Pent and apex are the two roof styles you’ll see on almost every shed. It sounds like a small detail, but the roof affects headroom, where you can put the shed, how rain drains off and even whether you stay inside planning limits.
Pent roof sheds
A pent roof is a single slope, higher at the front and lower at the back. It’s a clean, modern look, and the lower back makes it perfect for tucking against a fence, wall or under a window.
- Sits neatly against boundaries
- Usually lower overall, so it’s easier to stay under the 2.5m height limit
- Rain runs off one side, which is easy to guttering
- Less headroom at the back
A great pent shed
Forest Garden 6×4 Pent Wooden Shed
A compact 6×4 pent shed that slips against a fence. A brilliant small-garden shed.
- Low back for fences
- Window
- Long anti-rot guarantee
A heavy-duty pent shed
Pinelap Pressure Treated 12mm Thick Tanalised Pent Shed 8FT x 6FT
Pressure-treated 8×6 with thick cladding and a pent roof. Very tidy against a boundary.
- Pressure treated
- 12mm cladding
- Clean modern look
Apex roof sheds
An apex roof has two slopes meeting at a central ridge, the classic shed shape. You get the most headroom down the middle, which is great if you’ll be standing at a workbench, and the roof sheds rain and snow on both sides.
- Most headroom in the centre
- Classic, traditional look
- Handy roof-space storage for long items
- Taller overall, so watch the height near boundaries
A great apex shed
Forest Garden 4×6 Apex Wooden Shed
A neat 4×6 apex from Forest Garden with plenty of headroom for its size.
- Traditional look
- Good headroom
- Long anti-rot guarantee
A roomy apex shed
Forest Garden 8×10 Apex Wooden Shed
An 8×10 apex with double doors and four windows. Lots of light and space for a workbench.
- Double doors
- Four windows
- Masses of headroom
Which should you choose?
| Feature | Pent | Apex |
|---|---|---|
| Headroom | Lower at the back | Best in the centre |
| Against a fence | Ideal | Fine, but taller |
| Height limits | Easier to stay under | Check near boundaries |
| Look | Modern | Traditional |
If the shed’s going within 2m of a fence, check the overall height against the 2.5m limit in our planning permission guide. Then have a look at our best 8×6 sheds for both styles.
