20x24 Shed Material List
Quick Answer
A 20x24 gable shed with 8 ft walls, 16 inch on center framing, 4/12 roof pitch, pressure treated floor framing, OSB or plywood sheathing, a basic double door, and gravel foundation is an extremely large backyard structure often used as a full workshop, multi-vehicle garage, equipment storage building, or serious hobby space. This size is comparable to a small detached garage and requires heavy structural members, large quantities of materials, and careful planning.
See all shed material lists by size
You will need:
- Very heavy pressure treated lumber for the floor system
- 2x4 wall framing
- 2x10 or larger roof framing
- Extensive floor, wall, and roof sheathing
- Panel or lap siding
- Asphalt shingles and underlayment
- Reinforced double door framing
- Large quantities of fasteners and hardware
Realistic 2026 total material cost: $11,500 to $17,500
This assumes a gravel base and basic exterior finishes only.
Need a smaller option? See our 14x30 shed material list.
Full Material List
Quantities assume 8 ft wall height, 16 inch on center spacing, and a standard double door on one gable end.
Floor Framing
A 20 ft span pushes dimensional lumber limits and often benefits from beams or intermediate supports.
Gravel Base
- 12 to 16 cubic yards of compacted 3/4 inch crushed gravel
Floor Frame (Pressure Treated)
Perimeter
- 2x12x24 PT – 2 (long rim joists)
- 2x12x20 PT – 2 (end band joists)
If full-length boards are unavailable, splice sections over blocking.
Floor Joists (16 inch OC across 20 ft span)
- 2x12x20 PT – 18 to 20
Many builders use beams or doubled joists to control deflection.
Floor Sheathing
- 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood or OSB – 15 sheets
Fasteners
- Exterior-rated screws or galvanized framing nails
- Heavy-duty joist hangers strongly recommended
Wall Framing
Framed 16 inch on center.
- 2x4x8 studs
- 190 to 210 total
- Includes perimeter walls
- Additional studs for corners and door framing
- Waste allowance
Plates
- 2x4x24 – 6 (long walls, double top plates + bottom plates)
- 2x4x20 – 6 (end walls)
Splicing shorter boards is common for long walls.
Double Door Framing
Typical opening: 60 to 72 inches wide.
- 2x12x8 – 2 (header material)
- 1/2 inch plywood spacer
- Jack and king studs included in stud count
Roof Framing
A 20 ft span typically requires 2x10 rafters or engineered members.
Rafters (4/12 pitch, 16 inch OC)
- 2x10x22 – 36 to 38
- Approximately 18 to 19 rafter pairs
Ridge Board
- 2x12x24 – 1
Collar Ties or Ceiling Joists
- 2x6x20 – 18 to 19
Sheathing
Large wall and roof areas require substantial panel quantities.
Wall Sheathing
- 7/16 inch OSB or plywood – 40 to 44 sheets
- Panel siding may eliminate separate sheathing
Roof Sheathing
- 7/16 inch OSB or plywood – 24 to 26 sheets
Siding
Panel siding is common for structures of this size.
T1-11 or LP SmartSide Panels
- 40 to 44 sheets
Alternative siding systems require additional trim and backing materials.
Roofing
Underlayment
- 3 to 4 rolls synthetic underlayment
Drip Edge
- 16 to 18 pieces (10 ft lengths)
Shingles
- Approximately 5.5 to 6 squares
- 18 to 20 bundles depending on waste
Roofing Nails
- 16 to 20 lb box
Hardware and Fasteners
- 16d framing nails or structural screws
- 8d nails for sheathing
- Exterior construction screws
- Construction adhesive (10 to 12 tubes)
- Hurricane ties strongly recommended
- Heavy-duty hinges (3 per door)
- Exterior double-door latch or lockset
- Padlock hardware
- Flashing for door header
Estimated Cost Breakdown
Typical 2026 pricing ranges.
- Gravel Base: $700 to $1,400
- Pressure Treated Floor Framing: $3,500 to $5,500
- Wall Framing Lumber: $1,800 to $2,800
- Roof Framing Lumber: $2,400 to $3,800
- Sheathing (walls and roof): $3,200 to $4,900
- Siding (T1-11): $2,000 to $3,100
- Siding (LP SmartSide): $3,500 to $5,600
- Siding (Vinyl system): $4,500 to $7,200
- Roofing: $1,400 to $2,200
- Hardware and Fasteners: $700 to $1,200
Total Estimated Range
With basic panel siding: $11,500 to $14,700
With upgraded siding: $14,700 to $17,500
Costs are driven by:
- Extremely large floor area (480 sq ft)
- Very heavy structural members
- Extensive sheathing quantities
- Large roof surface area
- Reinforced door framing
- High fastener usage
- Delivery costs for long lumber
If you want exact cut diagrams, printable framing layouts, and step-by-step blueprints for this 20x24 shed, detailed plans eliminate guesswork and reduce lumber waste.
Get the Complete 20x24 Shed Plans Here
Tools Required
Standard framing tools plus equipment suitable for very large components.
Essential tools:
- Circular saw
- Miter saw
- Drill and impact driver
- Framing hammer
- 4 ft or longer level
- Speed square
- Tape measure
- Chalk line
- Multiple ladders
- Shovel and rake
- Plate compactor or heavy hand tamper
Helpful tools:
- Framing nailer
- Roofing nailer
- Laser level
- Sawhorses
- Clamps
- Material handling assistance
Multiple helpers are typically required.
Step-by-Step Build Overview
High-level sequence only.
- Prepare and compact gravel base across entire footprint.
- Build pressure treated floor frame and verify square.
- Install floor sheathing.
- Frame walls on the ground including double door opening.
- Raise walls with significant assistance, plumb, and brace securely.
- Install double top plates tying walls together.
- Install ridge board and rafters.
- Add collar ties or ceiling joists.
- Install roof sheathing.
- Install drip edge and underlayment.
- Install shingles.
- Install wall sheathing if required.
- Install siding.
- Build and hang double doors.
- Install trim and hardware.
- Frequent checks for square and level are critical at this scale.
Common Mistakes
- Using undersized framing for wide spans. Leads to structural sag or bounce.
- Poor base preparation. Causes uneven settling across the structure.
- Attempting to build without adequate help. Components are very heavy.
- Losing square over long distances. Causes roof and siding alignment issues.
- Underestimating materials. Leads to delays and additional costs.
- Weak door framing. Leads to sagging doors over time.
Is It Worth Building Yourself?
DIY material cost: $11,500 to $17,500
Typical prebuilt 20x24 shed delivered in 2026: $22,000 to $38,000
DIY savings typically range from $10,000 to $20,000.
Consider:
- Build time of roughly 10 to 18 days with assistance
- Handling very heavy materials
- Need for precise layout
- Possible permits, inspections, and zoning requirements
For experienced homeowners, building yourself can provide substantial savings.
Get Exact Cut Diagrams and Printable Plans
This material list provides realistic quantities and cost expectations for a 20x24 shed.
It does not include:
- Exact rafter angle calculations
- Detailed wall framing layouts
- Structural engineering considerations
- Precise overhang measurements
- Optimized cut lists
- Printable construction diagrams
On very large structures, layout errors can waste significant time, money, and material.
Detailed blueprints with exact measurements, framing layouts, and printable cut sheets simplify construction, reduce waste, and help ensure structural accuracy.
For large one-time builds, complete plans typically save more time and money than they cost by preventing mistakes and rework.