Shed Gym Floor Plan Examples: What You Can Do With a Shed

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Seeing sizes on your screen is all well and good but many people like something more visual. Here are three examples of different sized sheds and what your gym could look like in them.

Let’s take a look at which sizes sheds are good for home gyms and what you can do with a shed that size.

My eBook has a lot more floor plans. Check it out by clicking here.

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Shed sizes for a home gym

There are three shed sizes that are good to build a home gym in;

• 8’ x 8’
• 8’ x 10’
• 8’ x 12’

Why those sizes are some of the best for building home gyms in? I’ve written a whole post about that, click here to find it.

To keep things short here, here is the summary of that article.

• Free weights (Power rack, Barbell+weights, Bench): A shed that measures at least 8’ by 8’ is sufficient but 8’ by 10’ would be better. (244 cm x 244 cm or 244 x 305 cm)
• Free weights + Cardio equipment: 8’ by 12’(244 cm x 356 cm)
• Cardio + Multi-Gym: 8’ by 10’ or 10’ by 10’(244 cm x 305 cm or 305 cm x 305 cm)
• Bodyweight exercises: 6’ by 8’ (183 cm x 244 cm)

Of course you can always get a bigger shed if you want and have the space in your garden. A bigger shed allows you to get more equipment in and have a more spacious feeling. It’s not strictly necessary though. Below you can see what you can do with the sheds in the sizes named above.

Below you can find example floor plans for three different sized sheds. Most of the floor plans are focused towards weightlifting. However, there are many different things you can do with your shed of course.

How much does a shed for a home gym cost? Find out here (click).

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8’ x 8’ Shed gym floor plans

An 8’ by 8’ (244 cm x 244 cm) is the smallest size you should get if you’re planning to work out in your shed. This size will allow you to get the very basics and be able to use them.

• Squat rack/small power rack
• Bench
• Barbell
• Weight plates

That isn’t a lot of things but you can do all the important exercises with them. It’s nothing fancy but it does what it has to do.

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8’ x 10’ Shed gym floor plans

If you get a slightly bigger shed that measures 8’ by 10’ (244cm by 305cm), you have a bit more room. Personally I’d upgrade to a full power rack instead of a squat rack.

Suggested post: Power rack vs Squat rack, what’s the difference?

After that, a rack of dumbbells is a great addition to the equipment that already fits in the smaller shed. Dumbbells allow you to do different exercises than just a barbell and weight plates. More exercise options is always a good idea. More exercise options means your workouts can be more varied which is good for muscle growth and helps keep them interesting.

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8’ x 12’ Shed gym floor plans

If you want a cardio machine in your shed, another two feet of length is what you need. Not all cardio machines are the same size. Between the types of machine there is a big difference. Treadmills are the largest while exercise bikes take up the least amount of floor space.

If you’re going for a large machine like a treadmill or elliptical trainer, you’re probably going to have to give up the large dumbbell rack. Both a full dumbbell rack and treadmill doesn’t leave quite enough space to do all the exercises. However, a fold away rower or exercise bike would allow you to do still have a full barbell rack.

Make sure your shed is high enough to use the cardio machine. Click here to find more information about cardio machines and ceiling height.

However, if you want the treadmill, it doesn’t mean you can’t have dumbbells. Adjustable dumbbells are what you need in that case. Adjustable dumbbells are basically 15 sets of dumbbells or more in one which saves a lot of space. Read more about adjustable dumbbells here.

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Don’t forget to check out my eBook! It has a lot of floor plans for home gyms and much more.

Related questions

Can you build a weightlifting gym in a shed? A shed is a great place to create a weightlifting gym. Just be careful with the floor. Make sure the foundation is good and you have support all under the floor and put a good gym flooring or thick rubber mat down on top of the shed floor.

Suggested post: Can you turn a shed into a home gym?

Do you need extra ventilation in a gym shed? If you have a basic shed, it’s a good idea to add some extra ventilation if you plan on working out in it. A roof vent or exhaust fan is good for basic ventilation but there are tons of options available.

Suggested post: How to ventilate your gym shed