Because your garage is for cars, not lawn mowers.
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Owning a home means accumulating tools, but unless you have somewhere to keep them, they can get damaged or destroyed. If you don’t have a garage or basement—or maybe you do but they’re not set up for storage—your next best option is to get a shed. Wood sheds look nice, but for a weather-resistant, easy-to-build, affordable solution, you can’t beat a quality plastic option.
A shed made from plastic or resin (a plant-based plastic) has a lot of benefits. Most are UV-resistant, which means they won’t fade. They’re easy to clean, especially if you have a pressure washer. They also protect against ice and snow with no warping or damage. They’re versatile, too; you can pick one with enough space for the usual stuff (yard tools and sports gear), along with multiple bikes, scooters, or even firewood.
Before making your final choice on a plastic shed, take note of the size, weather-resistance capabilities, and shed design.
The size and shape of the plastic shed you choose largely depend on how much storage space you need—and how much space you have. We recommend a shorter, thinner option if you plan to use the shed as storage for smaller gardening tools or pool equipment. However, plastic sheds come in sizes large enough for most people to easily walk inside, so if you store heavy-duty tools or larger outdoor items, buy a shed with enough space and wide enough doors for your needs.
The biggest potential downside to choosing a plastic shed over one made of treated wood or galvanized steel is long-term durability. Most quality plastic sheds have solid weather resistance, including a waterproof exterior, UV protection for stored items, and fade-resistant coloring. Many plastic sheds are also equipped to handle snow, and, if anchored, heavy winds.
The design and color of the shed largely boil down to availability and your taste. Luckily, despite being an item designed for utility, plastic sheds come in several unique styles, from rustic and old-school to chic and modern.
Our selections include plastic sheds in popular styles and sizes with average user ratings of at least four stars. We also chose options across multiple price points, from budget to high-end. There are a range of features and boxes you’ll want to check when shopping, and we’ve highlighted the most notable for every shed we cover.
Ready to start organizing? Check out the best plastic sheds you can buy right now.
This shed offers substantial storage, and with a double-wide opening, it can also fit large mowers and more. You can also add pegboards, shelves, and hanging racks to customize your storage needs. Rubbermaid sheds have tough, double-wall resin construction, impact-resistant floors, and weatherproofing that will withstand wet, snowy, and windy weather. Roof windows bring the natural light inside, but you can always hang a lantern there, too.
This shed is great for those who want ample storage without creating an eyesore in their backyard. The shed is short enough to disguise easily behind a fence, yet still roomy enough to store mowers, bikes, trash cans, and more.
The access points—via the roof and side door—also make it a win. The double-wall resin construction also means it stands the test of time in any weather.
Eight wall anchors are included, so you can organize your tools with customizable pegboards, shelving, or rack components, although those are sold separately.
This contemporary gray plastic shed from popular brand Keter has an attractive gable-style roof and white trim. It’s made of recycled, all-weather resin reinforced with steel and offers roughly 132 cubic feet of storage capacity. The wood look gives the shed a rustic style, and it’s both ultra-UV-resistant and durable. It features a wide door that locks, a window, and a sturdy floor panel.
There’s a small vent above the front doors to prevent moisture and chemical odors from building up inside, and it’s designed to withstand 65-mph winds.
While it isn’t easy to find a shed that’s more urban than country, this attractive and streamlined shed will fit right into your space—especially if you have a modernist home or a larger place in the city. With its sleek, modernist style, the weather-resistant shed is made of plastic and reinforced with a steel frame for extra strength.
It features a textured exterior, a thick tiled roof with skylights, a single window on the side, and double doors. There are also built-in shelves inside, so there’s enough space for all your yard tools and accessories.
This shed is perfect for people who have many items to store but don’t want a shed that takes up their entire yard. Rubbermaid’s large vertical shed has a 159 cubic-foot capacity, with a customizable shelving system that includes a pegboard for organizing small items.
It’s made of durable hard plastic, with double-wall construction for added stability and strength, plus the floor has treads to prevent slipping. The contemporary double front doors are lockable and feature elegant inset molding and a wide pull.
This is the Goldilocks of sheds, ideal for folks who need a good amount of space, but not too much. For those with a small yard or a full garage, this petite shed is the perfect size to keep the most essential lawn equipment under cover. The 140-cubic-foot shed has a 4x6-foot footprint and is constructed of weather-resistant resin.
It features a durable floor panel and wall brackets to accommodate shelving, which is sold separately. There’s also a lockable front latch, a skylight, a window, and a vent on top to maintain airflow.
If you have a home’s worth of gear to store, this shed is for you! This massive storage shed is 20 feet long and constructed of high-density polyethylene reinforced with steel, with an impressive lineup of features: a storage system with adjustable shelving, flooring with treads for added traction, and steel trusses supporting the roof. There are also two shuttered windows, screened vents, and six small skylights. For those concerned about security, the doors are lockable and reinforced with steel.
Note this shed requires a foundation laid beneath it, so you’ll need to budget time and money to tackle that part of the project, too.
Not everyone can house a giant shed in their yard. If you’re short on room but still need a base to store gear in, this is a great, slim option. This tall, narrow storage shed is ideal for tools and gardening equipment, plus it has a hint of country-chic style, with shutters at the top and decorative paneling.
It offers 22 cubic feet of space, is made of waterproof and fade-resistant resin, has a thick floor, and features double doors with handles long enough to fit a padlock. The storage shed is also made to accommodate shelving inside, though you’ll have to buy the shelves separately.
Unlike many other plastic storage sheds, the Kinying outdoor storage shed is incredibly quick to assemble with most users reporting the entire affair taking less than an hour. The plastic shed also comes with a moisture resistant design that prevents the buildup or mold or mildew even in more humid climates.
The shed comes with dedicated slats for easy install shelving and more versatile storage space. The lid also has a concave design which improves drainage and prevents the buildup of puddles after a rain.
The Homspark vertical storage shed comes with four door handles at different heights so both you and the kids can open the shed easily. The double wall panels provide added stability and allow for easy mounting.
In additional the textured sides and unique slat-style front, what makes the shed unique is the colorfast protection which prevents fading over time. The shed also comes with added spaces for shelves, though unfortunately the shelves must be bought separately.
When you need a smaller storage shed and style matters, this is the one to go with. With 35 cubic feet, it can hold a lot—everything from kids’ bikes to a lawnmower or gardening supplies. The two front doors open, but so does the top, which makes organizing your stuff easy. Shelves can even be added inside.
This efficient shed is extremely simple to put together, water-resistant, won’t fade in the sun, and the wall panels are doubled for extra sturdiness in rain storms or blizzards.
A shed like this Everett model from Suncast is ideal for storing a bike, tools, or pool essentials. It has 94 cubic feet of storage, and the double doors on the front make it easy to load stuff in and take it out. Plus, each door handle is padlock-ready, so you can keep your belongings safe.
This one is extra durable, thanks to the walls being braced with metal. Even the floor is made with reinforced resin, which means you can store heavier items here.
Other features include a skylight, vents for air circulation, and large windows that allow a lot of light. Best of all, it doesn’t look like your average tool shed. We really like the cottage look on this one, a style that will fit in with your garden or pool deck.
Jess is a Commerce Editor, covering best-selling products for Hearst Magazines. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two kids.
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
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