti-rot guarantees without yearly treatment. Shiplap cladding sheds rain better than rough-sawn boards. See more styles on our wooden bike sheds page.

Roof styles: pent, apex or lift-up top

A pent roof slopes one way, keeps the height down and suits a shed tucked against a wall or fence, which is why most slim bike sheds use one. An apex roof peaks in the middle, sheds rain both ways and gives a little more headroom for hanging helmets and tools. On the steel sheds the whole roof is the lid, so the roof style is really about access.

Getting bikes in and out of a small space

In a tight garden the way a shed opens matters as much as its size. Storage you have to wrestle with every morning soon becomes a dumping ground.

Lift-up tops

Most Trimetals sheds and both Access models have a roof that lifts right up on springs or gas struts, with the front panel opening too. You stand at the front and roll each bike out without stepping inside. This needs no swing room in front, so it is the best choice for narrow side passages and front paths.

Double doors

The wooden sheds and the Annexe use double doors. They work well where there is room to open them, and the doors on the Shire shed span 1,712mm, so the whole front opens up. Allow clear ground in front equal to one door's width, roughly half the width of the shed.

Ramps for heavy bikes

Electric bikes often weigh over 20kg, and lifting one over a raised sill gets old fast. The ramped Trimetals sheds come with a one-piece aluminium ramp on reinforced hinges, so you wheel the bike straight in. Asgard also makes versions with power built in if you want to charge batteries outside.

How secure is a small bike shed?

Bike theft from gardens and sheds is common across the UK, so security deserves more thought than the colour. Look for these independent marks rather than words like "heavy duty":

• LPS 1175 Security Rating 1: the Loss Prevention Certification Board's attack test, held by the Trimetals Protect-a-Cycle sheds.
• Secured by Design: the official UK police security initiative. The anthracite Protect-a-Cycle carries the mark.
• Sold Secure: independent lock testing, graded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond. The Protect-a-Cycle comes with two Silver-rated padlocks, a ground anchor and an alarmed cable.
• Insurance and locksmith approval: the Annexe and Access sheds list approvals from the police, insurers, the UK Locksmiths Association and the LPCB.

Whatever you buy, bolt the shed down, chain each bike to an anchor inside, and keep the frame numbers on BikeRegister, the national database police use to return stolen bikes. Check what your home insurance asks for when bicycles are kept outdoors, as some policies want a lockable, secure bike storage building. For the most secure bike storage in every size, see our secure bike sheds page.

Where to put a bike storage shed in a small garden

The best spot for a garden bike shed is close to the gate or the path you ride out on, so the bike comes out and goes straight onto the street. A side return is ideal for outdoor bike storage: it is usually wasted space, it is out of sight from the road and a slim shed leaves room to walk past.

A back garden corner works too, but think about the route. Wheeling a muddy bike across a lawn every day wears a track, so lay a few slabs or a gravel path to the door. On a patio, leave space around the shed so you can still sweep and reach any drains.

Bases and installation

Every bike shed needs a firm, level base. A concrete pad or a few paving slabs bedded on sand and cement is the usual answer, and for the steel sheds it is not optional: the Trimetals and Asgard models are made to be bolted to concrete or paving, and the fixings come in the box. Fixing down stops thieves tipping the shed over and stops wind catching the roof.

The wooden sheds are lighter and more forgiving. The Forest Garden models stand on pressure-treated bearers that lift the timber off the wet, while the no-floor Shire and Forest versions sit straight onto slabs, so you can wheel a muddy bike in without spoiling a wooden floor.

Self-assembly is realistic for most people with basic tools and a helper. Shedstore lists about two hours for the Shire shed and two to four hours for the steel sheds, with major parts arriving factory assembled. Asgard also offers professional installation on some models if you would rather not do it yourself.

Do you need planning permission for a bike shed?

In England, garden storage buildings are usually permitted development, which means no planning application, as long as they meet a few limits. The ones that matter for outdoor bike storage are:

• Not in front of the house: nothing on land forward of the wall forming the principal elevation, so a front garden shed normally needs permission.
• Height near a boundary: a maximum of 2.5m within 2m of a boundary. Every shed on this page is under 1.6m, so it can go hard against a fence.
• Coverage: outbuildings and extensions must not cover more than half the land around the original house.
• Special cases: flats and maisonettes have no permitted development rights, conservation areas restrict buildings at the side of a house, and listed buildings always need consent.

If the only space is the front garden, ask your council's planning team before you buy. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, and the government's technical guidance has the full detail for England.

Keeping bikes dry inside a compact shed

A small shed is a sealed box, so even in dry weather, damp outdoor air can condense under a steel roof on cold nights. To keep chains and brake discs free of rust:

• Let wet bikes drip off before you put them away, and wipe the chain.
• Leave a gap between the shed and any soil so rain can drain away from the walls.
• Fit the optional plywood floor in the Trimetals lift-up sheds if you want a dry surface for kit.
• Keep leaves and debris clear of the base and the roof seals.
• Treat wooden sheds with a water-based preserver every few years to keep the colour, even though the timber is pressure treated.

Light maintenance like this is enough. Galvanised steel needs nothing more than an occasional wash, and oiling the struts and hinges once a year keeps the opening smooth.

Storing more than bikes

A compact bike store often ends up as the home for everything with wheels or a muddy sole. The steel sheds have room behind the bikes for a pump, helmets and a toolbox, and the Trojan Plus from Asgard is a tall walk-in version with 2,080mm of internal height for bikes and garden tools together. If a mower has to share the space, the Forest Garden 6x3 store was built as a bike or mower store, a neat garden bike storage solution for small plots.

Which small bike shed should you buy?

• Lowest budget: the Forest pent or Shire wooden sheds give two bikes a dry, lockable home for the price of a good lock.
• Narrowest space: the Shire shed, at 630mm deep at the base, is the slimmest here.
• Everyday commuting: a Trimetals shed with a lift-up top, with the bike out in seconds and nothing to maintain.
• Heavy e-bikes: a ramped Trimetals so you never lift the bike.
• Highest security: the Protect-a-Cycle (LPS 1175 SR1, Secured by Design) or the LPCB-approved Annexe.
• Four bikes in a small garden: the Access, or browse every 4 bike shed.

Need more room than a compact shed gives you? Our large bike sheds take a whole family's bikes, and motorbike sheds cover scooters and motorcycles.

Small bike sheds FAQs

What size bike shed do I need for two bikes?

Look for at least 1.8m of internal width and around 0.7m of depth. A 6ft x 2ft 6in or 6ft x 3ft shed holds two adult bikes comfortably, and most of the steel models here take three.

Will an e-bike fit in a compact bike shed?

Usually, yes, but check its length against the internal width. A ramped shed is far easier for heavy bikes, and the Access Plus is made to fit 29-inch wheels.

Can I put a bike shed in my front garden?

In England, an outbuilding forward of the front wall of the house is not permitted development, so you would normally need planning permission. Check with your council first.

Are wooden bike sheds secure?

They stop opportunists, especially with a strong padlock and an anchor inside. For valuable bikes, a steel shed with LPCB approval is much harder to break into.

How long does a bike shed take to build?

Between two and four hours for most models with two people. The steel sheds arrive partly assembled and come with fixings for a concrete base.