InstaBids

How much is a shed?

United States: homeowner survey

Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out a shed, detached garage or other outbuilding reported a median of $5,000; the typical range (middle half of 357 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $2,800 to $9,000.

When the household built it itself: a median (291 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $1,200.

How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-16

What does a shed cost?

The national item is wider than a garden shed. It reads "Added or replaced shed, detached garage, or other building", so a kit shed and a two-car garage on its own slab share one range, and the survey records no floor area.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

Just over half of these outbuildings were hired out (55 percent). For comparison, households hired out central air work 88 percent of the time.

Placement comes before the build. On a lot with a septic system, EPA advises against putting any structure on the drainfield without first checking with a local designer or the permitting office.

Source: U.S. EPA, How to Care for Your Septic System, read 16 October 2026.

Use matters after it. EPA warns never to run a portable generator inside a shed, garage or crawlspace, because carbon monoxide can build to deadly levels and linger for hours after the engine stops.

Source: U.S. EPA, Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality, read 16 October 2026.

What is the cost to build a shed?

State law sorts small sheds by how they arrive. Section 489.103 of the Florida Statutes leaves the sale, delivery, assembly or tie-down of prefabricated portable sheds of up to 250 square feet outside the contracting law, still subject to the Florida Building Code.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 489.103 (exemptions), read 16 October 2026.

A second exemption in the same section covers storage buildings of up to 400 square feet that carry the state's insignia of approval showing they meet the building code.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 489.103 (exemptions), read 16 October 2026.

For sheds alone, Miami-Dade County's permit list was searched for residential building permits that mention a shed, leaving out demolitions, removals, repairs and roofing work; 100 percent of those permits, rounded, carried a declared value.

Source: Miami-Dade County building permits, read 16 October 2026.

Miami-Dade County, FL: declared value on building permits

Residential building permits in Miami-Dade County that mention a shed declared a median declared value on building permits of $2,400; the typical range (middle half of 987 Miami-Dade County permit data points, Miami-Dade County, FL, 2024-2026) was $1,200 to $4,935.

Declared permit values are what applicants reported to the county; final contract prices can differ.

How measured: residential permits with a declared value, untrimmed. Source: Miami-Dade County building permits, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from Miami-Dade County building permits, data years 2024-2026, read 16 October 2026, for Miami-Dade County, FL. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

The county median is below the national median. The county set is limited to permits that mention a shed, while the national item also takes in detached garages and other buildings.

How much does it cost to build a shed yourself or with a builder?

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Sources for the figures on this page