How Much Does It Cost to Purchase a Shed House?

Have you been comparing quotes for a new shed house and wondering which option offers the best value? Not every quote is equal. Many advertised prices fail to account for your specific terrain or wind region, which can lead to unexpected costs later on.

When planning your project, it’s essential to understand the difference between a kit home and a new shed house (liveable shed). While a kit home uses traditional residential steel stud frames, a liveable shed uses a portal frame structure. It’s also important to understand the difference between a standard backyard shed and a shed house. Only a shed house is engineered as a Class 1a building, meaning it meets the same strict Australian safety and structural standards as a traditional home.

Before we get into the pricing, please keep in mind that a realistic quote must be specifically engineered for your site’s unique conditions. Your local Sheds n Homes team will provide the expertise to help you understand exactly what determines the final cost of your project.

What are my options? 

When purchasing a steel kit home with Sheds n Homes, for instance, you have two main options for your new shed home project: 

• You can purchase your new steel-framed house in kit form and coordinate the construction with a reputable builder.

or

• You can speak to your local Sheds n Homes store about their kit home options (where available).

Our home kits come complete with the steel components needed to reach the lock-up stage, including the structural frame, roof sheeting, external cladding, and guttering. 

Important to note: we do not provide windows, doors, timber flooring, or a concrete slab. This gives you the advantage of shopping around and sourcing items like Gyprock without paying a builder’s margin, helping you control your final budget.

While both arrive as a steel kit for your personally organised registered builder to complete the project, there is a technical difference in how they are designed. Depending on your vision, you can choose between:

• The Kit Home (Stud Frame): These are designed like a traditional house using steel stud frames and trusses. They are ideal if you want a conventional home layout with pre-determined internal rooms.

• The Liveable Shed (Portal Frame): These use a heavy-duty "shed-style" portal frame but are engineered to Class 1a standards. These are perfect for those wanting a "shouse" or industrial-style home with large, open-plan spans and no need for load-bearing internal walls.

What’s included in the kit?

Regardless of which style you choose, our kits provide the high-quality steel components needed to reach the lock-up stage. This includes:

• The structural frame: Either a stud frame (Kit Home) or a portal frame (Liveable Shed).
• External finishes: Roof sheeting, external cladding, guttering, and downpipes.

Important to note: We specialise in the "steel shell." We do not provide windows, doors, timber flooring, or a concrete slab. This gives you the advantage of shopping around for your own internal finishes, like Gyprock and cabinetry. It puts you in the driver’s seat of your final budget.

Factors to consider when finding the perfect shed at the perfect price

To make an informed decision when comparing shed home quotes and prices, our reliable expertise suggests focusing on key technical factors that ensure quality and long-term reliability.

Design criteria

The design criteria are parameters relating directly to your shed's specific design and location. If a liveable shed has not been engineered for your site and region, it may be ill-equipped to handle local environmental stressors. This can lead not only to a reduced lifespan for the shed home but also to major issues regarding the suitability of your design in any future insurance claim.

When reviewing your shed home quote, make sure it includes essential site classification information covering these design factors:

• Building class (for a home, this must be Class 1a)
• Wind region
• Site conditions
• Importance level
• Terrain category
• Any other applicable design factors (like snow loading or earthquake loading)

Your shed home must be engineered with these factors in mind. Ideally, you should confirm the exact location of your project (using coordinates or a Google Maps link) so it can be analysed by an appropriately qualified person to determine the accurate design criteria for your site.

Wind region, terrain & topography

Australia is segmented into different wind regions, each classified by wind severity. Several factors determine a shed's exposure to wind, including its location on your property and the terrain around it. Shed homes situated in high-wind areas will generally require a heavier design than those protected by other sheds or tree lines, which directly affects the price.

Sheeting thickness

The thickness of steel sheeting is defined by its base metal thickness (BMT). When coated COLORBOND® steel is used, total coated thickness (TCT) refers to the thickness of the steel after painting.

The make and thickness of the steel sheeting should be clearly displayed on your shed home quote. A thickness appropriate to your site's specific design factors must be selected. For your assurance, a good reference is that the roof sheeting should be 0.42 BMT or above. Wall sheeting must be 0.35 BMT or above in non-cyclonic regions and 0.42 BMT or above in cyclonic areas. We will provide all of these details in your quote.

Final cost

A Sheds n Homes quote provides clear, informative pricing for your steel shell. Our steel kit homes range from $24,300 to $107,300 (under N3 wind conditions), depending on your chosen design and site.

However, because liveable sheds are often highly customised to suit specific site conditions, environmental requirements, and unique floor plans, their prices vary. However, with a quote, a local Sheds n Homes team can look further into it for you. Factors such as heavy-duty engineering for cyclonic regions or bespoke structural adjustments mean that a liveable shed price is tailored specifically to your project's needs.

The total project cost for our most popular designs, once fully erected by your registered builder and fitted out internally, can start from $100k to $250k. That is a figure significantly more affordable than many traditional homes currently on the market! Remember, this is only a rough estimate and excludes land acquisition.

Beyond the kit

While we provide a comprehensive quote for your steel kit, we encourage you to research the additional costs required to turn your kit into a home. You will need to consider expenses such as:

• Construction costs: Fees for hiring your licensed builder and associated trades (plumbing, electrical, etc.).
• Property acquisition: Stamp duties, council rates, soil tests, valuation costs, and mortgage insurance.
• Home fit-outs: Costs for your doors, windows, flooring, Gyprock, cabinetry, and internal decorating.

Additionally, depending on the state where you live, a first-home owner's grant may be available. For example, the QLD Government currently provides eligible first-home buyers with a $30,000 grant, which can substantially reduce the cost of acquiring a steel kit home for qualifying individuals (subject to meeting criteria).

Sheds n Homes supplies a range of steel-framed homes pre-engineered for the Australian market. Call us today on 1800 764 764 or find your nearest local store for your new shed home project.

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Prices and grant eligibility (such as the First Home Owners Grant) are subject to change and vary by state and individual circumstances. We recommend seeking independent advice from a qualified financial advisor, licensed builder, and local council before commencing any building project.