What is a lean-to shed?

A shed with a single-slope roof: one tall wall and one short wall, with the rafters running from one to the other. With no ridge it is simpler to frame than a gable shed, it needs no rafter ties, and it fits against a fence or the side of a house where a gable roof would not.

Which way does the roof slope?

In these plans the front wall, with the double door, is the tall one and the roof falls to the back. That puts the most headroom where you walk in and sends rain away from the door. Set the low back wall toward the fence or the house, at least a foot away from it, and keep that side clear of paths.

Can I attach a lean-to shed to my house?

These plans are drawn freestanding: four walls, skids and a roof that bears on its own front and back walls. Fixing a shed to a house brings in ledger boards, flashing against the house wall and usually a permit, and none of that is in these plans. Leave a gap of at least a foot between the back wall and the house so both can dry.

What roof pitch do the plans use?

4 in 12 on every size, the lowest pitch most asphalt-shingle makers allow with a single layer of underlayment. The front wall is as much taller than the back wall as the roof rises across the depth, so deeper sheds have taller front walls: the 4x8 front wall is framed at about 7'-7", the 10x12 at about 9'-3".

Do I need a permit for a lean-to shed?

All 5 sizes are 120 sq ft or less, under the 200 sq ft permit exemption for storage sheds in the current IRC (R105.2) and at or under the 120 sq ft limit many towns still use. Zoning rules on setbacks, easements and HOA rules apply at every size, so call your building department before you buy lumber.

What foundation does a lean-to shed need?

The same as our gable sheds: pressure-treated 4x6 skids, rated for ground contact, on solid concrete blocks set every 4 ft over a 4" crushed-gravel pad 1 ft wider than the shed all round. No concrete pour. The 4x8 and 6x8 sit on two skids, the deeper sizes on three.

Lean-to shed plans (free PDF)

A single-slope storage shed on skids in 5 sizes, from 4x8 to 10x12 (deep × wide). The tall front wall carries a double door, the roof falls to a lower back wall, and the whole shed is framed from standard 2x4s and 2x6s with T1-11 siding. Pick a size, check its lumber and cost, and download the plan. No email needed.

3-D view of the 8x10 lean-to shed: tall front wall with a double door, single-slope roof falling to the back, T1-11 siding and corner boards, on skids — Rendered from the plan model for the 8x10 size.

Size (deep × wide)

Mower, wheelbarrow and bikes behind a 5 ft door, with shelving down both ends.

Floor: 8 ft deep × 10 ft wide (80 sq ft), inside 7'-5" x 9'-5"
Overall: 10'-2.75" wide x 9' deep x 10'-4" high
Walls: front 102-7/8" framed, back 72"; headroom 8'-6.75" at the front, 5'-9" at the back
Door: double, 60" × 75.5" opening in the tall front wall
Roof: single slope, 4 in 12, 6 2x6 rafters at 24" centres, 95.9 sq ft
Lumber: about 81 boards: 4 × 1x4 x 10', 10 × 1x4 x 8', 11 × 2x4 x 10', 34 × 2x4 x 8', 8 × 2x6 x 10', 11 × 2x6 x 8', 3 × 4x6 x 10'
Sheets (4×8): 3 floor plywood, 4 roof plywood, 11 T1-11
Materials: roughly $1,800–$2,410 (2026 US prices)

Download the free 8x10 lean-to planPDF, 18 pages · no email needed

Premium edition (33 pages, $19.99) adds the cut list, cutting diagrams, sheet layouts and shopping list.

4x8 lean-to shed plan (PDF, 18 pages)

6x8 lean-to shed plan (PDF, 18 pages)

8x10 lean-to shed plan (PDF, 18 pages)

8x12 lean-to shed plan (PDF, 18 pages)

10x12 lean-to shed plan (PDF, 19 pages)

Lean-to sizes side by side

Floor area, wall heights, door, lumber, sheets and estimated material cost for each lean-to size
Size	Floor	Front / back wall	Door	Boards	4×8 sheets	Materials (est.)
4x8	32 sq ft	90-7/8" / 76"	48"	58	10	$1,110–$1,490
6x8	48 sq ft	94-7/8" / 72"	48"	68	12	$1,280–$1,720
8x10	80 sq ft	102-7/8" / 72"	60"	81	18	$1,800–$2,410
8x12	96 sq ft	102-7/8" / 72"	72"	87	21	$2,020–$2,710
10x12	120 sq ft	110-7/8" / 72"	72"	96	24	$2,320–$3,110

Sizes are depth × width: a 4x8 is 4 ft from front to back and 8 ft along the door wall. Wall heights are framed, floor deck to the top of the double top plate. Estimates use typical 2026 US home-center prices for lumber, sheets, roofing, hardware and gravel; price your own list.

Drawings

Front elevation of the 8x10 lean-to shed with the framing width, door size, front wall top and roof height dimensioned — Front: double door in the tall wall, 10'-4" to the top of the roof.

End elevation of the 8x10 lean-to shed showing the single-slope roof, the tall front wall and the low back wall — End: roof at 4 in 12, falling to the back.

Front wall framing of the 8x10 lean-to shed: full-height studs, door header, cripple studs and siding-joint blocks — Front wall: 60" opening, doubled 2x6 header, cripples above.

End wall framing of the 8x10 lean-to shed with the rake studs cut to the roof slope — End wall: studs to the back-wall height, rake studs above.

Shown for the 8x10. Every free PDF has these drawings plus the floor and roof framing plans for its own size.

What the build looks like

Step 1. Prepare the site
Step 2. Cut the framing
Step 3. Lay the skids
Step 4. Build the floor frame
Step 5. Lay the floor
Step 6. Frame the front (tall) wall
Step 7. Frame the back (low) wall
Step 8. Frame the end walls
Step 9. Raise the walls
Step 10. Set the rafters
Step 11. Frame the rakes
Step 12. Sheath the roof
Step 13. Roof it
Step 14. End siding
Step 15. Front and back siding
Step 16. Build and hang the doors
Step 17. Corner boards

The free PDF has these 17 steps in full, with the cut lengths written in and a 3-D figure for each. Skill level: confident beginner with help for raising the walls and the rafters.

How it is built

Floor and skids

4x6 skids run the length of the shed on concrete blocks. 2x6 floor joists span front to back at 16" centres between two rim joists, under a 3/4" plywood floor whose joints all land on a joist.

Walls

2x4 walls at 16" centres. The back wall is 72" to 76"framed; the front wall is taller by the roof's rise, with full-height studs and flat blocks behind the horizontal siding joint. The end walls stop at the back-wall height and rake studs fill the triangle above.

Roof

2x6 rafters from the front wall to the back wall, 24" apart (16" on the 10 ft deep size), each fixed to both plates with a hurricane tie. A 6" overhang front and back, a 1/2" plywood deck and asphalt shingles at 4 in 12.

Drawn from one model

Each size is a 3-D model of every board and sheet. The drawings, cut lengths, sheet counts and steps come from that model, and the build stops if any part collides or a cut does not fit its board.

Lean-to or gable shed?

A lean-to is the better fit against a fence, a garage wall or a property line, and on a narrow lot, because the low back wall keeps the shed out of the neighbour's view and all the rain goes one way. A gable shed has headroom down the middle and a door in the gable end, and it comes in bigger sizes. Compare our gable storage shed plans from 8x8 to 12x20.

Free vs premium

What each edition of the plan includes
Included	Free	Premium
3-D overview, front and end elevations with dimensions	✓	✓
Floor, roof and wall framing drawings with stud and rafter positions	✓	✓
Build steps with every cut length written in, and a 3-D figure for each step	✓	✓
Exploded view with every part labelled	—	✓
Full cut list (every part, quantity and length)	—	✓
Board-by-board cutting diagram for 8, 10 and 12 ft lumber	—	✓
4×8 sheet layouts for the floor, roof deck and T1-11 siding	—	✓
Shopping list: boards, sheets, shingles, nails, hurricane ties, hinges, blocks and gravel	—	✓
Extra steps: finishing, anchoring, setting up the inside, seasonal checks	—	✓

Premium lean-to plan — $19.99

Everything in the free plan, plus the full cut list, a board-by-board cutting diagram, 4×8 sheet layouts for the floor, roof and siding, and a shopping list with shingles, nails, hurricane ties, hinges, blocks and gravel, so you can buy everything in one trip.

$19.99 one-time, no subscription. The PDF downloads right after payment and is emailed to you.
For the size you choose: exploded view, cut list, cutting diagram, sheet layouts, shopping list and every step.
30-day money-back guarantee. Email us within 30 days and we'll refund you in full. See purchase terms.

Lean-to shed questions

What is a lean-to shed?: A shed with a single-slope roof: one tall wall and one short wall, with the rafters running from one to the other. With no ridge it is simpler to frame than a gable shed, it needs no rafter ties, and it fits against a fence or the side of a house where a gable roof would not.
Which way does the roof slope?: In these plans the front wall, with the double door, is the tall one and the roof falls to the back. That puts the most headroom where you walk in and sends rain away from the door. Set the low back wall toward the fence or the house, at least a foot away from it, and keep that side clear of paths.
Can I attach a lean-to shed to my house?: These plans are drawn freestanding: four walls, skids and a roof that bears on its own front and back walls. Fixing a shed to a house brings in ledger boards, flashing against the house wall and usually a permit, and none of that is in these plans. Leave a gap of at least a foot between the back wall and the house so both can dry.
What roof pitch do the plans use?: 4 in 12 on every size, the lowest pitch most asphalt-shingle makers allow with a single layer of underlayment. The front wall is as much taller than the back wall as the roof rises across the depth, so deeper sheds have taller front walls: the 4x8 front wall is framed at about 7'-7", the 10x12 at about 9'-3".
Do I need a permit for a lean-to shed?: All 5 sizes are 120 sq ft or less, under the 200 sq ft permit exemption for storage sheds in the current IRC (R105.2) and at or under the 120 sq ft limit many towns still use. Zoning rules on setbacks, easements and HOA rules apply at every size, so call your building department before you buy lumber.
What foundation does a lean-to shed need?: The same as our gable sheds: pressure-treated 4x6 skids, rated for ground contact, on solid concrete blocks set every 4 ft over a 4" crushed-gravel pad 1 ft wider than the shed all round. No concrete pour. The 4x8 and 6x8 sit on two skids, the deeper sizes on three.

Not engineered. Check local codes, permits and loads. Build at your own risk. Use ground-contact-rated lumber for the skids. Check your local rules on shed size, setbacks and permits before you build. Full disclaimer.