Garden Shed Materials Calculator
Calculate lumber, roofing, siding, and hardware needed to build a garden shed.
Get a complete materials list by shed size.
Shed Materials List
Building a garden shed requires careful planning of materials. The exact quantities depend on the shed size, wall height, roof style, and material choices.
Basic shed structure components:
- Floor frame: Pressure-treated 2×6 joists spaced 16 inches on center, plus 3/4-inch plywood subfloor
- Wall framing: 2×4 studs spaced 16 inches on center, with top and bottom plates
- Roof framing: 2×4 or 2×6 rafters depending on span, spaced 24 inches on center
- Sheathing: 1/2-inch OSB or plywood for walls and roof
- Roofing: Asphalt shingles over tar paper/underlayment
- Siding: T1-11 panels, lap siding, or board and batten
Estimating lumber:
- Floor joists: (Width in feet / 1.33) + 1 joists, each the length of the shed
- Wall studs: Perimeter in feet × 0.75 studs per foot (16" OC) + extras for corners and openings
- Roof rafters: (Length in feet / 2) + 1 rafters, with appropriate overhang
Roof area depends on pitch. A standard 4/12 pitch multiplier is 1.054. A 6/12 pitch multiplier is 1.118.
Additional materials include nails, screws, hurricane ties, door hardware, drip edge, and paint or stain.
Waste factor: Always add 10-15% extra material for cuts, waste, and mistakes. This calculator includes a 10% waste factor in all estimates.