What size shed fits two cars?

6m x 6m is the practical minimum for two cars parked side by side. 7m x 7m is far more comfortable once you factor in opening doors and walking between them, and 6m x 9m gives you room for a bench or storage at the end.

What size shed do I need for a caravan?

For a typical 6m caravan, allow around 4m x 9m with a wall height of at least 3.6m. Measure your van's height including the air conditioner, then allow clearance above it and remember the 500mm for the roller door drum to sit above the opening.

How high should my shed walls be?

2.4m to 2.7m suits a standard garage. Step up to 3.6m to 4.0m for caravans, boats and small hoists, and 4.5m or more for machinery and commercial buildings. Always work back from the tallest item going inside.

Do I need council approval for the size I want?

It depends on the size, height, setbacks and your zone. Our council building guides set out the rules for Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone and North Burnett, and we handle the application for you where one is required.

Buyer's guide

What size sheddo I need?

The most common regret we hear is not about colour or cladding. It's about size. Here's how to work out the span, length and wall height you actually need before you lock anything in.

Request a quote 07 4151 4545

Start with what is going inside

Measure what you are storing, then add working room around it. A vehicle that just fits is a vehicle you cannot open the door on. As a rule of thumb, allow at least 600mm of clear space either side of anything you need to walk around, and a full metre if you will be working on it.

Then think about what you will own in five years, not just today. Extending a shed later costs far more than adding a bay at the design stage.

Practical minimum shed sizes by use
What you are storing	Practical minimum	Comfortable
One car	3m x 6m	3.5m x 6.5m
Two cars side by side	6m x 6m	7m x 7m
Two cars plus storage or a bench	6m x 9m	7m x 9m
Car plus a home workshop	7m x 9m	9m x 12m
Caravan (typical 6m van)	4m x 9m	4.5m x 10m
Large caravan or motorhome	4.5m x 12m	6m x 13m
Boat on a trailer	4m x 9m	4.5m x 10m
Tractor and implements	9m x 12m	12m x 18m
Hay or fodder storage	12m x 18m	15m x 24m

Sizes are span (width) x length and are a starting point for conversation, not a fixed value. Your final size depends on your block, setbacks, site cover and what the shed has to do.

Wall height is the part people underestimate

Span and length get all the attention, but wall height decides whether your caravan, boat, or hoist actually fits. Work back from the tallest thing going in, then allow clearance above it.

Roller doors also need head room. The door drum sits above the opening, so your wall height has to be taller than the door itself by 500mm. If you need a 3.0m clear opening, your wall generally needs to be higher than 3.5m to accommodate the roller door drum.

2.4m to 2.7m walls: standard garages and domestic storage
3.0m to 3.6m walls: campers/poptops, boats, lifted 4wd's
3.6m to 4.2m walls: caravan, motorhomes, two-post hoists, light trucks
4.5m and above: machinery, tippers, commercial and rural buildings

Bays, spans and doors

Length is usually made up of bays - the spacing between the structural frames. Bay spacing affects both the price and where you can put doors, so it is worth deciding early.

A clear span means no internal posts, which is what you want if you are manoeuvring machinery or parking multiple vehicles. Wider spans need heavier steel, so there is a cost trade-off between open floor space and frame size.

Single roller door for a car: 2.4m to 3.0m wide
Double roller door: 4.5m to 5.4m wide
Caravan or boat door: 3.0m to 3.6m wide, and check the height first
Machinery access: sliding doors or open bays are often more practical than rollers
Add a personal access door so you are not lifting a roller every time

What your block will allow

Your ideal size still has to fit the rules. Boundary setbacks, maximum height, site cover and the zone your property sits in all limit what can go where. Those limits differ between Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone and North Burnett.

We deal with these every day and can tell you quickly whether a size works on your block, or whether it needs a siting relaxation.

Common questions

What size shed do I need?

What size shed fits two cars?: 6m x 6m is the practical minimum for two cars parked side by side. 7m x 7m is far more comfortable once you factor in opening doors and walking between them, and 6m x 9m gives you room for a bench or storage at the end.
What size shed do I need for a caravan?: For a typical 6m caravan, allow around 4m x 9m with a wall height of at least 3.6m. Measure your van's height including the air conditioner, then allow clearance above it and remember the 500mm for the roller door drum to sit above the opening.
How high should my shed walls be?: 2.4m to 2.7m suits a standard garage. Step up to 3.6m to 4.0m for caravans, boats and small hoists, and 4.5m or more for machinery and commercial buildings. Always work back from the tallest item going inside.
Do I need council approval for the size I want?: It depends on the size, height, setbacks and your zone. Our council building guides set out the rules for Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone and North Burnett, and we handle the application for you where one is required.

Genuine Australian steel

Every Spartan Shed is built from 100% Australian BlueScope® steel with genuine COLORBOND® and ZINCALUME® finishes - backed by BlueScope® steel warranties and our own workmanship guarantee. Ask us for full warranty details on your specific building.

Not sure what size to go with?

Sketch it in the 3D Shed Designer, or tell us what is going inside and we will work the size back from there.

Request a quote Open the 3D Designer

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