Outdoor Storage Shed For Gym Equipment: Size, Style, Material

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Do you want a shed to store your workout equipment but aren’t sure what it should look like and how big it should be? Here’s what you want to know. 

A shed to store gym equipment should measure at least 4’ by 5’ although 5’ by 5 would be better. This will be big enough to store;

• Squat stand
• Bench
• Weight plates
• Barbells
• Accessories like; resistance bands, jump rope and kettlebells.

What are some things to keep in mind before you buy a shed to store your equipment? Keep reading. If you need building plans for sheds, click here.

How Big a Storage Shed Do You Need For Gym Equipment?

If you’re just using the shed for storage you don’t need a huge structure. A smaller one is probably going to be enough. But how big is big enough? 

There are three big pieces of equipment for an outdoor gym; Squat stands, bench and weight plates. Those three will take up the bulk of the space.

All the other items can be stored in 2 crates pretty easily. That means we have to scale the shed to fit the size of the big pieces of equipment. The other items won’t be a big problem to store somewhere.

Squat stands that have two separate legs are the easiest to store and move around. These usually have a footprint of about 20” by 20” each. A squat stand that is one piece has much more variability in size. Smaller versions of those measure about 30” by 50”. However, there are much bigger versions that measure 52” by 60”. The bigger versions will be quite a bit  heavier so they are more difficult to move in and out of a shed. For that reason two separate legs are much more practical for this purpose.

Just like squat stands, benches come in different sizes. A good sized adjustable bench measures about 50” by 20”.  Fixed benches are a bit smaller in general.

Weight plates and  barbells are all different sizes. However, for ease of moving them around, it’s better to have them on a plate tree. Some plate trees come with wheels as well as a place to put your barbell. One of those means you can just roll everything around.

Take this one on Amazon for example

That plate tree has enough storage space for plenty of weight plates and two barbells. It does all of that with a footprint of just 20.5” by 20”.

So, what we have now is;

• Squat stands: 20” by 20” x 2
• Bench: 50” by 20”
• Plate tree: 20.5” by 20”
• Space for a few boxes: 20” by 20”

Put all of that together and you’ll see that a shed that has 18.13 square feet of floor space should be enough. However, you’ll also want to be able to stand in the shed and maneuver things around a bit. So in total a shed that has 20-22 square feet of space is best.

A shed that measures 4’ by 5’ is good. 5’ by 5’ will be plenty. Those are the measurements inside. 

This is just an example. If you have more/less/different equipment to store, adjust the size as needed. Also think about if you want to store other stuff in there like; patio furniture, gardening tools, etc. 

The height is not very important in this case. Squat stands are the tallest piece of equipment but usually adjustable to be quite low. However, it’s nice if you can stand inside the shed without bumping your head. 

Recommended Gym Equipment Storage Sheds

Here are some pre-fab sheds that work:

Big Equipment Storage Shed

What if you have more equipment? Maybe you’re running some outdoor workout groups or you have to seasonally store equipment for your school. What is the best option in that case? 

You’ll need something significantly bigger in most of those cases. That can get quite expensive and there probably isn’t any off-the-shelf solution that’s quickly put up. You’ll have to get a contractor to build something for you. That can take a while and is expensive.

A good (temporary) solution in that case is a shipping container. A shipping container costs a few thousand dollar and can be put down really quickly. A coat of paint will make it look however you want. Shipping containers are also very easy to lock. And if it’s not necessary anymore, it’s very easy to move to a different location. 

Other Equipment Shed Considerations

Besides the size, there are some other things you should keep in mind when building a gym equipment storage shed.

You have to think about:

• Security
• Workouts
• Shed Material
• Doorstep

Security

A shed is easier to break into than a house. Gym equipment can be pretty pricey and is easily sold second hand. That means a shed full of gym equipment is going to be a pretty attractive target for certain people.

If this is a problem really depends on where you live of course. In some neighborhoods it’s going to be more important to have good security than others. If you think there is a really high risk of a shed getting broken into, it might be better to just find space inside the house.

Better shed security can mean better locks, a shed with stronger construction, a fence around the garden or even a camera system. You can also chain down some equipment inside the shed. 

Shed Material

Sheds are available in different materials. Wood, metal and plastic are the most commonly used materials.

I’ve written whole post about which material is best for a gym shed. Click here to find it.

If you want a small shed that’s very easy to put together, get a resin shed package. They’re not too expensive, durable and practically maintenance free. Metal sheds are cheap but do need some paint now and then. Wood is expensive but looks the nicest in your garden. Pick what works best for you. 

Doorstep

Make sure you’ve got a smooth transition from inside to outside. This makes moving things around much easier, especially if they have wheels. Having to lift your plate tree with 250 lbs. of plates on it over a 2” obstacle is a workout in itself.

Drainage/Foundation

Gym equipment is mostly metal. That means you don’t want water to get in and start rusting everything. Of course in a good shed, the roof and walls will be fine. The foundation however is a different story. Make sure the water can’t get through under the walls or puddle inside the shed. 

Read more about how to protect your gym equipment from rust in this article (click).