12x16 Sheds | Answering Your Top 5 Questions
Shykia Bell - October 9, 2025
Table of Contents
12×16 sheds are an excellent option for many people and their storage needs. Whether you want to fit in some large gardening items or some of your outdoor toys (like ATVs), a 12×16 storage shed is a great option. Here are five questions you need to ask when considering the purchase of a 12×16 storage shed.
Is It Cheaper To Build Or Buy A 12 x 16 Shed?
At 5-Star Buildings, most 12×16 sheds generally range between $5,525 and $9,555. The final price depends on the design and any extra features you’d like to include. We have the following shed styles available in this size:
*Images are to show available shed models and may not be to scale. However, all shed styles shown can be built to 12×16 dimensions.
How Much Does It Cost To Build a 12×16 Shed?
12×16 Shed Kit Cost
A 12×16 shed kit from Amazon will cost you around $3,269. However, it does not include everything you may be thinking of at that price. If you want a floor, windows, or something even as necessary as roofing, you will need to figure out how to do that on your own and have those as an added cost. So at the end of the day, you might have saved a few hundred dollars on your 12×16 shed kit, but you have the hassle of doing all the work yourself.
12×16 Built From Scratch
You may look at these prices and still say to yourself, “I know I can build it all with my own 2 working hands,” and maybe you have that know-how. However, with your knowledge, don’t forget that it may be very pricey to build a shed on your own if you don’t have the tools or materials on hand already.
Tools
To purchase all the tools required to build your shed, will cost approximately $2,365 (according to Northwood Industries based out of Wisconsin). This includes everything from basics like a hammer to more expensive equipment such as a chop saw. The numbers speak for themselves. The tools to build a 12×16 shed are not very cheap, however, any tools that you do have will change the cost of building the 12×16 shed.
Materials:
Building a 12×16 shed is no small feat. The materials you will need to create this structure are pretty extensive. The bare essentials that this DIY project consists of are** :
| Materials | Cost |
| 4, 4”x4”x16’ | $133.56 |
| 3, 2”x6”x8’ | $16.08 |
| 2, 2”x6”x10’ | $19.76 |
| 2, 2”x6”x16’ | $13.78 |
| 13, 2”x6”x12’ | $114.27 |
| 15, 4’x8’ ¾” Plywood Sheets | $974.58 |
| 4 2”x4” X16’ | $31.92 |
| 18 2’x4’x12’ | $107.64 |
| 105 2”x4”x8’ | $485.10 |
| 4 1”x6”x8’ | $23.96 |
| 6 1”x6”x6’ | $31.68 |
| 15 4’x8’pieces of T1-11 | $644.40 |
| 2 4×8 pieces of ½” plywood | $34.94 |
| 1 roll of 432 Square feet of Felt Roof Underlayment | $34.97 |
| 10 Bundles of Shingles | $434.70 |
| 1 Bucket of 1 ⅝” screws | $49.98 |
| 1 Bucket of 2 ½” screws | $38.99 |
| 1 Bucket of 3 ½” screws | $54.98 |
| 1 Large bottle of Wood Glue | $21.99 |
| 2 Gallons of Exterior Paint | $95.96 |
| 1 set of Rafter Ties | $55.99 |
| 1 Door Hardware Kit | $17.89 |
| Bare Minimum Materials Cost | $3,437.12* |
*Disclaimer: These prices are before taxes and are subject to change. This table is intended as a guide, and the prices reflected are accurate as of 10/9/2025.
** These materials are compiled from the DIY website and are not the plans of a 5 Star Buildings 12×16 shed.
12×16 Shed Labor Cost :
If you’re building a 12×16 shed from scratch, foundation, framing, siding, and roofing included, two experienced DIYers can expect to spend about five full workdays, or roughly 80 total labor hours. According to ZipRecruiter, construction laborers in Missouri earn about $19.64/hr on average, so a fair shed-building estimate is $18–$22/hr depending on skill, site, and travel. These numbers may significantly impact the cost of your build if you use the “bill at your hourly wage” principle.
12×16 Shed Total Cost:
The total cost of building a 12×16 shed from scratch typically ranges between $7,300 and $7,700, depending on your materials, tools, and labor. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Materials: at least $3,437.12 (before taxes)
- Tools: about $2,467.50, based on current averages for purchasing standard shed-building equipment
- Labor: $1,440–$1,760 at Missouri’s average rate of $18–$22 per hour
With all costs included, building your own 12×16 shed can easily exceed $7,500, putting it close to or even above the price of purchasing one that’s professionally built and delivered by 5-Star Buildings. And that doesn’t include the week or more it takes to construct it yourself.
What if I have some of the supplies for my 12×16 shed?
If you already have the tools you need, you’re ahead of the game. Without that extra $2,467.50 in tool expenses, your total cost for materials and labor would come to roughly $4,900–$5,200. That means you could save about $2,000–$2,500 compared to someone starting from scratch.
However, those savings still put your total cost within a few hundred dollars of buying one of our most affordable 12×16 sheds. And when you consider the time and effort it takes to build a shed, often a full week of hard work, it may be worth letting 5-Star handle the build while you enjoy your time off.
How Are Your Prices for 12×16 Sheds So Affordable?
Built Efficiently, One Project at a Time
Each shed is handcrafted by an experienced builder in our controlled shop environment. Working indoors means fewer delays, consistent quality, and no time lost to weather. Every builder focuses on one project at a time, which helps us work faster and smarter without cutting corners.
Savings Through Wholesale Purchasing
We buy our materials in bulk directly from trusted suppliers. Ordering at wholesale quantities allows us to secure better pricing than retail stores—and those savings go right back to you.
A Team of Experts Who Know Their Craft
Our crew has years of experience in shed construction. That expertise helps us solve challenges quickly, prevent waste, and keep every project running smoothly. In the end, you get a high-quality 12×16 shed at a fair price, built with care by folks who take pride in their work.
Is A 12×16 Shed Big Enough?
This is a great question. Our most popularly ordered shed has been the 10×16. So, to order a 12×16 shed, you will give yourself about 2’ of extra room for what you need. Imagine having all the storage space of a 10×16 shed with enough room for a nice-sized workbench. A 12×16 shed offers you a great storage area and a comfortable working space.
What Can You Fit In a 12×16 Shed?
Photo Credit: Overholt Storage Buildings
In order to better visualize what you can put in a 12×16 shed, we have compiled the following list as an example only (this is a basic 12×16 footprint with no loft included). According to the Lp Sidings storage guide, you would be able to fit the following items in a 12×16 storage shed comfortably.
- 2 Fuel Cans (15″ L x 10″ W)
- 4 Long-Handled Garden Tools (20″ W x 24″ D)
- 1 Propane Grill (52.65″ W x 23.3″ D)
- 2 Ladders (80″ L x 7″ D)
- 1 Push Lawn Mower (60″ L x 25″ W)
- 1 14 Gallon Shop Vacuum (20″ L x 16.25″ W)
- 1 Small Drivable Vehicle (72.75″ L x 45″ W)
- 1 Snow Blower (48″ L x 21″ W)
- 1 Wheelbarrow (58.75″ L x 25.5″ W)
- 1 Freestanding Cabinet (28″ W x 18″ D)
- 2 Hanging Cabinets (28″ W x 13″ D)
- 2 Garbage Bins (28.5″ L x 23″ W)
- 1 Set of Hanging Shelves (40″ W x 12″ D)
- 1 Tool Chest (28″ L x 18″ W)
- 1 Trunk/Toy Chest (30″ L x 16″ W)
- 1 Child-Sized Basketball Hoop (23.75″ W x 22″ D)
- 2 Bicycles (63″ L x 23″ W)
- 2 Scooters (24.8 ” L x 8″ W)
- 1 Wagon (41.75″ L x 20.75″ W)
- 4 Reclining Patio Chairs (28″ W x 22″ D)
- 1 Long Work Bench (96″ L x 25″ D)
Now that’s A LOT of storage! A great way to get even more storage space from a 12×16 shed is by considering a Lofted Storage Shed. A loft gives you the benefit of more storage space without needing to take up any additional yard space from a 12×16 shed.
Perhaps the items listed in this lineup are not precisely what you need to store. You can know how much storage space you need by going to the LP Smart Sidings Size Tool. Here you can input what you desire to store, and they will give you a suggested storage building size.
What Foundation Does A 12×16 Shed Need?
Like any portable structure, a 12×16 shed needs a place to be set. There are multiple foundation options available for a 12×16 shed to be placed on. Let’s look at the most common type of shed foundation options.
Stone/Gravel Pad
Stone and Gravel pads give your 12×16 shed a solid foundation and allow for the correct water drainage. Having a gravel pad ensures that you have the appropriate drainage and does 2 valuable items for your shed.
1.) You will be increasing the life of your shed’s skid wood. You are giving more life to the wood of your shed because the water will drain away and not allow rot to start as quickly on the skid foundation.
2.) Using a shed foundation like a gravel pad will ensure that erosion and ground shifting will not occur as quickly as the water drains away from the building.
One of the perks of doing a gravel site is that you can do this on your own for a relatively low cost.
Cement Pad
Some people like the look and permanency of a poured cement foundation for their 12×16 shed. This is a great option but does come with some caution.
- The process of installing a cement-poured foundation can be pretty costly. To do a poured cement foundation, you will need to have a crew come and do the appropriate grading, underlayment, and any additional leveling that needs to take place. This needed labor is sure to increase the cost.
- If the slope in the grading process is off for your cement-poured foundation, you can end up with standing water where you can not see it. Having standing water under your 12×16 shed increases the chances of rot occurring where you can not see it. In the long run, the standing water may cause deterioration, meaning you will need to make repairs earlier than expected.
- While a poured cement foundation can be done on your own, it takes a bit of know-how and is not a project that a novice DIYer can not quickly complete.
No Foundation
Some people have thought that they do not need to have a foundation in place for their 12×16 shed. The idea of not having a foundation is tempting if you are looking to save money in the short term. Conversely, it will cause more issues than you had intended in the long term. Such as:
- Excess moisture causes rot on the foundation wood.
- Ground shift causes the shed to lean one way or another.
- Uneven ground shifting causing the doors to become difficult to open.
How Many Square Feet Does 12×16 Shed Take Up?
12×16 sheds have a footprint space for their size; the footprint space is the amount of space a shed will take up in a given area. A 12×16 shed will take up a minimum of 12 feet x 16 feet. However, that does not account for the additional surrounding space of a foundation. The extra square footage space needed for a shed foundation is about one foot on each side. By requiring the other 1’ on each side you should plan for a 12×16 storage shed to have a footprint space of about 13×17.
How Many Square Feet of Usable Space Does A 12×16 Shed Offer?
The usable space of a 12×16 storage shed will not be the same as the exterior measurements (or footprint size). However, there is a valid reason for that! When we give you a measurement of 12’ x 16’, that is only the exterior measurement (the exact measurement is 11′ 6″x 15′ 6″). The internal size will cause you to lose some space due to the materials used to construct the shed. At 5 Star Buildings, something that sets us apart from others is that the interior room only loses a total of 7″ of interior space.
So let us break down how much usable space you will receive from a 12×16 storage shed:
11′ 6″’ – 7” = 10’ 11“
16′ – 7” = 15’ 5”
These measurements give you an interior usage space of 162.84 ft² when purchasing a 12×16 shed from 5 Star Buildings.
Your 12×16 Shed Starts Here!
12×16 sheds are a great option for storing the things that make your life enjoyable. Whether you’re storing a lawnmower, gardening tools, or all the outdoor toys your kids play with. We know that a 12×16 storage shed can help you get the organized life you have always wanted! If you live in our service area, stop dreaming about what you want and fill out a quote form. Or take it one step further and use our 3D Builder to design your dream shed. At 5-Star Buildings we strive to build your dreams!
