How much does it cost to have a shed built?

Most handy people and fitters quote a fixed price for building a flat-pack shed, based on its size and type.

A small timber shed of 6x4 or 7x5 feet usually costs £100–£180 to assemble and takes one person around half a day. A medium 8x6 shed is typically £150–£250. Large sheds of 10x8 and above, or ones with double doors, windows and partitions, run £220–£400 and often need two people.

The assembly price normally covers building the walls, floor, roof and doors, fitting the roof felt supplied, and hanging the door. It usually assumes a level, ready base is already in place. If it is not, the base is a separate job.

Ask whether the price includes treating the timber. Many flat-pack sheds are only dip-treated in the factory and need a coat of preserver soon after building, which takes extra time and materials.

Timber sheds are the most common. Overlap cladding is cheapest, shiplap and tongue and groove are sturdier. They are reasonably quick to build, but the panels are heavy and the roof needs felting.

Metal sheds are lighter but come with hundreds of small screws and bolts, and the instructions can be hard going. They need a very level, square base and must be anchored down, as they can move in high winds. Assembly takes longer than you might expect for the size, so prices are similar to or above a timber shed.

Plastic or resin sheds are usually the quickest to put together, with panels that slot or clip in. They still need a flat base, and some larger models need two people. They are often the cheapest to have assembled.

Log cabins and garden rooms are a different category, with thick interlocking logs, and are normally priced as a bigger project rather than shed assembly.

Every shed needs a firm, level base, and a poor base is the most common reason for doors that stick and floors that rot.

Paving slabs on a compacted sub-base are a popular choice, typically £250–£500 for an 8x6 shed including materials and labour.

A concrete base is the most solid option, typically £300–£600 for an 8x6 shed. It needs time to cure before the shed goes on, so it is often a separate visit.

A treated timber frame or a plastic grid base filled with gravel costs less, around £100–£300, and works well for smaller sheds and on slightly uneven ground.

The base should be a little smaller than the shed floor so rainwater runs off rather than pooling under the walls. Most sheds do not need planning permission if they meet permitted development rules on height and position, but check if the shed will be near a boundary, in front of the house, or if you are in a conservation area or the property is listed.

Size and type of shed come first. Bigger sheds and metal sheds take longer.

Whether the base is ready. If the fitter has to prepare ground, lay slabs or level a frame, that is extra.

Access. Flat-pack panels are long and heavy. If they have to be carried through the house, up steps or along a narrow side path, it takes longer.

Extras such as treating the timber, fitting shelving, guttering, a better roof covering such as shingles or rubber, or a security lock.

Removing an old shed. Dismantling and taking it away usually costs £80–£250, more if it contains asbestos cement sheets. Asbestos must be handled and disposed of properly, so do not break it up yourself.

Waste. Packaging from a flat-pack shed is bulky, and anyone taking it or an old shed away should be a registered waste carrier.

Add the parts together for a rough budget.

1. Assembly for your size and type of shed from the table above. 2. A base, unless you already have a level one the right size. 3. Removal of an old shed, if there is one. 4. Treatment, roof upgrades or extras you want.

Example: a new 8x6 timber shed replacing an old one. Removing the old shed £80–£250, a timber frame base £100–£300, assembly £150–£250, and a coat of preserver £30–£60. That comes to roughly £360–£860 on top of the cost of the shed itself.

Summerhouses and greenhouses are priced in a similar way but take longer. A small aluminium greenhouse is fiddly, with lots of glazing clips, and a summerhouse is usually heavier and more detailed than a shed, so expect £200–£600 for assembly.

On BidMyJob you can post the job with the shed's make, model and size, plus a photo of where it is going, and local handy people bid.

Get the base right first. A fitter can work much faster on a level, square base, and you avoid problems later.

Have the shed delivered close to where it will go, and unpack and check all the parts before the fitter arrives. Missing parts are a common cause of a second visit.

Treat the timber yourself after assembly if you are happy to do it.

Deal with the packaging through your own recycling or tip trips.

Book outside spring. Sheds are most in demand from March to June, and fitters can be easier to book and more flexible on price in autumn and winter, weather permitting.