The Essential Guide to Finding the Best Small Storage Shed + Reviews
When space is limited and you want to fit in as many things as possible, searching for the best small storage sheds on the market could prove a smart idea. If you’re looking for such items, we reckon that the Keter Store-It-Out MIDI Outdoor Shed represents a great choice. It is made of stylish wood-looking materials in neutral colors that perfectly complement any home, patio, and garden, and will match the rest of your outdoor decor. The resin plastic and steel reinforcement ensure durability in all weather and temperature conditions. It can store two 32-gallon trash cans or it can be used as a storage unit with a total capacity of 30 cubic feet, enough to fit in a small barbeque, and other necessary tools in the garden. The product can be easily cleaned with water and mild detergent to maintain its original color and texture. If this affordable small storage shed is not available for sale right away, you will find the Rubbermaid Horizontal Storage Shed Small a great alternative.
Comparison table
1st Choice
The item is made of polypropylene resin plastic with steel reinforcement to ensure durability for a longer time. The wood-look texture gives an elegant touch and makes the shed easy to match with the rest of your patio furniture. It can store two 32-gallon trash cans and has a total capacity of 30 cubic feet.
The item seems rather lightweight, so it won’t withstand harsh winds. The floor is also weak and might break easily.
Designed to meet the requirements of any small garden or patio, the shed has enough room to store all your essentials. It looks classy and will match the rest of the garden decor, no matter the style.
2nd Best
Made from sturdy and reliable plastic, this lightweight yet durable storage shed is available in multiple sizes, depending on your preferences. The horizontal shed offers a total storage capacity of 18 cubic feet, enough to store all your gardening essentials and some tools. The floor is sturdy too.
The assembling instructions could have been more helpful. It takes at least two-three hours to put it together.
Designed to withstand wear and tear from seasonal changes, the shed will fit in beautifully with the rest of your patio or outdoor decor. Use it to store your gardening tools and accessories.
Also To Consider
Designed for outdoor use, this beautiful shed will protect your belongings from tear, wear, and harsh weather conditions. It is available in three different sizes and is great for storing patio cushions, grilling gear, gardening tools, and others. It is delivered in a pre-cut kit with all the necessary mounting accessories.
The assembling process takes a lot of time and will require some special tools or the help of a professional.
This storage shed complements any patio or backyard style thanks to its neutral light beige and grey colors. It is delivered in three sizes and is big enough to store all your essentials.
10 Best Small Storage Sheds (Updated Reviews) in 2024
It’s hard to create the perfect garden decor when the space is limited and you still need an elegant place to store all your gardening tools and grilling accessories. Showcased below you can find a list with some of the most sought-after outside storage sheds, together with their in-depth reviews, so you can easily find the item that best combines style and functionality.
Contents
- 1. Keter Store-It-Out MIDI Outdoor Shed
- 2. Rubbermaid Horizontal Storage Shed Small
- 3. SuncastStow Horizontal Storage Shed BMS4700
- 4. SunCast Horizontal Outdoor Storage Shed BMS2500
- 5. Arrow Brentwood Outdoor Steel Storage Shed
- 6. Keter Boston Resin Outdoor Shed Cabinet
- 7. Keter Elite Store Resin Outdoor Shed
- 8. SunCast Vertical Outdoor Storage Shed Vanilla
- 9. Kinying Horizontal Storage Shed For Backyards
- 10. Outdoor Home Design Plastic Storage Shed
- Our Comprehensive Buying Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Keter Store-It-Out MIDI Outdoor Shed
The product is made of polypropylene resin plastic and features a steel reinforcement to ensure durability and long life. The stylish wood-look texture in neutral colors will easily complement any garden or backyard and will match the rest of your outdoor decor.
The shed provides the perfect balance between style and functionality, boasting a total storage capacity of 30 cubic feet. Therefore, it is big enough to store two 32-gallon trash cans or all your gardening tools, as well as a small outdoor grill, and its necessary accessories.
One of the aspects we appreciated the most about the shed is its resistance to all temperatures and weather conditions. It won’t rust, corrode, chip or break easily, maintaining its original appearance and colors for a longer time.
Also, if you want to keep it clean and remove all stains, dust, debris, and dirt, all you have to do is wash it with mild detergents and lukewarm water.
Pros
It is small, compact, and versatile, which makes it the perfect choice for gardens and backyards with limited space.
It comes with all the necessary mounting hardware and detailed instructions on how to assemble it.
The storage shed provides enough room for two 32-gallon garbage bins or all your gardening and grilling tools and accessories.
Its design resembles real wood, while the neutral colors will allow it to easily match the rest of your outdoor patio decor and furniture.
Cons
Given that it is made of polypropylene resin plastic, you shouldn’t expect the shed to withstand strong winds or storms. The overall construction seems lightweight and flimsy, so it may not keep all your tools safe during a big storm. Nonetheless, it is resistant to water and cold temperatures, which still makes it a decent choice if you live in an area with warmer winters and hot summers.
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2. Rubbermaid Horizontal Storage Shed Small
When looking for affordable small storage sheds, you might want to take into account this product from Rubbermaid. It is available in various sizes, depending on your needs, and comes with all the necessary mounting hardware to ensure easy and fast installation. You can also opt from two choices – vertical or horizontal storage, depending on the size of your patio, garden, or backyard.
The product provides a storage capacity of 18 cubic feet, enough to keep your gardening tools, supplies, and even a small grill, together with all its accessories. It has a one-shelf capacity but you’ll have to purchase the shelf separately.
The item boasts a sturdy, double-wall construction and an impact-resistant floor, protecting your belongings from harsh weather conditions and differences in temperature. Therefore, it is suitable for outdoor and indoor use.
Another feature that we liked about the shed is its multiple-opening possibilities, providing easy access to all your gardening tools and supplies.
Pros
The item is sold in a neutral beige tone, so you can easily match it with any garden, backyard or patio style, and decor.
It offers a total storage capacity of 18 cubic feet, enough to store all your gardening tools and accessories, including your working boots, earthbags for your plants, cleaning supplies, and even a hose or a small grill.
It boasts a durable floor that is resistant to shocks and weather changes, protecting the inside of the shed from the damaging effects of rain, wind, or snow.
The two-opening design ensures versatility and easy access to the contents of the shed, wherever you are in your garden.
Cons
The assembling of the shed might not be a breeze for many inexperienced customers. The kit contains multiple screws that need to be put together, and the instructions are not always very clear. Altogether, it may take several hours to assemble the shed and make it functional.
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3. SuncastStow Horizontal Storage Shed BMS4700
If you’re looking for the best outdoor storage sheds within a reasonable budget, give this item from Suncast a chance. Designed for outdoor use, this compact and versatile shed is perfect for your patio, backyard, or garden. It is big enough to store all your gardening and grilling essentials, as well as garbage cans, tools, snowblowers, bikes, and others.
The multi-walled polypropylene resin panels are engineered to ensure long-lasting strength and stability, in all weather and temperature conditions. Therefore, you can rest assured all your belongings will remain safe, no matter the season or the temperatures outside.
The heavy-duty floor is reinforced and specially designed to withstand wear, tear, and shocks, providing enough stability to store heavy equipment, including snowblowers. Moreover, it will protect the items stored from leaks, rust, stains, dirt, dust, debris, and heavy winds.
The hinged lid technology provides seamless, corner-to-corner access to all the items stored. We also liked the three-door locking system and padlock hasp for increased security.
Pros
The shed provides a total storage capacity of 70 cubic feet, enough to store your garbage cans, lawn and gardening tools, accessories, as well as bikes, snowblowers, and other necessary items.
The product features a multi-walled polypropylene resin construction that is designed to withstand the abuse, shocks, and temperature changes, protecting your belongings from rain, snow, dust, dirt, debris, wind, and prolonged sunlight exposure.
The reinforced heavy-duty floor offers increased stability and creates a perfect environment for easily storing heavy equipment.
The three-door opening system ensures easy access to all your belongings, while the durable locking system will provide security and discretion from the curious eyes of your neighbors.
Cons
The product is shipped without the necessary assembling instructions, which means you’ll have to look for online videos and tutorials to mount the shed. Therefore, the entire installation might take several hours, even for those who are experienced.
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4. SunCast Horizontal Outdoor Storage Shed BMS2500
The Suncast storage sheds are known for their versatility, affordability, and durability, which makes them great investments for anyone with a limited backyard space. The new BMS2500 shed provides a total storage capacity of 34 cubic feet, enough for all your gardening tools, accessories, and grills.
It is wide enough to perfectly conceal two regular trash bins, providing a pleasant aesthetic to your backyard. Also, the shed comes in neutral colors, which makes it easy to blend in and match to the rest of your outdoor decor.
The product is made of multi-wall resin panels that are engineered to deliver strength and stability in all weather conditions. Therefore, you can rest assured all your belongings will remain safe and protected from dust, dirt, sunlight, debris, rain, heavy winds, and even snow.
The shed features an easy-lift lid with a prop rod to deliver easy access to all your items, whenever you need them.
Pros
This shed provides a total storage capacity of 38 cubic feet, perfect for patios, small backyards, and gardens, yet wide enough to store two trash bins or your most popular gardening and grilling tools.
The three-door locking system offers security and keeps your belongings safe when you’re not around.
The neutral color scheme allows the shed to easily blend in with the rest of your garden decor, adding style while still remaining fully functional.
The product is versatile, easy to assemble, and lightweight enough so you can change its location according to your needs.
Cons
The main issue with the shed seems to be that the doors are not sturdy enough. If you shake them well enough, they will fall apart, which makes the locking system rather useless. However, it remains a trustworthy unit if you only plan on storing gardening accessories to keep them away from weather abuse.
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5. Arrow Brentwood Outdoor Steel Storage Shed
If you’re looking for the best storage sheds within a reasonable budget, this item from Arrow might be a good fit for your family needs. It comes ready to assemble with pre-cut and pre-drilled parts, and, thanks to the easy-to-follow instructions, mounting it will be a breeze.
The shed provides a total storage capacity of 93 cubic feet, more than you would normally get for pre-made sheds. Therefore, you’ll have plenty of space to keep all your lawn equipment, gardening tools, pool accessories, grill, and other useful things you might have around your backyard.
The shed is constructed from durable electro-galvanized steel and is treated with zinc to resist wear, tear, corrosion, and rust. Therefore, it is a trustworthy option when it comes to storing your belongings during the wintertime.
Unlike plastic-made constructions, the unit won’t collapse, break or chip easily, which means it can withstand various weather conditions and temperature changes, without affecting its structure in time.
Pros
The shed offers generous storage space, enough to keep together all your gardening, lawn, barbeque, and pool tools and accessories.
It is made of galvanized steel and comes with a zinc coating to protect it from rust and corrosion, which means the shed is sturdier than other items you might get for a similar price.
One of the best things about the unit is that it comes ready-to-assemble with all the necessary pre-cut and pre-drilled parts, so you won’t have to spend days putting all the pieces together and making the shed functional.
The high-quality steel roof is designed to reduce water pooling, providing total coverage for 16 square feet.
Cons
You’ll still require some assembling tools to mount the shed. The manufacturer recommends using gloves and safety glasses, a step ladder for the roof, pliers, a level, a utility knife, a cordless screwdriver, and other accessories. Make sure you have all of these tools before you start assembling.
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6. Keter Boston Resin Outdoor Shed Cabinet
It may not send you directly to Narnia, but this shed should be on your shortlist of useful products when you deal with limited space in your garden or backyard. The product is made of polypropylene resin and is easy to maintain. It is lightweight and sturdy at the same time, making a perfect addition to your garden.
Due to the choice of materials, the shed won’t peel, dent, or rust in time, which means it will maintain its original shape and appearance for a longer time. And, thanks to the neutral color, it can easily match any type of patio or garden decor, creating an elegant and functional style.
The storage cabinet is designed for both indoor and outdoor use and features a sturdy roof that won’t allow extra moisture, rain, snow, wind, or dust to alter the items you store inside the shed. The shed comes with three adjustable shelves, each holding up to 55 pounds.
Pros
The product is lightweight and portable, which means you can easily install it in any corner of your backyard, garden, or lawn.
It is designed for both indoor and outdoor use and, thanks to its rough construction, it won’t peel, change its color, rust, corrode, or chip in time. Therefore, it is a reliable solution for storing all your gardening and barbeque accessories.
It features three adjustable shelves that allow you to store items up to 55 pounds on each shelf, from rain boots to buckets, gardening tools, hoses, and other accessories.
The doors are lockable to keep the contents safe but you’ll have to purchase a padlock separately.
Cons
The item isn’t sturdy enough to withstand heavy rains, snowfalls, or storms, which means it may be a good idea to bring the shed inside once the weather gets colder or during the hurricane season.
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7. Keter Elite Store Resin Outdoor Shed
Boasting a total storage capacity of 41 cubic feet, this outdoor shed represents the perfect place to store all your gardening essentials, barbeque tools, and accessories, as well as your kids’ toys or other important things.
The item is made of polypropylene resin plastic and features steel reinforcement to ensure increased durability. The construction won’t break, chip, corrode, or rust, which means the shed can be kept in your garden all-year-round, providing a safe space for all your essentials.
Thanks to the hydraulic pistons, the shed boasts an automatic easy-opening mechanism, which makes it versatile, and convenient to use. It can also be used to store two large 63-gallon trash bins while maintaining your backyard’s elegant style and design.
The shed can be easily cleaned with warm water and mild detergents to maintain its appearance for a longer time. And, thanks to the UV coating, you won’t have to worry about its color fading in time.
Pros
Are you looking for lifetime storage sheds that won’t take forever to build? This product is the perfect addition for all small gardens, patios, and backyards.
The shed is made of polypropylene resin plastic, a material that is sturdy and lightweight at the same time, ensuring easy assembling. It is convenient to carry and assemble in any corner of your garden or patio, creating a unique storage space with a total capacity of 41 cubic feet.
Equipped with hydraulic pistons, the shed features an automatic easy-opening mechanism, allowing you to access all your gardening equipment, barbeque tools, or your kid’s toys.
The product is durable, weatherproof, and features a protective coating that repels UV light and water, preventing them from damaging the shed’s structure or appearance. As a result, it will maintain its original appearance for a longer time.
Cons
We don’t suggest you keep the storage shed outside during the hurricane or rainy season as it may not be strong enough to hold on to all your things.
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8. SunCast Vertical Outdoor Storage Shed Vanilla
Continue reading this small storage sheds review to find out why this item from SunCast is amongst customers’ favorites. This vertical tool shed provides a total storage capacity of 20 cubic feet, enough to keep long-handheld tools, garden accessories, and even grilling tools or other things that might come in handy in your backyard.
The sleek design with neutral tones fits any style and outdoor decor, creating the perfect combination between charm and functionality.
The shed is made of durable materials and can resist all types of weather and temperatures. As a result, it won’t break, chip, rust, corrode, or wear in time due to prolonged sunlight exposure, rain, heavy winds, or snow.
Another feature we like about this small storage shed is that it comes with lockable doors that allow you to keep all your belongings safe and away from the curious eyes of your neighbors, whenever you’re out of the house.
Pros
This small and lightweight storage shed is designed for both indoor and outdoor use and provides a total storage capacity of 20 cubic feet, enough to keep most of your gardening tools and accessories within easy reach whenever you’re working outside.
The sleek and slender shape of the shed won’t occupy too much space on your patio or porch, while the neutral tones allow you to easily match it with the rest of your garden decor, creating a unique style that is also functional.
The vertical shape of the shed is perfect for storing long hand-held gardening tools and items, including shovels, rakes, and buckets.
It comes with two lockable doors that allow you to keep your belongings safe and away from the curious eyes of your neighbors or kids.
Cons
The doors don’t align perfectly, which means you won’t get a perfect seal of the interior of the cabinet. Thus, moisture, debris, and dust might get inside, damaging some of the items you store.
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9. Kinying Horizontal Storage Shed For Backyards
If you’re looking for cheap small storage sheds, take a look at this new product from Kinying. It is made of durable materials, designed for both indoor and outdoor use, and, what’s most important, it is easy to assemble.
The instructions are updated to be even simpler, so you can put the shed together or disassemble it in less than one hour. There is even a video available to guide you through the process step by step.
The shed features multiple opening directions, including a flip cover that can be held in place with a lever so you can quickly and easily store all the things you want inside. Also, the two latches allow you to put a lock on the shed and keep all your belongings safe and away from the curious eyes of your kids, pets, or neighbors.
The product is durable and won’t break, chip, corrode, or rust in time, protecting all the things inside from harsh weather conditions and extreme temperatures.
Pros
Versatile and lightweight, the shed has the perfect dimensions to store all your gardening or barbeque essentials, without occupying too much space in your backyard or on your patio.
It features three doors that work independently, providing multiple opening directions so you can easily reach the contents of the shed, without having to bend or stretch too much.
The product is made of durable materials and is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, protecting your tools and accessories from harsh weather conditions and direct sunlight exposure.
Unlike many similar items, this accessory is easy to assemble thanks to the detailed instructions, so it won’t take you more than one hour to make it completely functional.
Cons
Unfortunately, the lid can be easily opened by animals or children, so you might consider putting a lock on it too if you want to keep all your belongings safe.
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10. Outdoor Home Design Plastic Storage Shed
Are you looking for some affordable yet reliable outdoor storage sheds? This product from Outdoor Home Design can fit any backyard, garden, or patio, no matter how small or narrow it is, providing a suitable space to store some of your gardening or barbeque accessories.
Its neutral brown colors can easily match any type of outdoor decor, providing the perfect combination between style and functionality.
The shed has a total storage capacity of 30 cubic feet and is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. The polypropylene resin material is water-resistant and prevents harmful UV rays from damaging the structure of the shed or its contents.
You won’t have to worry about the shed rusting or corroding in time either, while the wood-look texture gives a touch of elegance. The included floor panel can accommodate up to 330 pounds per square foot of weight.
Pros
The item is lightweight and versatile, which means you can easily assemble it anywhere you want. It makes a great addition to small patios, gardens, balconies, and even rooftops.
It may be small and compact but can hold up to 330 pounds per square foot of weight, which makes the shed big enough to store all your gardening and grilling tools, as well as other accessories.
The shed is made from polypropylene resin plastic that resembles wood, which, combined with its neutral colors, allow the item to easily match any garden outdoor decor and style.
Both the doors and the lid can be opened to ensure easy access to all the shed’s contents, without too much struggle.
Cons
Although the item is weatherproof, keep in mind that it is still made of plastic, which means it is not designed to withstand heavy winds, storms, or heavy rain. When the temperatures drop, we suggest you keep the unit inside your house.
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Our Comprehensive Buying Guide
How can you find the best small storage shed with so many good products available on the market? One easy way would be to carefully read this buying guide and identify the most important features that will help you make the right decision, depending on the size of your patio, and your family’s needs.
Size
When you can’t afford to build a full-size storage shed for all your gardening tools and accessories, the best compromise solution is a smaller unit. However, size remains of crucial importance, given that you might need a good place to keep some of your seasonal items.
Choose a shed that is big enough to meet your storage requirements without feeling too heavy or occupying most of your backyard. If horizontal storage is out of the question, vertical sheds represent a great alternative. You will benefit from more racks and, no matter the shed’s height, it will look beautiful near your house.
To make sure you picked the right size for your small outdoor storage sheds, measure twice before heading to any hardware store or searching for online small storage sheds reviews. As we previously mentioned, the unit must match the overall style of your garden or patio while still being completely functional.
Materials used
After determining the right size for your needs, you need to take into account the shed’s overall structure and the materials used to manufacture it.
Keep in mind that we are talking about permanent structures, which means they need to withstand extreme weather conditions and temperatures without chipping, breaking, changing their shape or size.
That being said, plastic units are out of the question given that they cannot withstand heavy winds and storms. And, once the hurricane season approaches, there is no way you can count on the improvised shed to shelter your gardening tools and accessories.
Wooden structures are a great choice as long as the material option is sturdy and enriched with protective coats that won’t allow water, dust, dirt, or stains to damage it in time.
Steel might seem a decent choice too but it can rust and corrode when exposed to prolonged direct sunlight, as well as rain, and snow. Therefore, steel constructions are preferred for their durability and resistance to heavy winds and storms but need to be treated to also withstand water without rusting or corroding.
Polypropylene resin plastic storage sheds represent another convenient and affordable choice. They are lightweight and easy to assemble, which means they deliver increased versatility and functionality. If they are combined with a steel structure that provides them the required resistance to wind and storms, these sheds remain amongst the best options on the market for small gardens and backyards.
Shelves and racks
If your outdoor space is limited, you need to learn how to compromise to create the perfect storage sheds where you can keep all your gardening, barbequing, and outdoor equipment all-year-round.
Those who cannot afford to build a shed the size of a one-story house need to pick a DIY item that not only looks pretty but also matches the dimensions of their garden and provides enough storage space. Therefore, shelves, racks, and other storage accessories are necessary if you want to maximize every inch of your shed.
Detachable shelves made of heavy-duty steel or metal are sturdy and can support more weight, which means they are suitable for storing heavy gardening equipment and tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How to choose the right location for a shed?
The location of your shed can be chosen according to the design of your garden or backyard. Generally speaking, it should be assembled in a place with sufficient shade and protected by surrounding structures to prevent wear and tear after just a couple of years.
However, it also depends on the shed’s overall sturdiness and structure. If the product is built from heavy-duty materials that will withstand any changes in temperature and weather conditions, you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect spot for it.
Keep the shed within a reasonable distance from your house if you wish to carry or drag heavy accessories or pieces of equipment to store inside. Depending on its size, you can choose to place the cheap small storage shed either in one of your garden’s corners or next to your house or garage.
If you care about the style and architecture of your garden, you can talk to your landscaper and come up with the best storage solution for the shed so it perfectly fits with the rest of the decoration pieces.
Q: Do you need a foundation for a shed?
The answer to this question also depends on the shed’s size. Full-sized units can be as big as a two-story house, providing enough space inside to keep vehicles, old furniture, tools, and heavy machines or equipment.
A shed that is designed that big might require a foundation, especially if you live in an area with seasonal hurricanes, storms, and tornados, so we suggest building a sturdy and reliable shed from the beginning.
However, not all full-sized sheds are built with a foundation, especially when we’re talking about metallic or wooden structures. Most of them are built directly on the ground so that they can be easily demolished when needed and rebuilt.
As for plastic outdoor storage sheds, many of them are the size of cabinets or closets, so there is no need for a foundation. They are lightweight and portable, which means you can place them anywhere you want in your garden, depending on your needs.
Q: Do you need a permit for a storage shed?
This also depends on the size of your construction and the local legislation. In most areas across the country, you won’t require a building permit for a small shed that doesn’t exceed 6×8 feet or 8×10 feet. However, larger storage buildings will challenge the zoning restrictions, so you need to know the rules and regulations for your area.
Garage-sized sheds like 16×24 feet or 16×20 feet may require a building permit, depending on where you live.
Keep in mind that it is the homeowner’s responsibility to obtain the building permit prior to the installation, as most of these establishments are built from scratch by homeowners on their own. Even when you ask for professional help from a contractor, you will still need to handle legal matters by yourself.
Therefore, we strongly suggest you read your county’s laws and obtain the permit if you want to build a large shed to store all your gardening, grilling, and outdoor tools.
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