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Free shed plan

6x8 Shed Plans: Gable Roof

A compact garden shed for mowers, hand tools and bikes. The single 36 inch door keeps the gable end strong.

sq ft
48
boards
74
sheets
13
offcut
8.4%
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6 ft wide by 8 ft deep, 6/12 gable roof, about 10' 3-3/8" to the peak.

Specifications

Footprint6' wide x 8' deep (48 sq ft)
RoofGable, 6/12 pitch, 6" eaves
Wall height7' 4-3/4" to top of plates
Overall heightabout 10' 3-3/8" from grade to peak
Framing2x4 walls at 16" OC, 2x6 rafters at 16" OC, 2x6 joists at 16" OC
Foundation3 pressure-treated 4x6 skids on a gravel pad
Door36" x 78" on the front wall (rough opening)
Windowsnone
Longest board16 ft
Design snow load30 psf

Foundation and floor

3 pressure-treated 4x6 skids run front to back on a compacted gravel pad. The floor joists run across them, so no joist spans more than 34-1/4". See the foundation guide for leveling and squaring.

6' wide8' deepFRONT
Floor framing from above: 7 joists at 16" on center between two rim joists. Skids dashed.

Wall framing

Walls are drawn from the outside. The side walls run the full depth and carry the rafters; the front and back gable walls fit between them. The wall framing guide walks through layout and raising.

DOOR36" x 78"Header 2-2x614-1/2"50-1/2"11-1/2"0"59-3/4"63-1/2"5' 5" long, studs 84-1/4"7' 4-3/4"door head 78"
Front wall: 5' 5" long, 5 full studs at 84-1/4". Tick marks under the wall are stud positions from the left end.

Front wall: layout marks

Marked from the left end of the bottom plate as drawn, heights from the subfloor.
Studs, left edge0", 11-1/2", 13", 50-1/2", 52", 59-3/4", 63-1/2"
Door rough opening14-1/2" to 50-1/2" from the left end (36" wide)
Door header2-2x6, bottom at 78", top at 83-1/2" above the subfloor
0"11-3/4"27-3/4"43-3/4"59-3/4"63-1/2"5' 5" long, studs 84-1/4"7' 4-3/4"
Back wall: 5' 5" long, 6 full studs at 84-1/4". Tick marks under the wall are stud positions from the left end.

Back wall: layout marks

Marked from the left end of the bottom plate as drawn, heights from the subfloor.
Studs, left edge0", 11-3/4", 27-3/4", 43-3/4", 59-3/4", 63-1/2"
0"15-1/4"31-1/4"47-1/4"63-1/4"79-1/4"94-1/2"8' long, studs 84-1/4"7' 4-3/4"
Left side wall: 8' long, 9 full studs at 84-1/4". Tick marks under the wall are stud positions from the left end.

Left side wall: layout marks

Marked from the left end of the bottom plate as drawn, heights from the subfloor.
Studs, left edge0", 1-1/2", 15-1/4", 31-1/4", 47-1/4", 63-1/4", 79-1/4", 93", 94-1/2"
0"15-1/4"31-1/4"47-1/4"63-1/4"79-1/4"94-1/2"8' long, studs 84-1/4"7' 4-3/4"
Right side wall: 8' long, 9 full studs at 84-1/4". Tick marks under the wall are stud positions from the left end.

Right side wall: layout marks

Marked from the left end of the bottom plate as drawn, heights from the subfloor.
Studs, left edge0", 1-1/2", 15-1/4", 31-1/4", 47-1/4", 63-1/4", 79-1/4", 93", 94-1/2"

Roof framing

14 2x6 rafters at 16" on center, 6/12 pitch with a 6" eave. A 2x8 ridge board and a 2x4 rafter tie at every pair keep the walls from spreading. The rafter guide shows how to lay out the pattern.

46-1/8" along the edge, plumb cut to plumb cut41-1/4" horizontal run6" tailseat 3-1/2", heel 1-3/4"6/12 plumb cuts (26.6°)
Pattern rafter: 2x6 x 48-7/8" stock, 46-1/8" plumb cut to plumb cut, birdsmouth seat 3-1/2" with a 1-3/4" heel.

Span checks

MemberSizeSpanAllowedResult
Rafters2x62' 11-1/4"11' 11-1/8"bendingOK, 306% spare
Floor joists2x62' 10-1/4"8' 7-13/16"deflectionOK, 203% spare

Checked for Spruce-Pine-Fir No. 2 with NDS design values, 30 psf snow plus 10 psf dead load, L/180 deflection for rafters. Use a heavier snow load in the designer if your area needs it.

Shopping list

Lumber to buyQty
4x6 pressure-treated (ground contact)
8 ft3
2x6 pressure-treated (ground contact)
8 ft3
12 ft3
2x4 framing lumber
8 ft41
12 ft5
2x6 framing lumber
10 ft4
16 ft2
2x8 framing lumber
8 ft1
1x4 exterior trim board
8 ft10
1x6 exterior trim board
8 ft2
Sheets, roofing and hardwareBuy
Sheet goods
3/4" tongue-and-groove plywood subfloor, 4x8long edge across the joists, end joints staggered2 sheets
Panel siding (T1-11 or engineered wood), 4x8one panel covers the floor frame and the wall, no horizontal joint8 sheets
Panel siding for the gable ends, 4x8triangles nest; includes 15% for angled cuts1 sheet
7/16" OSB roof sheathing, 4x8use H-clips between rafters at unsupported edges2 sheets
Z-flashing for the horizontal siding joints, 10 ft pieces12' of horizontal joint at the top plate under the gables; leave a 3/8" gap above it2 pieces
Roofing
Asphalt shingles, 3 bundles per square0.63 squares plus 10% waste3 bundles
Starter strip shingles16 lin ft along the eaves, counted at 100 lin ft per bundle; check the label1 bundle
Hip and ridge cap shingles8 lin ft of ridge, counted at 20 lin ft per bundle; check the label1 bundle
Synthetic roof underlayment, 10-square roll0.7 squares with laps1 roll
Drip edge, 10 ft pieceseaves and rakes4 pieces
Fasteners and hardware
Framing nails, 16d common, 3-1/2" x 0.162"about 400 nails at about 47 per lb; counted joint by joint to the IRC fastening schedule (2 per stud end, 3 per joist end), 15% spare included9 lb
Toenail nails, 10d box, 3" x 0.128"about 350 nails at about 94 per lb; for the toenailed joints: rafters to plates and ridge, joists to skids, gable studs; 15% spare included4 lb
Galvanized siding nails, 2-1/2" (8d)about 700 nails at about 90 per lb; 6" on edges, 12" in the field8 lb
Roof sheathing nails, 2-1/2" (8d)about 150 nails at about 90 per lb; 6" on edges, 12" in the field2 lb
Exterior screws for the subfloor, 2"about 100 screws at about 100 per lb; about 50 per sheet1 lb
Rafter-to-plate connectors (hurricane ties)one at every rafter bearing, fixed with the nails its label calls for14
Roofing nails, 1-1/4"about 250 nails at about 140 per lb; 4 per shingle, about 320 per square2 lb
Construction adhesive (subfloor)one tube per 2 sheets1 tube
Shed ground anchorsone near each corner; check local wind rules4

Lumber-yard takeoff

The whole shopping list on one printed page, with a box to tick for each line at the yard.

6x8 Gable Shed plan: lumber-yard takeoff

6' x 8' gable, 6/12 roof. Tick each line as it goes on the cart. theshedplanner.com

Lumber

  • 34x6 pressure-treated (ground contact), 8 ft
  • 32x6 pressure-treated (ground contact), 8 ft
  • 32x6 pressure-treated (ground contact), 12 ft
  • 412x4 framing lumber, 8 ft
  • 52x4 framing lumber, 12 ft
  • 42x6 framing lumber, 10 ft
  • 22x6 framing lumber, 16 ft
  • 12x8 framing lumber, 8 ft
  • 101x4 exterior trim board, 8 ft
  • 21x6 exterior trim board, 8 ft

Sheet goods

  • 2 sheets3/4" tongue-and-groove plywood subfloor, 4x8
  • 8 sheetsPanel siding (T1-11 or engineered wood), 4x8
  • 1 sheetPanel siding for the gable ends, 4x8
  • 2 sheets7/16" OSB roof sheathing, 4x8
  • 2 piecesZ-flashing for the horizontal siding joints, 10 ft pieces

Roofing

  • 3 bundlesAsphalt shingles, 3 bundles per square
  • 1 bundleStarter strip shingles
  • 1 bundleHip and ridge cap shingles
  • 1 rollSynthetic roof underlayment, 10-square roll
  • 4 piecesDrip edge, 10 ft pieces

Fasteners and hardware

  • 9 lbFraming nails, 16d common, 3-1/2" x 0.162"
  • 4 lbToenail nails, 10d box, 3" x 0.128"
  • 8 lbGalvanized siding nails, 2-1/2" (8d)
  • 2 lbRoof sheathing nails, 2-1/2" (8d)
  • 1 lbExterior screws for the subfloor, 2"
  • 14Rafter-to-plate connectors (hurricane ties)
  • 2 lbRoofing nails, 1-1/4"
  • 1 tubeConstruction adhesive (subfloor)
  • 4Shed ground anchors

Foundation

  • 1 rollLandscape fabric, enough to cover 8' x 10'

Site prep

  • 1.0 cu ydGravel base: compactable crushed stone, 4" pad 1 ft wider than the shed on every side, before compactionBagged at Home Depot, Hamilton Mill store (ZIP 30011), Sep 30, 2026: $349.38 (54 bags of 0.5 cu ft at $6.47). Bulk from a landscape or building supplier is typically cheaper: East Coast Lumber & Building Supply (East Hampstead, NH) listed 3/4 in crushed stone at $69.95 per cubic yard on Sep 30, 2026, delivered in loads of 3 to 8 yards. Site prep, not in the shed materials total.

Cut list

QtySizeLengthPiece
Front wall
22x476-1/2"Jack stud, door
22x639"Header ply, door (36" opening)
22x42-1/4"Cripple above door header
52x484-1/4"Stud
22x465"Bottom and top plate
12x472"Cap plate (second top plate)
22x46-5/8"Gable stud (long point)
22x414-5/8"Gable stud (long point)
Back wall
62x484-1/4"Stud
22x465"Bottom and top plate
12x472"Cap plate (second top plate)
22x46-5/8"Gable stud (long point)
22x414-5/8"Gable stud (long point)
Left side wall
92x484-1/4"Studincludes 2 corner backer studs
22x496"Bottom and top plate
12x489"Cap plate (second top plate)
Right side wall
92x484-1/4"Studincludes 2 corner backer studs
22x496"Bottom and top plate
12x489"Cap plate (second top plate)
Roof
142x648-7/8"Common rafter
12x896"Ridge board
72x472"Rafter tie (ends cut to roof slope)
Floor
34x6 PT96"Skid (runs front to back)
72x6 PT69"Floor joist
22x6 PT96"Rim joist (sides)
Trim
81x496"Corner trim board
21x696"Fascia board (eaves)
41x446-15/16"Rake trim board

Build it in 7 steps

  1. 1

    Check permits and pick the site

    Confirm what your building department and zoning rules require for a 48 sq ft shed, then call 811 before you dig. Read the guide

  2. 2

    Build the foundation

    Level a gravel pad 1 ft wider than the shed and set 3 pressure-treated 4x6 skids 34-1/4" on center. Read the guide

  3. 3

    Frame the floor

    Two 8' rim joists and 7 joists at 69", 16" on center, squared by the diagonals and covered with 3/4" tongue-and-groove plywood.

  4. 4

    Frame and raise the walls

    Build each wall flat with 84-1/4" studs, headers over the openings and a double top plate. Raise, plumb and brace. Read the guide

  5. 5

    Cut and set the rafters

    Make one pattern 2x6 rafter, 46-1/8" plumb cut to plumb cut, test it, then cut 13 more. Set the 2x8 ridge and add a 2x4 rafter tie at every pair. Read the guide

  6. 6

    Sheathe and roof

    Nail 2 sheets of 7/16" OSB, add drip edge and underlayment, then shingles.

  7. 7

    Side and trim

    Hang the panel siding, then the corner boards, fascia and rake trim. Fit the doors and windows and seal every cut edge.

Guides for this build

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