Thinking of building a new shed? To give you some indicative costs as a guide, this article explains what influences the cost of a shed and shares several kitset pole shed designs with their related costs.
So what is the shed cost per m2? Looking at the Rapid Range, you'll notice kitsets can start from approximately $240 per m2 for an open front clear span shed and $320 per m2 for a small, standard enclosed shed with a few roller doors.
However, when multiple doors, wall wrap, closure flashings, door motors, and overhangs are added, it is not uncommon for sheds to reach prices of $400 - $500 per m2. Strengthening the design for locations with high snow loading can also add significant cost.
It's best to get a quote based on your site and project needs because few sheds are the same, with each having its own use, requirements, and customisations. While this m2 guide is a great starting point, it will likely have significant variances compared to the actual quoted cost.
What drives the cost of a kitset pole shed up or down?
CLEARSPAN VS CENTREPOLE
Centrepole sheds are almost always cheaper than clearspan sheds. Whether you want to include a centrepole or not will depend on the use of your shed.
If you require a large unobstructed workshop area or are storing vehicles and/or implements, a centrepole will cause more hassle than it's worth. They significantly limit the usable space inside the shed and lead to greater inefficiencies by slowing down productivity. They also create a hazard when shifting vehicles around as they can easily be hit, leading to costly damage to your vehicles, equipment, and the shed itself.
Typically, a clearspan shed will cost more because standard timber can only span a maximum of 6.0m. To span any further than that, a stronger rafter must be used. LVL laminated timber beams or steel rafters are the only options and the cost of these materials is higher. When the timber centrepole is replaced with an LVL timber beam or steel rafter, the diameter of the pole itself may need to be increased to meet engineering requirements, also increasing costs.
You can find out more here on the benefits of going clearspan over a centrepole design.
SIZE OF THE ROLLER DOORS AND ROLLER DOOR MOTORS
Often overlooked, the cost of a roller door can add a surprisingly large sum of money to the cost of the shed.
A standard 3.0m x 3.0m Series 1 roller door is the least expensive. However, these are relatively lightweight and limited to a maximum size of 3.2m x 3.2m high. Series 2 doors are light industrial-grade doors and are the most common, typically around 3-4m wide and up to 4.7m high.
For any larger door, a roller shutter door would be required. These are heavy-duty, industrial-grade doors that provide premium durability and security for your shed. While roller shutter doors cost more, they do enable larger openings and are a top-quality door.
Roller door costings vary depending on the size of the door. However, you can expect costings to be in the ballpark of the below figures:
- Series 1: Approx. $2,500.00 + GST per door.
- Series 2: Approx. $5,500.00 + GST per door.
- Roller Shutter: Approx. $7,500.00 + GST per door.
ZINC VS COLOUR STEEL VS COLOUR STEEL MAXX IRON CLADDING
What you choose for your cladding can make a big impact on the overall cost of your shed.
Zinc iron is the most cost-effective but some people don’t particularly like the look of it, especially when it is close to a house.
On the other hand, 'COLORSTEEL®' is available in a wide range of colours (see our current colour selection here) and many people feel that it improves the aesthetics of the building.
If you are building within 500m of the coast or an estuary, you will likely be in an exposure zone where the council requires you to have extra rust protection. This is because the salt-laden wind is highly corrosive and can impact the lifespan of the shed. The council will most likely require your cladding to be upgraded to COLORSTEEL® MAXX which has a protective coating to provide extra protection against corrosive salt-laden wind.
CONCRETE FLOOR THICKNESS
The appropriate concrete floor thickness will depend on what you are storing in the shed. Typically, a 100mm concrete floor is sufficient for cars and small tractors. For larger tractors, implements, and trucks, a 150mm floor would be required to handle the extra weight.
Costs increase for a thicker floor because more concrete and a heavier grade mesh are required. Placing costs will also increase and the prep work can take longer as more bracing may be required for boxing.
A placed 100mm floor can cost around $120.00+GST per m2, while a 150mm placed floor can be around $140.00+GST per m2. Over a large area, this adds up rapidly.
SNOW AND WIND LOADINGS
If you are building a shed in a location with high snow and/or wind loadings, the entire structure will need to be strengthened to accommodate the additional weight and pressure.
Some locations have higher loadings than others, with varying engineering requirements. In some cases, strengthening could be as simple as adding more strap bracing. This is inexpensive and relatively easy to do.
In other cases, the size of the rafters and framing needs to be increased and the spacings between purlins and girts may need to be reduced. In extreme wind and snow-prone areas, the size of the bays also needs to be reduced, requiring more steel rafters, purlins, girts, and poles and driving the price up. Reducing the bays also means that timber needs to be cut down from a larger size, resulting in more wastage. These changes can also take longer to build, increasing labour costs.
As such, building in high snow and wind-prone locations can add 10% - 30%+ cost when compared with a similar-sized kitset pole shed in a location with standard loadings.
7 COMMON DESIGNS AND THEIR INDICATIVE INVESTMENT COST
Please note that all Alpine sheds are custom-built, taking into account site conditions such as snow and wind loading. Therefore, these prices are indicative only and we advise talking to our team to get a full estimate on your project. These estimated figures are based on costings in early 2024.
Shed 1: 12.0M WIDE X 19.2M LONG
- 4 x 4.8m bays.
- 3.6m knee - 5.2m apex height.
- 2 x 3.0 x 3.0m roller doors.
- 1 x personal access (PA) door.
- Zincalume cladding.
- Guttering, flashings, building paper.
Kitset shed costing: approximately $71,900.00 + GST.
Installation with a 100mm concrete floor, add approximately $70,000.00 + GST.
SHED 2: 12.0M WIDE X 18.0M LONG
- Three 6.0m bays.
- 3.6m knee - 5.2m apex height.
- 1 x 3.6m x 3.6m roller door.
- 1 x personal access (PA) door.
- Zincalume cladding.
- Guttering, flashings, building paper.
Kitset shed costing: approximately $66,900.00 + GST.
Installation with a 100mm concrete floor, add approximately $65,000.00 + GST.
Shed 3: 12.0M WIDE X 24.0M LONG
- Four 6.0m bays.
- 5.0m knee - 6.6m apex height.
- Two 4.0m x 4.4m roller doors.
- One personal access (PA) door.
- Zincalume cladding.
- Guttering, flashings, building paper.
Kitset shed costing: approximately $98,200.00 + GST.
Installation with a 100mm concrete floor, add approximately $92,000.00 + GST.
SHED 4: 15.0M WIDE X 14.4M LONG HANGAR
- Three 4.8m bays.
- Filled in gable end, as shown.
- 5.0m knee - 6.6m apex height.
- 1 x personal access (PA) door.
- Zincalume cladding.
- Guttering & flashings.
Kitset shed costing: approximately $79,000.00 + GST.
Installation with a 100mm concrete floor, add approximately $62,000.00 + GST.
SHED 5: 15.0M WIDE X 24.0M LONG
- Four 6.0m bays.
- 5.0m knee - 6.6m apex height.
- Two 4.0m x 4.4m Roller doors.
- 1 x personal access (PA) door.
- Zincalume cladding.
- Guttering, flashings, building paper.
Kitset shed costing: approximately $115,000.00 + GST.
Installation with a 125mm concrete floor, add approximately $107,000.00 + GST.
SHED 6: 18.0M WIDE X 30.0M LONG
- Five 6.0m bays.
- 5.0m knee - 6.6m apex height.
- Two 5.0m x 4.4m roller doors.
- 1 x personal access (PA) door.
- Zincalume cladding.
- Guttering, flashings, building paper.
Kitset shed costing: approximately $175,000.00 + GST.
Installation with a 125mm concrete floor in 2 bays, add approximately $112,000.00 + GST.
SHED 7: 20.0M WIDE X 36.0M LONG
- Six 6.0m bays.
- 5.0m knee - 6.6m apex height.
- 2 x 5.0m x 4.4m roller doors.
- 1 x personal access (PA) door.
- Zincalume cladding.
- Guttering, flashings, building paper.
Kitset shed costing: approximately $248,000.00 + GST,
Installation with a 150mm concrete floor, add approximately $220,000.00 + GST.
CONCLUSION
As you can see, many factors need to be considered when costing a shed, meaning a one-size-fits-all approach is simply not an option.
At Alpine, we prefer to run the numbers and design the shed to your individual requirements, location, and building site to ensure all engineering requirements are met. If you're wondering what a shed on your site will cost, get in touch with our team today, we’d be happy to help.
If you're looking for more information on costs, design, council consent, and delivery processes, download our comprehensive Buyer's Guide. It shares the wealth of knowledge we have gained over the years, ensuring you get the best shed for your needs.
