4x12 lean-to shed
Every board for this shed counted, cut and priced before you drive to the lumberyard. The whole plan is on this page. The full plan set to take to the yard is $19.
- Floor
- 48 sq ft
- Wall height
- 9' 9-5/8"
- Height from ground
- 11' 3-1/8"
- Rafters
- 4 x 2x6
- Materials
- $1,931
The list you take to the lumberyard
Every board, sheet and box of nails, packed into the stock lengths the store sells, so nothing is a guess at the counter.
- Lumber
- $546
- Sheet goods
- $799
- Hardware and finish
- $587
- 2PT 4x4 x 12 ft$39.96
- 5PT 2x6 x 8 ft$47.40
- 2PT 2x6 x 12 ft$28.96
- 232x4 x 8 ft$100.05
- 142x4 x 10 ft$90.72
- 42x4 x 12 ft$31.92
- 12x6 x 8 ft$7.48
- 62x6 x 16 ft$98.88
- 2PT 2x4 x 8 ft$11.96
- 2PT 2x4 x 12 ft$19.36
- 21x4 x 8 ft$9.96
- 21x4 x 12 ft$15.96
- 21x6 x 8 ft$13.96
- 21x6 x 16 ft$28.96
- 2T&G plywood 3/4" 4x8$117.96
- 3OSB 7/16" 4x8$50.94
- 10T1-11 siding 5/8" 4x8$629.80
- 3Shingles (bundle, 33.3 sq ft)$110.94
- 1Synthetic underlayment (roll, 400 sq ft)$89
- 4Drip edge 10 ft$37.92
- 2Framing nails 16d (5 lb box)$49.96
- 2Siding nails 8d galvanized (5 lb box)$55.96
- 1Roofing nails 1-1/4" (5 lb box)$21.98
- 8Hurricane ties H2.5A$7.84
- 2Heavy strap hinges 8" (pair)$37.96
- 1Gate latch / hasp$12.98
- 1.5Gravel 3/4" crushed (cubic yard, bulk)$82.50
- 2Exterior paint or stain (1 gal)$79.96
Typical Home Depot and Lowe's shelf prices, October 2026. Your store will differ by a few percent.
The drawings
Framing drawn from the same boards the list counts. Hover a member to see what it is.
Cut list
Every piece, how many, and how long. Tape it to the saw.
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | PT 4x4 | 12' 0" | Skidpressure treated, sits on gravel |
| 2 | PT 2x6 | 12' 0" | Rim joistside band of the floor frame |
| 10 | PT 2x6 | 3' 9" | Floor joist16" on center |
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2x4 | 11' 9-1/4" | Sloped top plateends cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | PT 2x4 | 11' 5" | Bottom platepressure treated |
| 2 | 2x4 | 9' 5-1/8" | Stud16" on center |
| 2 | 2x4 | 9' 5-1/8" | King studfull height beside the door opening |
| 2 | 2x4 | 9' 4-1/2" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 9' 3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 8' 8-3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 8' 4-3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 8' 3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 7' 8-3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 7' 4-3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 7' 3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 6' 8-3/4" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 6' 6-5/8" | Side studlong point, top cut at 14.0° |
| 4 | 2x4 | 6' 6" | Stud16" on center |
| 2 | 2x4 | 6' 3-1/2" | Jack studcarries the header, rough opening 77" tall |
| 2 | PT 2x4 | 4' 0" | Bottom platepressure treated, nailed to the deck |
| 2 | 2x4 | 4' 0" | Top platefirst layer |
| 2 | 2x4 | 4' 0" | Top platesecond layer |
| 2 | 2x6 | 2' 11" | Header plytwo plies with 1/2" plywood between, on edge |
| 2 | 2x4 | 2' 8-1/8" | Cripple studabove the header, on layout |
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2x6 | 14' 5-1/8" | Raftertwo birdsmouths, seat 3-1/2", ends plumb at 14.0° |
| 2 | 2x6 | 14' 5-1/8" | Barge rafterfly rafter on the side overhang |
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2x4 | 6' 4" | Door stiledoor frame, laid flat |
| 3 | 2x4 | 1' 11-3/4" | Door raildoor frame, between the stiles |
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1x6 | 14' 5-1/8" | Rake boardalong the side overhangs |
| 2 | 1x4 | 10' 3-7/8" | Corner boardoutside corners over the siding |
| 2 | 1x4 | 7' 4-3/4" | Corner boardoutside corners over the siding |
| 2 | 1x6 | 5' 0" | Fasciafront and back eaves |
Which piece comes from which board
69 boards, laid out so the offcuts stay small.
Build it in this order
- 01
Check the rules first
Ask your town about permits and setbacks before you buy lumber. Many towns allow a shed of this size (120 sq ft or less) without a permit, but rules and HOA covenants vary.
- 02
Make the gravel pad
Dig out sod for a pad 1 ft wider than the shed on every side (6 x 14 ft), fill with about 1.5 cubic yards of 3/4" crushed gravel 4" deep, and level it.
- 03
Set the skids
Lay the 2 PT 4x4 skids along the depth, one under each side, and level them to each other. Shim with solid blocks, never with stacked scraps.
- 04
Frame the floor
Nail the two rim joists to the ends of the 10 floor joists at 16" on center. Check square: the two diagonals must be equal. Toe-screw the frame to the skids.
- 05
Sheath the deck
Glue and screw the 2 sheets of 3/4" tongue-and-groove plywood, long edges across the joists, joints staggered.
- 06
Build the back wall
Frame it flat on the deck: bottom plate, 78" studs at 16" on center, first top plate. Raise it, plumb it, brace it.
- 07
Build the front wall
Same layout with the single door, 30 in opening: king studs full height, jack studs carrying the 2x6 header, cripples above. Rough opening 32" wide and 77" tall.
- 08
Build the side walls
Fit them between the front and back walls. Cut each stud to its own length from the cut list so the sloped top plate runs straight from the tall wall to the short one.
- 09
Cut a pattern rafter
Each rafter gets two birdsmouths, one on each wall. Seat cut 3-1/2", plumb cuts at 14.0°. Test the pattern at both ends of the shed before cutting the rest.
- 10
Set the rafters
Set rafters at 16" on center from the front wall to the back wall and add a hurricane tie at both ends of every rafter.
- 11
Sheath and roof
Nail on 3 sheets of 7/16" OSB, then drip edge at the eaves, underlayment, drip edge on the rakes, and shingles from the bottom up.
- 12
Side it and hang the doors
Nail on the 10 sheets of T1-11 (they also skin the doors). Build the door frames flat, skin them, and hang them on strap hinges. Trim the corners and the fascia.
- 13
Finish
Prime and paint or stain every cut edge and the siding. Build a short ramp if you will roll a mower in.
- Every drawing at full page size, dimensions on every member
- The cut list on one page, grouped the way you build
- The cutting diagram for every board
- The materials list ready to hand to the lumberyard or load into a store cart
- The build steps with a check at the end of each
- Your exact size, not the nearest one we had
Before you dig
Do I need a permit for this shed?
48 sq ft. Many towns exempt sheds of 120 sq ft or less (some go to 200), as long as they meet setbacks from the property line. Electricity, plumbing or living space always needs a permit. Call your building department or check the town website before you buy lumber; HOA rules are separate and often stricter.
Is it cheaper to build this or buy a kit?
The lumber and materials for this plan come to about $1,931 at big-box prices. Wood kits of the same size usually cost more and use thinner framing; resin and metal kits cost less but are not the same building. Building from scratch pays when you want 2x4 walls 16 in on center, a real floor and a roof that carries snow.
What foundation does it sit on?
2 pressure-treated 4x4 skids on a 4 in crushed-gravel pad, about 1.5 cubic yards. It drains, it stays level, and the shed can be moved later. Use concrete piers if your town requires an anchored foundation.
Will the roof hold snow?
This plan uses 2x6 rafters at 16 in on center for little or no snow (up to 20 psf). In a heavier snow area, switch the snow setting in the planner and it upsizes the rafters for you. When in doubt, ask your building department for the local ground snow load.
Can I change the door?
Yes. Set the door in the planner: the rough opening, header, king and jack studs update. This plan has single door, 30 in with a 32" wide rough opening.
How long does it take?
Most first-time builders frame and roof a shed this size over two to three weekends with a helper. Siding, doors, trim and paint take another weekend.