The best wooden, metal and plastic sheds from an insurer's perspective

Why get a bike shed?

Apart from the obvious security benefits of keeping your bike locked in a shed. It will also act as a good defence to the weather if you do have to leave it outside of your house or garage.

A garden bicycle shed is not a completely weatherproof solution, however, especially a wooden one. If you’re asking yourself, will my bike rust in the shed? The answer is, maybe, if you don’t look after it properly.

Covering it up, and keeping it clean, dry and regularly serviced will help prolong the good condition and running of your bike.

Which is the best bike shed for insurance purposes?

Not all home or dedicated cycle insurance is clear on what a shed is, so it’s worth checking your policy. For a Bikmo insurance policy to remain valid:

Your bike must be stored in a lockable wooden, metal or plastic shed
Within the boundaries of your home
Only be accessible by you or your guests

This means a shared bike lockup in a block of flats wouldn’t be covered, but a shed in your front or back garden would be.

The shed must also be secured to the ground and immovable, and you can increase the security within the shed by adding ground anchors to lock your bikes to, as well as locking the shed itself.

At Bikmo, we consider each bike shed on an individual basis, due to the huge range of bike storage options (and levels of security) on the market. Therefore, it’s always best to call or email us to discuss your specific circumstances.

Plus, you can save 10%* on British Cycling bike insurance by Bikmo – designed by cyclists, tailored for however British Cycling members choose to cycle.

Wooden bike sheds

Wooden bike sheds are the more environmentally friendly option out of plastic, wooden or metal. If you’re going for aesthetics, a wooden bicycle shed is always more pleasing to the eye.

You can customise the look of your wooden outdoor bicycle shed by painting it to complement the rest of your garden, and add additional security with locks, hooks and shelves to store and lock your bikes, helmets and kit tidily inside.

The downside of a wooden bicycle shed is the risk of weather getting in. They’re not all completely watertight, and many are not as secure as you think.

What to look out for when choosing a wooden bike shed

Avoid overlapping cladding. It tends to be thin, unfinished, and not very strong or weatherproof. Because of this, the wood is likely to warp over time, affecting not only the security of the shed, but the protection of your bikes from the weather outside.
Look for tongue and groove cladding. It is much more ‘weathertight’ and secure, as well as being less likely to warp over time.
Choose a strong, thicker frame and hinges on the inside of the door. To prevent thieves from breaking the wood or simply unscrewing the hinges to pull open the door!

Best wooden bike sheds

Good quality, high security wooden bike sheds do come at a price, but what price can you really put on the guaranteed security of your pride and joy?

At the top end of the scale, the best brands for the most secure wooden bicycle sheds are Power Sheds, or Pedalbase and Spokeshed sheds, the latter two can be found on our friend’s Bike Shed Company’s website. Their sheds are hand built with sustainable UK grown timber and the highest quality components for maximum security.

Our top wooden shed picks:

Power Apex Shed – RRP from £524

For a high quality wooden bicycle shed in the mid-range pricing, the Power Shed Apex would be our top pick. These sheds are highly adaptable, made from high tongue and groovegrade timber, and come with a free 10 year guarantee against timber rot, decay or insect infestation.

Plus, you can get a sneak peek of how your new shed will look in your garden using the augmented reality app on your phone.

Pedalbase 3 – RRP from £1920
The Pedalbase 3 stores upto three adult bikes and features a shackless padlock and internal anchor point to secure them to. Also available in a bigger model, Pedalbase 5.

Spokeshed 3 – RRP from £2280
The Spokeshed 3 also stores upto three adult bikes with the same shackless padlock and internal anchor as the Pedalbase, but it’s taller and the added height gives room for a deep shelf for extra storage. Also available in a bigger model, Spokeshed 5.

Metal bike sheds

Metal bike sheds typically offer higher security out of the box than wooden sheds, and are more secure overall compared to wooden or plastic. The galvanised steel is highly weatherproof, very durable and low maintenance.

There are some downsides to metal bike storage sheds They can be harder to customise with hooks and shelves than wooden sheds, and they can be really difficult to assemble – but once you’ve got it up, it’s up for good!

What to look out for when choosing a metal bike shed

Look for thick steel panels. As to be expected, thicker steel panels will translate to higher quality and better security. Anything above the standard thickness of 0.25mm is a good option.
Ventilation is important. Metal sheds are prone to condensation and rust if not properly ventilated, and this can damage your bikes inside. Check the description of whichever shed you’re buying to make sure it has air ventilation covered, with vents on both sides.
Door hinges that are hidden inside the shed. Or, attached with security bolts that can’t be unscrewed.

Best metal bike sheds

There are a few main brands when looking for good quality metal bicycle sheds. As with the wooden shed brands, these high-end storage solutions do come at a price, but are covered by long manufacturer guarantees lasting several years.

Our top metal shed picks:

Asgard metal bike sheds from £589

For a top of the range metal bicycle shed offering the highest level of security, look at Asgard. These sheds are police, locksmith and insurance approved. They’re made with thicker metal panels, stronger internal locks and hinges, and integrated metal floors.

Trimetals Bike Storage unit RRP from £799.99

Trimetals is a leading outdoor metal bike storage manufacturer with a 50 year history. The Trimetals bicycle shed is robust and weatherproof, requiring no maintenance. Its spring-assisted lid lifts easily with room for three adult bikes.

Two padlocks secure your bikes away and this shed comes with a 25 year panel guarantee.

Plastic bike sheds

We’re happy to say bikes can now be covered under a Bikmo insurance policy when they’re stored in a plastic bike shed! We responded to plastic bike sheds becoming an increasingly popular storage option for cyclists.

Plastic bike sheds are a great option due to their convenience. They’re easy to assemble, maintain, and, if required, move around.

However, the downside to this is that the sheds are often less secure, so it’s important to look for high-security options if you’re looking to go for a plastic bike shed. They can often be less aesthetically pleasing compared to wooden sheds. This is all personal preference though!

What to look out for when choosing a plastic bike shed

Look for plastics with UV protection. This will help to minimise the fading and cracking of the shed.
Ventilation grills. Make sure your shed has these to prevent the build-up of moisture inside
Internal steel support. Plastic sheds can often be flimsy, particularly cheap ones. Steel supports stop this issue and offer protection against high winds and snowy weather.

Best plastic bike sheds

There are a few main brands available when looking for high-quality and secure plastic bicycle sheds.

Our top plastic shed picks:

Cyclepods Lock erpod from £663

There are 3 levels for the Lockerpod with each also being rated by Sold Secure themselves.

Lifetime 6′ x 3.5′ Heavy Duty Storage Shed with an RRP of £819.99

Lifetime storage sheds offer a range of sizes. They’re fairly compact, easy to build and then use.

How to build a bike shed

If your bike security budget doesn’t stretch to a good quality metal or wooden bicycle shed, you could build your own custom storage. Or hire someone to do it for you.

The thing to be aware of when considering building your own is the amount of time and money you’ll invest in the project. To see whether it really does end up being the cheaper (and more secure) option in the long run.

If you do fancy the DIY approach – read this guide on how to build a DIY bike shed.

Need an insurer that knows bikes and bike sheds? Chat to us

Not all home or dedicated cycle insurance is clear on what a shed is, so it’s worth checking your policy. At Bikmo, we consider each bike shed on an individual basis, due to the huge range of bike storage options (and levels of security) on the market.

Even the best riders can hit some bad luck, from a simple pothole, to an opportunist thief. Designed by cyclists for cyclists, Bikmo offers peace of mind cover so you can ride more and worry less.

Exclusive Offer for British Cycling Members:

10% Discount on our award-winning, hassle-free policies, starting from just £3.73/month.
25% lower pricing for electric bikes.
50% Off when insuring multiple bikes—perfect for covering the whole family under one policy!

British Cycling bike insurance by Bikmo offers hassle-free policies to cover your bike(s), clothing and accessories against accidental damage, theft and much more. We also offer 365 worldwide cover, event cover, bike box cover and much more as standard. Plus, as a certified B-Corp, we also give back 1% of our revenue to good causes!

British Cycling members also benefit from 14 days FREE insurance on all new bikes.

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