Shed and outbuilding financing
Storage sheds, carports, garages, barns and workshops — with the site preparation that nobody includes in the quote.
The short version
A basic storage shed runs $2,000 to $6,000 and a two-car garage or workshop $12,000 to $35,000. Programs cover $200 to $50,000. The line that catches people is site preparation: levelling, gravel or a concrete pad typically adds $800 to $6,000 and has to happen before delivery, so it belongs in the same approval.
Realistic expectations
What outbuildings cost
Delivered prices for the structure. Site preparation and permits are additional and are listed separately below.
| Structure | Typical cost | Usually financed as |
|---|---|---|
| Small storage shed, 8x10 | $2,000–$4,000 | No credit needed |
| Large shed, 12x20 | $4,500–$9,000 | Lease |
| Carport | $1,500–$6,000 | No credit needed, or lease |
| Single garage | $8,000–$18,000 | Lease or installment loan |
| Two-car garage or workshop | $15,000–$35,000 | Installment loan |
| Pole barn | $12,000–$45,000 | Installment loan or equipment finance |
| Site prep and concrete pad | $800–$6,000 | With the structure |
Ranges reflect published program terms. Approval, approval amount and terms are determined by the provider after underwriting and are not guaranteed.
In order
Four steps before the building arrives
Check permits and setbacks first
Most jurisdictions require a permit above a certain footprint, and setback rules dictate how close you may build to a boundary. An HOA may have its own rules on top.
Prepare the site before delivery
A building delivered onto unprepared ground either cannot be placed or sits badly and rots. Levelling, gravel or a pad has to be done first.
Finance the whole job
Structure, delivery, site prep, pad, electrical and permits in one approval. A second approval mid-project is how these jobs stall.
Check access for the truck
Delivery of a prebuilt shed needs clearance for a trailer. On a tight lot, an on-site build may be the only workable route.
Farm and business use
When an outbuilding is equipment
A pole barn on a working farm, a workshop for a trades business or storage for a landscaping company is a business asset rather than a home improvement, and it generally belongs on a commercial program from $500.
The pricing is usually better, and the structure may qualify for different tax treatment. Speak to your accountant before deciding how to book it.
Rent-to-own sheds
Many shed dealers advertise their own rent-to-own programs. Apply the same test as any lease: ask for the total of payments and the early purchase price before signing, and compare them against financing the same building.
Questions
Common questions
Can I finance a shed with bad credit?
Yes. A no-credit-needed program covers up to $7,500, which handles most storage sheds, and a lease covers up to $15,000.
Can I include the concrete pad and site prep?
Yes, and you should. Levelling, gravel, a pad, delivery and electrical can be financed with the structure.
Do I need a permit?
Usually above a certain footprint, and rules vary by jurisdiction. Check with your local authority and your HOA before ordering.
Can a farm or business finance a pole barn?
Yes, generally through commercial equipment finance from $500, which usually prices better than a consumer agreement.
Is a rent-to-own shed program better?
Not automatically. Ask the dealer for the total of payments and the early purchase price, then compare against financing the same building outright.
Keep reading
Related pages
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