How much does it cost to build a 8x8 shed?

Roughly $1,550–$2,070 in materials at typical 2026 US home-center prices: 81 boards, 14 sheets, 3 bundles of shingles, 9 blocks and 1.4 cu yd of gravel.

Do I need a permit for a 8x8 shed?

At 64 sq ft, a 8 x 8 ft shed is under both the 100 and 120 sq ft limits that many towns use for permit-free sheds, and the 200 sq ft limit in the current IRC. Setback rules still apply.

Is an 8x8 shed big enough for a lawn mower?

For a push mower, yes: the 7'-5" x 7'-5" floor and 48" door take a push mower, a wheelbarrow and the garden tools. A riding mower needs a wider door; the 10 ft and 12 ft wide sheds have one.

Can one person build an 8x8 shed?

Mostly. Every board is 8 ft long and each wall is only 8 ft, so one person can cut the parts and frame each wall flat on the floor. Get a helper to stand the walls, set the five rafter pairs and lift the roof sheets.

How many sheets of plywood and siding does a 8x8 shed take?

2 of 3/4" plywood (floor), 3 of 1/2" plywood (roof deck) and 9 of 5/8" T1-11 (siding and doors), all 4×8.

What foundation does the 8x8 shed sit on?

3 pressure-treated 4x6 skids, 8' long, on 9 solid concrete blocks over a 1.4 cu yd gravel pad.

8x8 shed plans (free PDF)

8 ft across the door end, 8 ft deep, 64 sq ft: a gable-roof storage shed on skids with a 4 ft double door and T1-11 siding, built from about 81 boards and 14 sheets.

3-D view of the 8x8 shed: gable roof, double doors in the 8 ft front wall, T1-11 siding and corner boards, on skids — Rendered from the plan model for the 8x8 size.

Floor: 8 × 8 ft (64 sq ft), inside 7'-5" x 7'-5"
Overall: 9' wide x 8'-2.75" deep x 10'-2.25" high
Headroom: 6'-9" at the walls, 8'-8" at the ridge
Door: double, 48" × 75.5" opening
Roof: gable, 5 in 12, 5 pairs of 2x6 rafters, 78 sq ft
Lumber: about 81 boards (13 × 1x4, 44 × 2x4, 21 × 2x6, 3 × 4x6)
Sheets (4×8): 2 floor plywood, 3 roof plywood, 9 T1-11 siding
Roofing: 3 bundles of shingles
Materials: roughly $1,550–$2,070 (2026 US prices, varies by region)

Download the free 8x8 shed planPDF, 19 pages · no email needed

Or get the premium 8x8 plan with the shopping list.

About the 8x8 size

The 8x8 is the smallest size we draw and the cheapest to build. The floor is two full sheets of plywood with no cuts, every board is 8 ft long, and the whole shed sits on three 8 ft skids. It suits a garden-tool and mower shed in a side yard.

The floor is exactly two full sheets of 3/4" plywood and every side wall panel is a full-width sheet of T1-11, so there is very little to rip. The 4 ft door takes half of the 8 ft front wall, leaving 20-1/2" of bottom plate on each side. With 5 rafter pairs, the roof deck needs no end joints.

Going up to the 8x10 (80 sq ft) adds 16 sq ft, 9 boards and roughly $310.

What fits inside

Inside: 7'-5" x 7'-5" between the studs, 48" door. Fits a two-stage snow blower. A 10 ft kayak on wall brackets does not. (Typical footprints; measure yours.)

Plan the inside around the door: a 48" door centred in an 8 ft wall leaves about 20" of wall either side, which is the only front-wall storage. Hang rakes and shovels there, keep the back wall for a potting shelf, and park the push mower along one side wall.

Shelving idea: 16" deep shelves down both 8 ft side walls give 14 ft of shelf per level and keep a 4' 9" aisle, wide enough for a 4' 3" workbench across the back.

Where it goes

Small enough for a corner of the yard or a spot beside the garage. The square floor looks the same from every side, so turn the door toward the path you use most.

Drawings

Front elevation of the 8x8 shed with the framing width, door size, wall height and ridge height dimensioned — Front: double door, 10'-2.25" to the ridge.

Right side elevation of the 8x8 shed showing the 8 ft side wall, floor height and roof — Side: 8 ft wall, gable roof at 5 in 12.

Floor framing plan of the 8x8 shed: 3 skids, rim joists and 7 floor joists — Floor: 3 skids, 7 joists 7'-9" long at 16" centres.

Front wall and gable framing of the 8x8 shed with the door header, king and jack studs and gable studs — Front wall: 48" door opening, doubled 2x6 header.

The 8x8 build at a glance

Base: 1.4 cu yd of gravel, 9 concrete blocks, 3 skids 8' long.
Floor: 7 joists cut to 7'-9" between two rim joists, then 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood.
Walls: 29 studs, two 8 ft side walls and two 8 ft gable walls; a 4'-3" doubled 2x6 header over the door.
Roof: 10 rafters at 5'-0.75", 3 rafter ties, 8 gable studs, 3 sheets of roof deck and 3 bundles of shingles.
Skin and doors: 9 sheets of T1-11; the two 23-3/4" wide door leaves come out of the front panels.

Buying the materials

Shopping is simple at this size: every board on the list is 8 ft long, so the order is one line per lumber type: 3 4x6 skids, 21 2x6s, 44 2x4s and 13 1x4s. The roof is the smallest we draw at 78 sq ft, three sheets of 1/2" plywood and three bundles of shingles, and its five rafter pairs need no roof-deck end joint. Nine concrete blocks in three rows of three carry the skids.

Every board in this shed is 8 ft long, so the lumber rides in a pickup bed with the tailgate down or on a roof rack.

Premium 8x8 plan — $19.99

Adds the cut list, a cutting diagram for all 81 boards, layouts for all 14 sheets and the full shopping list.

33 pages, 21 steps. One-time, instant download, emailed to you. 30-day money-back guarantee (terms).

8x8 shed questions

How much does it cost to build a 8x8 shed?: Roughly $1,550–$2,070 in materials at typical 2026 US home-center prices: 81 boards, 14 sheets, 3 bundles of shingles, 9 blocks and 1.4 cu yd of gravel.
Do I need a permit for a 8x8 shed?: At 64 sq ft, a 8 x 8 ft shed is under both the 100 and 120 sq ft limits that many towns use for permit-free sheds, and the 200 sq ft limit in the current IRC. Setback rules still apply.
Is an 8x8 shed big enough for a lawn mower?: For a push mower, yes: the 7'-5" x 7'-5" floor and 48" door take a push mower, a wheelbarrow and the garden tools. A riding mower needs a wider door; the 10 ft and 12 ft wide sheds have one.
Can one person build an 8x8 shed?: Mostly. Every board is 8 ft long and each wall is only 8 ft, so one person can cut the parts and frame each wall flat on the floor. Get a helper to stand the walls, set the five rafter pairs and lift the roof sheets.
How many sheets of plywood and siding does a 8x8 shed take?: 2 of 3/4" plywood (floor), 3 of 1/2" plywood (roof deck) and 9 of 5/8" T1-11 (siding and doors), all 4×8.
What foundation does the 8x8 shed sit on?: 3 pressure-treated 4x6 skids, 8' long, on 9 solid concrete blocks over a 1.4 cu yd gravel pad.

Not engineered. Check local codes, permits and loads. Build at your own risk. Full disclaimer.