Build it, or buy a kit?
For a wood shed, building from a lumber list usually costs a little less than a kit, once you price what the kit leaves out. For a small shed you just want dry storage in, a resin or metal kit is cheaper than either.
The 10x12 wood shed, both ways
Wood shed kits ship the precut walls, roof framing, siding and doors. Most leave out the floor, the roofing and the paint. Those are not small items: for a 10x12, the floor frame and deck, shingles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap, paint and the gravel pad come to about $1,268 at big-box prices.
| 10x12 gable shed | Kit | What it leaves out | All in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handy Home Rookwood kit | $2,150 | $1,268 | $3,418 |
| Little Cottage Co. Value Gable kit | $2,209 | $1,268 | $3,477 |
| Built from our 10x12 plan | none | none | $3,094 |
So building saves roughly $324 on a 10x12, and you can build any size, not just the sizes kits come in. The kit saves you the cutting: every piece arrives cut and labeled, which is real time on a first build. If you would rather spend a weekend assembling than two weekends cutting and assembling, the kit is a fair trade.
When a kit clearly wins
If you want dry storage for a mower and tools and do not care about wood, a resin or metal kit costs less than lumber. Our 8x10 wood shed comes to about $2,453. A resin 8x10 with its floor included is around $1,500 to $1,600, plus a level gravel pad (about $83). A 10x10 metal shed is a few hundred dollars, though the thin steel dents and needs a solid level base and good anchors.
Kits worth looking at
Precut 2x4 framing and siding, 5 ft 4 in doors, 9 ft 6 in peak. No floor, paint or shingles.
About $2,150 as of October 22, 2026
Check the current pricePrecut and labeled, LP SmartSide siding, 60 x 72 in double doors. No floor, paint, shingles or drip edge.
About $2,209 as of October 22, 2026
Check the current priceResin walls and roof with the floor included, skylights, lockable double doors.
About $1,603 as of October 22, 2026
Check the current priceResin with steel-reinforced walls and lockable doors.
About $1,479 as of October 22, 2026
Check the current priceThin galvanized steel panels on a light frame. Needs a level base and anchors; no floor.
About $340 as of October 22, 2026
Check the current priceThings to check before you order a kit
- The floor. If the listing says it does not include a floor kit, budget the floor frame and plywood deck, or plan a slab.
- The roof. Wood kits usually ship roof sheathing but not shingles, underlayment or drip edge.
- Delivery. Wood kits arrive on a pallet at the curb. Make sure you can move several hundred pounds of lumber to the back of the yard.
- Your town's limit. A 10x12 is exactly 120 sq ft, a common permit line. See do you need a permit for a shed.
Price your own size: every shed plan lists the lumber, sheets and hardware at big-box prices, floor and roof included.
Price a shed at your sizeKit prices are Amazon US prices as of October 22, 2026; the current price on Amazon applies. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.