Sentry Sheds

How We Help You Find the Right Sentry Shed

Our mission is to guide you towards the best sentry shed on the market, ensuring you get the ideal product at the best price, from the most reliable retailer. Using detailed reviews and the most extensive database of sentry sheds available online, we aim to make your search quick, easy, and effective.

We’ve developed smart algorithms, in collaboration with top UK garden building experts, to categorise, score, and rank nearly every sentry shed for sale online. By automatically sorting the results, our system places the highest-rated products from the best retailers at the top of each page. Additionally, we offer full-price comparisons on all the sentry sheds we showcase, ensuring you find the right product, at the right price, from the best possible source. We do the heavy lifting to save you time and money.

What is a Sentry Shed?

A sentry shed is a tall, slim storage structure typically used for organizing long-handled tools like rakes, shovels, brooms, and other garden equipment that requires vertical storage. These sheds are often around 3-4 feet wide (0.9-1.2 metres) but stand 5-6 feet tall (1.5-1.8 metres) or more, allowing for vertical stacking of items while occupying minimal floor space. Sentry sheds are an ideal solution for homeowners with limited garden space or those who want a dedicated space for garden tools without the bulk of a full-size shed.

Key Features of a Sentry Shed

1. Tall and Narrow Design
Sentry sheds are designed with a vertical orientation to take advantage of height rather than width, making them perfect for storing long-handled tools, garden brooms, and similar items. They are compact in terms of footprint but tall enough to store items upright. The width typically ranges between 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 metres), while the height can go up to 6-7 feet (1.8-2.1 metres).

2. Efficient Use of Space
These sheds maximize storage capacity in small areas, fitting neatly into tight garden spaces such as the side of a house, near fences, or tucked into corners. Inside, sentry sheds often feature shelves, hooks, or racks to help organize tools and smaller items like gloves, pots, or hand tools.

3. Weatherproof and Durable
Sentry sheds are built to be weatherproof, typically made from pressure-treated wood, resin/plastic, or galvanized steel to withstand outdoor conditions. They are designed to keep tools and equipment safe from rain, wind, and sun damage.

4. Easy Access
Despite their compact size, sentry sheds usually come with wide, single or double doors that allow easy access to stored items. This makes it convenient to remove tools without disturbing the entire contents of the shed. Some models feature padlock-ready doors, adding a layer of security for storing valuable gardening tools.

What Makes it a Sentry Shed vs Other Sheds?

The defining feature of a sentry shed is its narrow, vertical profile that distinguishes it from more traditional, larger garden sheds. Sentry sheds are designed to store specific items (like long-handled tools) efficiently, while other sheds often offer more general-purpose storage and occupy a larger footprint.

1. Sentry Shed vs Traditional Garden Shed
A traditional garden shed ranges from 6×8 feet (1.8×2.4 metres) or larger, designed to store a wide range of items, from lawnmowers to garden furniture. A sentry shed, in contrast, is much narrower, typically 2-4 feet wide, and stands taller, usually between 5-7 feet in height. It is specifically intended for compact, vertical storage, not bulk storage.

2. Sentry Shed vs Bike Storage Shed
A bike shed is generally wider and lower, designed to accommodate bicycles that require horizontal space. A sentry shed, on the other hand, is tall and narrow, optimized for vertical storage. While a bike shed might take up 5-6 feet of horizontal space, a sentry shed focuses on height rather than width.

3. Sentry Shed vs Tool Storage Box
A tool storage box is a horizontal unit, typically low to the ground and used to store small tools and garden accessories like hoses or pots. A sentry shed, on the other hand, is tall and vertical, designed to store long-handled tools like rakes, spades, and shovels.

Typical Dimensions of a Sentry Shed

1. 2×3 Feet (0.6×0.9 Metres)
This size is perfect for small spaces and can fit against a wall or fence. Despite its small footprint, it can hold long-handled tools like rakes, shovels, and brooms that are 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 metres) tall. Inside, you could install a small shelf for gloves, hand trowels, and other small gardening tools.

2. 3×4 Feet (0.9×1.2 Metres)
This size offers more space for multiple long-handled tools, along with additional room for items like lawn equipment. You could add hooks or shelves to store smaller items like pruning shears, plant ties, or seed packets.

3. 4×6 Feet (1.2×1.8 Metres)
A larger sentry shed offers more flexibility for storing heavier-duty equipment in addition to garden tools. It provides space for multiple long-handled tools and hanging storage for smaller items like hand tools. You could even store small power tools, such as electric trimmers or weed eaters.

Key Features of a Good Sentry Shed

1. Durable Construction Materials
Wooden sentry sheds should be made from pressure-treated timber to resist rot, decay, and insect damage. Resin or plastic options offer excellent durability and weather resistance, requiring little maintenance. Metal sheds, particularly those made from galvanized steel, provide strength and resistance to corrosion.

2. Weatherproofing
Look for a shed with a waterproof roof, typically made from felt or shingles, to protect stored items from rain. A sloped or pitched roof is ideal for shedding water and snow. For resin or plastic models, ensure that the material is UV-protected to prevent fading or cracking under long-term sun exposure.

3. Efficient Interior Layout
A good sentry shed will offer integrated shelves or hooks to help organize smaller items like gloves, hand tools, or plant ties. Many sentry sheds come with built-in tool racks, ensuring that long-handled tools can be stored neatly and are easy to retrieve when needed.

4. Secure Doors and Locks
Whether the doors are single or double, they should be lockable to keep your tools secure. Look for models with padlock-ready doors or integrated security features to prevent unauthorized access. Wide-opening doors are essential for easy access to stored items.

What Makes a Bad (or Cheap) Sentry Shed?

1. Flimsy Construction
Sheds with thin plastic or wood panels can warp or break over time, especially when exposed to extreme weather conditions. Weak materials may also cause the shed to lose structural integrity, making it less secure for tool storage.

2. Poor Weatherproofing
A poorly constructed shed with a leaky roof or gaps around the doors can allow moisture inside, leading to rusting tools or mold growth. Ensure the roof is properly waterproofed and the doors seal tightly to keep out rain.

3. Inadequate Space and Access
If the shed is too narrow or small, it can become frustrating to store and retrieve tools, especially if you need to constantly rearrange or remove items to reach those at the back. Sentry sheds with small or weak doors can make accessing tools difficult, particularly larger items like brooms or rakes.

4. Lack of Security
A shed without a proper lock can leave valuable tools vulnerable to theft. Look for models with secure doors that can be padlocked or have built-in locking mechanisms.

Conclusion

A sentry shed is a smart, space-saving storage solution for homeowners with limited outdoor space who need a compact, vertical storage area for long-handled garden tools and equipment. A good sentry shed should be durable, weatherproof, and offer efficient storage options like shelving or tool racks. Cheaper models may suffer from poor construction, lack of security features, or inadequate weatherproofing, which can compromise the shed’s functionality and longevity. Choosing a well-built, weather-resistant sentry shed will ensure your tools stay organised, secure, and protected from the elements.