How to Quote a Shed Build in Australia
A shed kit looks like a fixed price on a supplier's website — until you add the slab, the site prep and the council paperwork. Here's how to quote a shed build so the whole job is covered and your margin holds.
A shed seems like the easiest quote you'll write all week: pick a kit, add a day of labour, done. Then the ground turns out to be sloping, the council wants engineering for wind loads, and the slab you forgot to price swallows the profit. This guide covers what a shed quote should include, what the different sizes cost in 2026, and the mistakes that catch tradies out.
What a good shed quote covers
A shed is a kit plus everything that gets it standing straight and signed off. Before you price anything, list every part of the job:
- Shed specification — dimensions, wall and roof material (Lysaght COLORBOND or Zincalume steel) and cladding profile.
- Foundation — concrete slab or piers, priced properly, not tucked into a round number.
- Site prep and earthworks — clearing, levelling and drainage before anything goes up.
- Erection labour — the frame, cladding, roofing, guttering and access doors.
- Fit-out — internal partitions, shelving or a mezzanine if the client wants them.
- Services — electrical and plumbing fit-out, quoted as their own lines or excluded in writing.
- Approvals — council permits and engineering plans where the size or location triggers them.
Spell out inclusions and exclusions plainly. Earthworks, the slab, power and permits are exactly the items a client assumes are 'in the price' — put each one on its own line so there's no argument when the invoice lands.
Shed build costs in 2026
Shed pricing swings hard with size, materials and how much site work the ground needs. As a starting point for 2026, supplied and installed:
| Shed size | Typical cost | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Garden shed (~3x3m) | $2,000–$6,000 | Kit and basic install, slab extra |
| Workshop (6x6m–9x9m) | $10,000–$35,000 | Concrete slab and professional erection |
| Rural / industrial (12x12m+) | $30,000–$100,000+ | Custom features, engineering and site works |
The slab is usually the biggest hidden line. A standard concrete slab runs about $80–$150/m² through a concreter, so a 6x6m workshop floor alone can add several thousand dollars before the steel goes up. Get current pricing on structural steel and sheeting each time:
- Steel frame and cladding — the bulk of the material cost; compare COLORBOND and Zincalume from Lysaght, Stratco or a local fabricator.
- Concrete slab — around $80–$150/m² supplied and poured; the single most-forgotten line on a shed quote.
- Gutters, downpipes, fasteners and access doors — small items that add up; source competitively from Bunnings or a building supplier.
- Delivery and lead time — factor freight on heavy steel and allow weeks for custom-fabricated components.
Working out labour
Erection labour depends on the crew size, the shed's complexity and how kind the site is. Price skilled labour at $60–$100/hour, and count every stage — not just standing the frame:
- Site setup, earthworks and slab prep before the kit even arrives.
- Frame erection, cladding and roofing — faster with two on the tools and clear access.
- Guttering, downpipes, flashings and fitting personal access doors.
- Internal fit-out like partitioning or shelving, quoted as its own line.
- Working at height, awkward access or a sloping block all add hours — don't blend them into a flat rate.
Council approval and compliance
Sheds aren't automatically exempt work. Whether you need approval comes down to size, height, location and use — check it before you send a price, because it changes both the build and the cost.
- Most sheds over a set floor area or height need council approval — a building permit or the state equivalent; thresholds vary by council.
- Structural design must meet the National Construction Code and AS/NZS 1170 for wind and structural loads — critical in cyclone and high-wind regions.
- Engineering plans and certification are commonly required, especially for larger or rural spans.
- Put permit and engineering fees in as their own lines so the client sees they're a genuine cost, not your markup.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Underquoting site preparation. Uneven ground, poor drainage or rock turns a half-day of prep into two. Walk the site and price the dirt before the steel.
- Forgetting the slab. A concrete slab at $80–$150/m² is easy to leave off a kit-based quote and painful to absorb once the job's won.
- Skipping council and engineering. Missing a required permit or wind-load certification means delays, rework and fines. Confirm what the site needs before you quote.
- Not stating exclusions. If electrical, plumbing or earthworks aren't clearly excluded, the client assumes they're included. Spell it out in writing.
- No contingency. Weather, access and hidden ground conditions all cost time. Build in a 5–10% buffer so surprises don't come out of your margin.
Pro tips for a shed quote that holds
- Do a proper site inspection — check access, ground conditions and existing services before you put a number down.
- Itemise the quote so the client can see the kit, slab, labour and approvals as separate lines.
- Add a 5–10% contingency for weather and unforeseen ground conditions.
- State your material and build lead times up front to manage expectations.
- Get current steel and concrete pricing the day you quote — both move quarter to quarter.
- Keep on top of council rules and AS/NZS 1170 so nothing gets knocked back at approval.
ServiceYak keeps your shed sizes, slab rates and labour in a reusable kit, so you can itemise the frame, foundation and approvals on site and send a clean PDF before you leave the block.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a shed in Australia?
A small garden shed runs about $2,000–$6,000 as a kit with basic install, a 6x6m to 9x9m workshop with a slab lands around $10,000–$35,000, and large rural or industrial sheds start at $30,000 and climb past $100,000 with custom features and engineering.
Should I include the concrete slab in a shed quote?
Include it as its own line, or exclude it clearly in writing. A standard slab costs roughly $80–$150/m² through a concreter — too big to leave vague. Whichever way you go, make sure the client knows what's in the price.
Do I need council approval to build a shed?
Usually, once the shed is over a set floor area or height, though thresholds vary by council. Larger and rural sheds often need engineering plans and wind-load certification to AS/NZS 1170 as well. Check before quoting so permit costs and timeframes are built in.