How to secure your garden shed

Thieves often target sheds for valuable items such as lawnmowers, bikes and power tools. They might also break into your shed to find tools for breaking into your home.

Follow our best practice tips on securing a garden shed against theft, the benefits to you, and the insurance that can safeguard it and your belongings.

EASY AS HACK 

Check your home insurance policy carefully to see if it covers sheds. They usually do, but you may need separate cover limits for contents.

think about your shed's position

When you’re securing a garden shed, consider its position from a potential thief’s viewpoint. If they can’t see the shed, they may not even realise you have one and move on.

Position your shed out of sight from opportunistic thieves, such as in the back garden, if you have one. Avoid placing the shed near any easy access points to the garden, such as a gate or alley.

Thieves don’t want you, your neighbours or a passerby to notice them. However, placing the shed close enough for you to see it clearly from your home means you’ll also spot anyone acting suspiciously nearby.

 

ensure your garden is secure

Multiple barriers to entry may put off or delay a thief. While it’s sensible to secure the shed door, don’t forget also to lock the gates to your garden and keep them closed.

Mend or block any other weak entry points in the garden like holes in fences, so there’s no opportunity for a thief to sneak in through a gap, or take items out the same way.

Never hide your shed key in the garden as would-be thieves know every likely hiding place, whether that’s under the mat, on top of the door frame or inside a fake rock.

You may also invalidate your insurance if a criminal gains access by discovering a hidden key.

 

secure the doors

Remember to secure the doors to your shed once you have finished whatever you’re doing.

While many sheds come with a basic padlock on the hasp or sliding bolt, enhancing door security can benefit from additional measures. Here are some options to consider for improving shed door protection:

1. Use a high-quality, tamper-resistant lock

Thieves have many methods to try and bypass a typical padlock, including prising it apart with spanners, cutting through it, hitting it with a hammer and using picks made of safety pins.^[1] A closed shackle padlock is harder to crack open by cropping or sawing through it.

2. Add a security bar

The contents of a shed – like bikes, tools and gardening equipment – can easily be worth over £1,000, so it’s best to secure the doors with protective hardware. Fitting a heavy-duty steel shed security bar across the entire door is a strong precaution against break-ins. For added strength and durability, it’s a good idea to fix the hardware securely using bolts - such as coach or carriage bolts - that pass through the door and are fastened with a nut on the inside.

3. Replace flimsy hinges

Another potential weak spot on a wooden shed door is its hinges, which thieves can simply remove to take the door off. As a preventative measure, consider getting heavy-duty, durable door hinges with security screws to keep your shed and its contents secure, while also upgrading the padlock.

4. Swap screws for coach bolts

Thieves can force entry into a shed if low-quality wood screws attach the hasps, hinges and bolts to the door. They can either unscrew or rip them off with a crowbar (padlock and all). A safer solution is carriage bolts (also called coach bolts). These have a domed head and square section, which means thieves can’t unscrew them.

5. Install latches to second door

If you have double doors to your shed, consider installing bottom and top latches to the second door on the inside to add another security layer.

 

secure the windows

Don’t make it easy for thieves to see what’s inside your shed – consider buying a shed without windows.

If your shed has windows, you may wish to reduce visibility into the interior. Options include applying reflective or opaque window film, installing curtains or blinds, or using window-privacy frosting spray. These measures can help deter opportunistic theft by limiting what can be seen from outside.

Keep in mind that shed windows can be a potential entry point for thieves. Here are some simple ways to help make your shed windows more secure:

• Board up all the windows
• Put a security bar on them
• Reinforce the bar with security screws
• Add lockable shutters to the exterior
• Place chicken wire mesh or a grill over the windows
• Cover mowers and bikes with blankets

You could also replace single-glazed windows with double-glazed or shatter-proof varieties.

 

secure the shed roof

The roof plays a key role in keeping your shed secure, so it’s worth taking a moment to check that it’s in good condition. Replacing any damaged or worn sections of wood or felt can help maintain the overall security and weather resistance of your shed.

To deter a potential thief from levering off your roof and gaining entry to your shed, consider securing it with security screws or bolts. Adding reinforcements such as metal bands or brackets to the internal frame’s roof struts at set intervals, can make it even more challenging to prise off.

 

anchor your shed to the ground where possible

While there’s no legal requirement in the UK to anchor a shed, it’s generally recommended to follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines, which often include securing the structure to the ground. This can help improve stability and reduce the risk of damage or theft, especially in the case of lighter sheds, such as those made from plastic.

Many sheds come with built-in anchor points or brackets designed for this purpose, whether they’re intended to be fixed to a concrete base, decking, or another stable surface.

 

install alarms and cameras

Installing alarms and cameras is another excellent idea if you’re looking at how to secure a shed from theft.

Alarms

A wireless, mounted or freestanding shed alarm with a motion detector and siren provides a plug-and-go shed security solution not requiring cables. Installing a burglar alarm will deter intruders, and the loud sound it makes means that you, your neighbours or passersby can react to it fast and call the police.

Cameras

Installing a real or fake CCTV camera is another way to deter shed thieves. Although mock cameras can be a deterrent, the benefit of a real camera is that the recorded footage of a break-in can support the case in court. A motion-activated camera that switches on lights is even more of a deterrent.

 

install security lighting

Thieves hate to be spotted, so visibility on all sides of your shed provides another deterrent against them stealing the contents.

Most DIY outlets offer inexpensive floodlights that can serve as shed security lights, available in wired or solar motion-sensing models.

If you're exploring options for adding security lighting, you may wish to choose units with waterproof casings, LED bulbs, and motion sensors. For broader coverage, consider placing them at multiple points around the shed, such as corners.

If you're using cameras, adding lighting along potential escape routes may also help improve visibility and increase the chances of capturing useful footage.

However, make sure your garden lighting does not cause a ‘statutory nuisance’ under the UK Environmental Protection Act 1990. Check with your local authority if you’re installing garden lighting, as they can issue fines over light pollution and complaints that lights are affecting people’s comfort ^[2]

The Institution of Lighting Professionals promotes the reduction of obtrusive light.^[3]

 

secure the contents of your shed

Even with a strong lock, it’s worth considering extra steps to protect the items inside your shed. Adding internal barriers - like locking cabinets or chaining larger items - can make it more difficult for intruders to quickly remove anything.

Thieves tend to avoid well-lit areas and situations where they might be noticed. The longer they’re delayed, the greater the chance they’ll abandon the attempt altogether. Simple measures like lighting and internal security can help discourage unwanted attention.

Our tips for securing your shed’s contents:

• Lock any tools in a box secured with a padlock and chain
• Secure bikes by locking them to an anchor or stand
• Mark your items by engraving them with an identifier like your postcode that can identify them when stolen
• Log expensive items like mowers and bikes with Immobilise, the UK national property register,to improve your chances of their return
• Take photos of all the contents in your shed (valuable as an inventory for insurance purposes)

 

get HOME insurance

Improving the security of your garden shed - such as adding locks, lighting, or alarms - may help reduce the risk of theft or damage. Over time, fewer claims across households could contribute to more stable insurance costs.

Many home insurance policies include cover for outbuildings like sheds, but it’s always a good idea to review your policy to understand exactly what’s included - especially when it comes to the contents stored inside. To make sure you’re not underinsured, it helps to keep an up-to-date inventory of what’s in your shed and their current values. There are plenty of free apps that make this quick and easy, and reviewing your contents insurance alongside this can give you added peace of mind.

Explore how to value your home contents.

Some insurance policies may have limits for certain items - like only covering one item up to £1,500 or total limit for theft from a shed/outbuilding. Others might require certain valuables, such as bikes or power tools, to be stored securely to be fully covered. It’s a good idea to review your policy details so you know what’s protected and if any extra steps are needed.

Read about home insurance that covers your garden.

Remember, if you’ve converted your shed for business use, it’s important to ensure you have the correct insurance cover. Speak to your insurer to confirm whether your current policy still meets your needs. Depending on the type of business or activity, you may need to take out business insurance or public liability insurance.

 

FAQs 

Does home insurance cover sheds?

Typically, your home insurance policy will cover sheds and other outbuildings. However, you’ll need to add contents insurance to protect against theft of items inside it.

How can i upgrade my shed lock?

You can upgrade your shed lock by replacing weaker basic padlocks with stronger options like a shackle lock or pick-and-drill-resistant lock, which thieves can’t cut.

Should i consider a windowless shed?

Yes, consider a windowless shed or use coverings to obscure the windows, making it harder for potential thieves to see what’s inside.

 

Sources

[1] 10 Ways to Open a Lock without Key

[2] Artificial light nuisances: how councils deal with complaints

[3] The Reduction of Obtrusive Light