US Sheds & Other Residential Outdoor Storage

Report Overview

Featuring 44 tables and 66 Figures!

Learn more about current trends and opportunities in the industry amid the post-pandemic era shift toward away-from-home experiences and what the current housing environment means for outdoor storage. 

Key questions answered in this report:

• How have price challenges – both within the market and among core consumer spending categories – impacted sales of outdoor storage products?
• Where are opportunities in outdoor storage in light of current and expected trends in outdoor living?
• How have sales of outdoor storage among the various retail channels changed and where is the growth going forward?
   

Outdoor storage product demand in the US is forecast to expand 5.3% annually to $3.0 billion in 2029. This is a deceleration from the robust growth seen between 2019 and 2024, which started out with sharply increased demand during the pandemic era (as more consumers stayed home and invested in their outdoor space) and surging prices that were partially a result of supply chain issues.

In real terms, sales will surpass their high pandemic-related levels as inflation eases and price growth moderates, allowing consumers who may have delayed their purchases to spend on outdoor storage products. Sales will also result from:

• rising single-family home construction because of the tight housing supply, along with ongoing growth in home improvement activity, with much of the latter attributable to consumers who are unable or unwilling to move, upgrading their existing spaces instead
• ongoing popularity of outdoor living and entertaining, which requires storage for items like furniture, grills and accessories, and pool items
• continued interest in non-storage uses for sheds (retreats, she sheds, man caves, office space, pool houses, workshops, studios, and so on) 

Lifestyle Shed & Outdoor Entertaining Trends Continue to Create Storage Opportunities

Consumers have found numerous alternate uses for sheds other than storage. They can provide additional space for the various activities of busy households, and are being used as retreats, offices, spas, gyms, studios, hobby rooms, workshops, pool houses, bars, fishing huts, and other spaces. These lifestyle sheds create opportunities for storage product sales. 

In addition, the outdoor living trend will continue to be one of the key drivers of outdoor storage product growth; consumers are still adding dining and lounging areas, kitchens, and pool and spa areas to their outdoor spaces. This has opened up opportunities (beyond pool sheds) for outdoor storage manufacturers to develop products specifically for entertaining. 

E-Commerce to Lead Distribution Channel Growth

E-commerce is expected to record the most robust growth of any distribution channel through 2029, continuing the trend of rapid sales gains over the last decade. Websites typically offer broader catalogs and lower prices than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Additionally, sheds are large, heavy, and expensive, making it impractical for many retailers to display and stock them in-store. This sales channel will continue to benefit from the BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store) option in the continued integration of e-commerce and retail stores.

Short-Term Outdoor Storage Industry Trends

The COVID-19 pandemic caused various challenges for the outdoor storage products industry. While initial uncertainty in 2020 caused hesitance among consumers, demand for outdoor storage products returned robustly as the economy opened back up.

In the second half of 2020, people took on improvement projects and purchased new outdoor storage products to adapt their spaces to being at home almost all of the time. Products were needed for remote learning and working, as well as more frequent game playing, entertainment, crafting, and other hobbies.

Consumers had excess dollars to spend in 2020 and 2021 as a result of federal stimulus payments and the fact that many were not spending on entertainment or vacations away from home. People were staying home more and wanted to improve the functionality or sizes of their spaces while continuing to socialize and entertain outdoors, which further renewed interest in home improvement projects.

In 2021, consumers were still buying outdoor storage products at rates much higher than the average. Most of the total market value gains in 2021 resulted from higher prices, which put pressure on unit demand. These price spikes, especially for lumber, were the result of global supply chain issues:

• Shutdowns, bottlenecks at ports, rising shipping container costs, and spiking fuel prices pushed suppliers to adapt both their shipping timelines and product pricing.

• In addition to increasing lead times, those suppliers had to deal with larger order backlogs and change their inventory strategies to accommodate the volatile environment.

Market value continued to grow in 2022 because supply chain problems and inflationary pressures once again caused prices to rise. However, real sales declined based on:

• the unprecedented demand resulting from the pandemic, which proved unsustainable

• higher prices, especially for food, that caused consumers to spend more on groceries and less on discretionary items like outdoor storage products

• a post-pandemic switch from spending on goods to services

• the housing market, especially for existing home sales, stalling or locking up due to high interest rates and limited supply 

• high interest rates that made financing expensive sheds too costly for many

Outdoor storage product dollar sales increased in 2023 and 2024 at much lower rates than prior years as prices began to normalize, which helped unit demand recover and turn slightly positive. Going forward, market performance is likely to continue improving as inflation eases and price growth moderates, allowing consumers who may have delayed their purchases to spend on outdoor storage products. In addition, sales will be driven by any unlocking of the housing market, since homeowners typically purchase new outdoor storage products when they move into a new home.

Historical Market Trends & Growth Factors

Demand for consumer outdoor storage products (such as sheds, deck boxes, and cabinets) is influenced by a combination of factors related to economic conditions, housing trends, and lifestyle. Homeowners increasingly seek ways to optimize outdoor spaces for storage, organization, and aesthetic appeal. Multiple factors impact demand for sheds and other outdoor storage products:

• Outdoor storage products are discretionary purchases; economic downturns and low/reduced levels of disposable income slow demand, while periods of economic growth and consumer wealth boost it. 

• Higher prices caused by inflationary pressures crimp demand as many consumers delay purchases.

• New homebuyers often purchase outdoor storage products.

• Higher homeownership rates, along with rising interest in home improvement and backyard upgrades, increase demand for outdoor storage solutions.

• The growing popularity of outdoor living spaces, including patios and gardens, drives demand for outdoor storage to keep these areas organized and clutter-free.

• Homes with limited indoor or garage storage space push owners to seek additional storage solutions for gardening tools, outdoor furniture, and recreational equipment.

• Consumers increasingly using sheds for offices, retreats, workshops, and other activities has expanded the market for shed builders and accessory suppliers.

• In regions with more extreme or seasonal weather, consumers are more likely to invest in durable outdoor storage to protect tools, equipment, and furniture from harsh elements.

• In some areas, zoning laws and homeowner association (HOA) rules may restrict the size or placement of outdoor storage structures, influencing consumer purchases.

In recent years, the market has experienced greater volatility due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on behavioral trends and the supply of outdoor storage products. In 2020 and 2021, sales were spurred by a higher volume of improvement and repair activity undertaken by homeowners spending more time at home. In 2021 and 2022, supply chain issues and high raw material costs precipitated price spikes that drove market value upward; 2022 saw them decouple from unit sales performance. Outdoor storage product dollar sales increased in 2023 and 2024, albeit at much lower rates than prior years as prices began to normalize. This helped unit demand recover.

Report Details

This report encompasses storage products used by consumers to store various items outside of the home. Historical data (2014, 2019, and 2024) and forecasts for 2029 and 2034 are presented for sheds and outdoor storage products by product. Shed demand is also broken out by material. Annual data for 2021 to 2028 are also presented. 

Types of storage products include:

• storage sheds (e.g., wood, plastic/resin, metal, and other materials)
• other outdoor storage products either designed specifically for outdoor use, or for general home storage and used outside: 
  • deck boxes, bins, and totes
  • outdoor storage benches and cabinets
  • shelves
  • other products (hanging storage products, hooks, racks, slatwall, pegboard, and other items typically used in sheds)

Excluded from the scope of this study are:

• outdoor structures not specifically designed for consumer residential storage including barns, garages, carports, cabins, and other structures that can be lived in
• deck, patio, and other furniture not specifically designed or marketed for storage
• accessories for sheds – such as extensions, foundation kits, shutters – that are considered to be part of shed sales