“I Should’ve Gone Bigger”: The #1 Mistake Shed Buyers Make
It’s the most common shed size in Australia: the 6x6.
For decades, it’s been stamped onto house plans, sold as the “standard double garage,” and treated as the ‘safe’ choice. Builders recommend it. Catalogues promote it. And most buyers figure, “If everyone else is doing 6x6, that must be what I need too.”
Sure, a 6x6 shed might’ve worked for the cars of the 80s and 90s. But for today’s vehicles and storage needs, it’s no better than a sardine can with a roller door.
Why?
Because the world changed, and the shed didn’t.
Back then, cars were Commodores and Falcons. Under five metres long. Low to the ground. Without roof racks or tow-bars.
A 6x6 could handle two of them without breaking a sweat.
Today, you’re lucky if you can even crab-walk your way between your Ranger and the garage wall.
That’s when the regret of a 6x6 really sinks in.
We hear the same four regrets time and again from people who went too small, and every one of them could’ve been avoided.
Regret #1: “I Should’ve Gone Bigger.”
It’s not just about fitting two cars - it’s about living in the shed. Once you add a mower, a workbench, or even just want to open the car doors without clipping something, you’ll see how quickly a 6x6 runs out of room.
How to avoid it: Don’t just measure cars on a plan. Get out the tape measure and map out walking space, storage zones, and door swing. That’s when you’ll realise why every shed builder says “add a metre.”
Regret #2: “I Should’ve Made It Taller.”
Here’s what most people miss: a 3m wall height doesn’t mean a 3m roller door clearance. The mechanics of the roller door take away 200–300mm. That’s the difference between your 4WD fitting in… or scraping every time you drive through.
How to avoid it: Always ask your builder about “walk-through height” - not just overall shed height.
Regret #3: “I Should’ve Left Room For The Van.”
Caravans aren’t one-size-fits-all. A single spec, like an air-con unit or solar panel on the roof, can make it taller than you thought. We’ve seen people build a shed that’s 50mm too low, and suddenly that $30k van is stuck in the weather.
How to avoid it: Get the full specs of your caravan - height, tow point, accessories - and design around that, with buffer. Never assume “standard clearance” will cover you.
Regret #4: “I Should’ve Thought About Storage.”
A 6x6 gives you 36m². Step up to a 7x7 and you’re at 49m² - that’s an extra 13m², almost a whole bedroom’s worth of space, for very little more. And because the permits, engineering, and site costs don’t change, bigger is actually cheaper per square metre.
How to avoid it: Treat your shed like part of the house. You wouldn’t build a kitchen that only fits a kettle, a stove, a microwave, and a fridge. Don’t build a shed that only fits two cars and nothing else.
Take Brendan, For Example… He Lived These Regrets First-Hand
So the shed goes up… and that’s when the problems start.
The first time Brendan parks his Ranger inside, the bonnet’s almost touching the back wall. The tow bar’s so close to the roller door he has to check twice before shutting it.
And worse, every morning he’s dragging the mower, golf clubs, and tool trolley out onto the driveway just to reverse out. Then he has to put it all back before he can leave for work.
This is exactly what happens when you trust “standard” sizes, and why planning your
Design Isn’t An Afterthought. It’s The Stage That Makes Or Breaks The Shed.
It’s where you decide if there’s room to walk around your 4WD, if the caravan clears the roller door, and if you’ve left space for the mower, bikes, and tools you’ll use every week. Skip that, and you end up with the same four regrets we hear on repeat.
Every person who’s ever told us their shed was “too small” had one thing in common: they signed off on a catalogue size instead of designing what they really needed.
Don’t Settle for Standard. Build for Real Life.
You don’t have to accept a 6x6 shoebox that’s already outdated. You don’t have to park your van in the weather or waste time shuffling gear every morning. And you definitely don’t have to pay more later to fix mistakes that proper planning would’ve prevented.
When your shed is designed around your vehicles, your gear, and your block, you don’t just get more space - you get a shed that actually works.
So before you commit to a “standard double garage,” grab a copy of the Shed Buyer’s Guide.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Why “standard” sizes don’t fit today’s vehicles or lifestyle
- How smarter design can save you money (and headaches)
- The questions to ask before the slab’s poured
- Common mistakes that leave buyers saying, “I wish I’d gone bigger”
Download it now and make sure your shed is more than a box with a roller door.
*Disclaimer: Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals. These stories are based on real events, and any resemblance to actual persons is coincidental.
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