Free Shed Cost Calculator - Cost to Build a Shed (2026)

Building a shed costs $25 to $160 per square foot in 2026. A prefab metal or resin kit runs $18-$55/sf, a site-built wood shed $40-$100/sf, a lofted barn-style shed $70-$180/sf, and a powered garage-style workshop $100-$250/sf. A typical 10x12 wood storage shed lands around $5,000-$9,000 on a gravel pad.

A 10x12 shed (120 square feet) costs $5,000-$9,000 as a standard site-built wood shed on a gravel pad, or $2,500-$5,000 as a prefab kit. Add insulation, a window package, and a dedicated electrical circuit to turn it into a workshop and a 10x12 build climbs to $13,000-$22,000. The foundation alone runs $240-$1,440 depending on whether you choose gravel or a poured slab.

A prefab or kit shed is cheaper up front - often 20-40% less than a site-built shed of the same size - because it uses thinner materials and standardized parts. A site-built shed costs more but lasts longer, uses real framing and roofing, and can be matched to your house. For plain storage, buy a kit. For a workshop, office, or anything you will spend time in, build it.

It depends on size and location. Many jurisdictions exempt sheds under 120-200 square feet from a building permit, but setback rules, easements, and HOA approval can still apply. The moment you add electrical, plumbing, or exceed the size threshold, you almost always need a permit. As with any structure, rules vary by region - call your local building department before you pour a foundation, not after.

I price sheds by the square foot for the shell, then add foundation and any power separately. For a basic site-built wood shed I start at $40-$70/sf, add $2-$5/sf for a gravel pad, and price electrical as its own line at $1,000-$3,000 if the client wants lights and outlets. Then I layer in delivery or on-site framing labor, permits, and my overhead and profit. Use our Contractor Estimate Template to turn those line items into a clean bid the homeowner can actually read.

A shed estimate takes me 15 to 30 minutes by hand once I know the size, the foundation, and whether it needs power. The slow part is pricing the door and window package and confirming the permit rules for that lot. With EstimationPro I cut that to a few minutes - snap photos, talk through the scope, and it builds the line-item estimate so I can quote the homeowner the same day instead of next week.

Most sheds do best on a gravel pad ($2-$5/sq ft) - it drains water away, keeps the floor dry, and costs a fraction of concrete. Skids or concrete blocks ($1-$3/sq ft) work for small, light storage sheds on level ground. Pour a concrete slab ($6-$12/sq ft) only for a workshop floor or if you are storing heavy equipment. A bad or skipped foundation is the number-one reason sheds rot and rack out of square.