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A 12×12 shed material list for a gable shed on skids comes to 106 2×4 framing boards plus 8 for bracing, 12 pressure-treated 2×6 boards for the floor, 5 sheets of 3/4 in plywood, 7 of OSB, 16 of T1-11 and 8 shingle bundles, assuming 94 1/2 in walls, a 6/12 roof and 16 in spacing.

Every quantity and cut length on this page comes from the 3DSHEDPLANS plan generator, which models each stud, rafter and sheet of a 12×12 shed and counts what to buy by stock length. A one-stud-per-foot rule gives 48 studs for 48 ft of wall. The generator counts 40 full-height studs, because the door and two windows replace some studs with trimmers, cripples and sills, which it lists separately along with the gable studs.

What this 12×12 list assumes

The generator ran a 12 ft by 12 ft gable shed with 144 sq ft of floor. These are its settings:

  • Walls: 94 1/2 in tall including the bottom plate and double top plate, so wall studs are cut to 90 in (7′ 6″).
  • Spacing: studs, floor joists and rafters all at 16 in on center.
  • Roof: 6/12 pitch, 2×4 rafters, a 2×6 ridge board, 8 in eave overhang and 4 in rake overhang. The roof works out to about 187 sq ft.
  • Floor: four pressure-treated 4×4 skids on a crushed stone pad, 2×6 joists cut to 11′ 9″ at 16 in on center, resting on skids about 46 3/4 in apart, and 3/4 in tongue and groove plywood.
  • Loads: the 2×4 rafters pass a span table check at 30 psf ground snow (SPF #2 at 16 in, 72 in run). That is the generator’s design assumption; if your area’s snow load may be higher, check your local permit office before you buy rafter stock. The usual change is a deeper rafter, such as 2×6, but confirm the size for your area.
  • Openings: a 60 in wide double door in the front wall and a 36 x 36 in window in each side (gable) wall.

Our 12×12 gable shed plan has the same 94 1/2 in walls, but a 78 in wide by 82 in tall double door and one window. Its door header and trimmers are longer, the cripples above the door are shorter, and it skips the second window’s parts. Use this page to plan your order and the plan’s own printable list to shop.

Shopping list by stage: the full 12×12 shed material list

Lumber sizes are nominal. A 2×4 measures about 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in, as the American Wood Council explains. Check the grade stamp on plywood and OSB; the APA trademark guide shows how to read it.

Floor

Item Qty Used for
Pressure-treated 4×4 x 12 ft, tagged for ground contact 4 Skids
Pressure-treated 2×6 x 12 ft 12 10 floor joists and 2 rim joists
3/4 in T&G plywood, 4×8 sheet 5 Floor decking
Crushed stone 3/4 in, loose 3.0 cu yd Gravel pad, 14 x 14 ft and 4 in deep, before tamping
Deck screws 2 in (or 6d ring-shank nails), rated for treated lumber 4 lb Decking

Walls and roof framing

Item Qty Used for
2×4 x 8 ft 80 Wall studs, rafters, fly rafters, cripples, sills, gable studs, lookout and frieze blocks
2×4 x 10 ft 2 Collar ties
2×4 x 12 ft 13 Wall plates, cap plates, gable end studs
2×4 x 14 ft 11 Rafter ties, door and window trimmers
2×6 x 8 ft 2 Window headers
2×8 x 12 ft 1 Door header
2×6 x 14 ft 1 Ridge board
Hurricane ties, H2.5A type or equal 20 Rafter to plate
Temporary braces 2×4 x 12 ft 8 Wall bracing, reused later

The generator lists one 10 ft drip cap, but the head casings it is cut to are 5′ 0″ over the door and 3′ 7″ over each window, so buy a second piece. The three header filler strips of 1/2 in plywood are ripped from the soffit sheet, so buy that sheet with the wall lumber. Add the 8 temporary braces to the 106 framing boards and the truck carries 114 2x4s in all.

Roof covering

Item Qty Used for
7/16 in OSB, 4×8 sheet 7 Roof sheathing
15 lb felt, 400 sq ft roll 1 Underlayment
3-tab shingles, 26 per bundle 8 bundles Roof, starter course and ridge cap
Drip edge, 10 ft 7 Eaves and rakes
Roofing nails 1 1/4 in galvanized 6 lb Shingles
Roofing cap nails 1 in 1 lb Felt
Roofing cement, 10 oz tube 2 Roofing
Louvered gable vent 8 x 12 in 2 Gable ventilation
Insect screen, 2 ft x 25 ft 1 roll Vent holes and gaps

Siding and trim

Item Qty Used for
5/8 in T1-11, 4×8 sheet 12 Walls
5/8 in T1-11, 4×8 sheet 2 Gable triangles
5/8 in T1-11, 4×8 sheet 2 Door leaves (one per leaf)
1/2 in plywood, 4×8 sheet 1 Eave soffit and header fillers
Z-flashing, 10 ft 3 Wall siding to gable siding joint
Drip cap, 10 ft 1 Over the door and window head casings (see note)
1×6 x 14 ft 2 Eave fascia
1×6 x 8 ft 4 Rake fascia
1×4 x 16 ft 2 Corner trim on the eave walls
1×4 x 14 ft 4 Door casing sides, door stiles, Z braces
1×4 x 12 ft 1 Door rails
1×4 x 8 ft 9 Gable-wall corner trim, door head casing, window casings
1×2 x 8 ft 2 Door stop and astragal
Exterior primer and paint 3 gal Two coats
Exterior caulk 3 tubes Trim

Hardware and windows

Item Qty
Framing nails 3 1/2 in (16d), hot-dip galvanized 18 lb
Siding nails 2 1/2 in (8d), hot-dip galvanized 12 lb
Sheathing nails 2 1/2 in (8d) for OSB 6 lb
Connector nails 1 1/2 in for the ties 2 lb
Construction adhesive, 10 oz tube 4
T-strap door hinges 6
Door handle and latch set 1
Barrel bolts for the fixed leaf 2
Exterior screws 1 1/4 in (door frame to T1-11) 1 lb
Exterior screws 2 1/2 in (hinge straps into framing) 1 box
Prefabricated window, 36 x 36 in rough opening 2
Flashing tape 4 in 1 roll
Wood shims 1 bundle

Cut list highlights

Most of the 12×12 cut list is square cuts: 40 wall studs at 7′ 6″, 10 floor joists at 11′ 9″ and four skids at a full 12′ 0″. The parts below have angles, overhangs or stacked sizes. Most are cut 4 to 20 times, so lay out one carefully and use it as a pattern.

Part Lumber Cut length Qty
Rafter (board length, see below) 2×4 7′ 6 3/8″ 20
Fly rafter (rake) 2×4 7′ 6 3/8″ 4
Ridge board 2×6 12′ 8″ 1
Rafter tie (at the plates) 2×4 12′ 0″ 8
Collar tie 2×4 4′ 4 1/2″ 4
Lookout block (rake overhang) 2×4 2 1/2″ 20
Frieze block (over the eave walls, top beveled) 2×4 1′ 0 1/4″ to 1′ 1 3/4″ 18
Door header (2×8 doubled + 1/2 ply) 2×8 5′ 3″ 2
Door trimmer 2×4 6′ 4 1/2″ 2
Window header (2×6 doubled + 1/2 ply) 2×6 3′ 3″ 4
Window trimmer 2×4 6′ 1″ 4
Center gable stud (under the ridge) 2×4 2′ 8 3/4″ 2
Gable end studs 2×4 7 1/8″, 1′ 3 1/8″, 1′ 11 1/8″, 2′ 7 1/8″ 4 each
Front and back cap plate 2×4 11′ 5″ 2
Side wall cap plate 2×4 12′ 0″ 2

Rafters. The 7′ 6 3/8″ figure is the board each rafter needs, measured corner to corner from the top of the ridge plumb cut to the bottom of the tail plumb cut, including the 8 in eave overhang. The top edge alone is shorter, so do not lay out 7′ 6 3/8″ along the top edge. The rafters fit 8 ft stock with only about 5 5/8 in to spare, so pick boards with sound, square ends.

Mark the plumb cuts with a speed square pivoted to 6 on the common scale (26.6 degrees). The birdsmouth seat is 2 1/2 in, which makes the notch about 1 1/8 in deep, roughly a third of the 2×4’s depth, so do not cut it any deeper. Cut one pattern rafter, test it on both walls, then trace the other 19. The 4 fly rafters hang off the 2 1/2 in lookout blocks and the ridge extension, not a wall, so they get the ridge plumb cut but no birdsmouth.

Ridge. The ridge is 12′ 8″, not 12′ 0″, because it runs 4 in past each gable wall to carry the fly rafters that make the rake overhang.

Headers. The 60 in door opening gets a doubled 2×8 header with a 1/2 in plywood filler, on trimmers cut to 6′ 4 1/2″, with four 6 1/4″ cripples above it. Each window gets a doubled 2×6 header on 6′ 1″ trimmers, two 11 1/2″ cripples above, a 3′ 0″ sill and two 2′ 11 1/2″ cripples below.

Gable studs. Each gable gets a pair of studs at each of four lengths, 7 1/8″, 1′ 3 1/8″, 1′ 11 1/8″ and 2′ 7 1/8″, stepping 8 in at a time, plus a 2′ 8 3/4″ center stud under the ridge. Measure each one off your actual end rafter before cutting.

Plates. On this 12×12 the front and back walls run 12′ 0″ at the bottom with 11′ 5″ cap plates, and the side walls run 11′ 5″ at the bottom with 12′ 0″ cap plates. The side caps lap over the front and back walls, which locks the corners together.

Gable vs lean-to: what changes

We ran the same 12×12 footprint as a lean-to (single-slope) roof at 3/12, with an 80 in low back wall and the door in the high front wall. The skids, joists and decking stay the same; the studs, rafters and siding all change.

Item Gable (6/12) Lean-to (3/12)
Rafters 20 2×4 at 7′ 6 3/8″ + 4 fly 10 2×6 at 13′ 10 1/4″ + 2 fly
Ridge board 2×6, cut 12′ 8″ None
Wall studs 7′ 6″ on all four walls 9′ 2 5/8″ front, 6′ 3 1/2″ back, stepped on the sides
2×4 framing boards bought (plus 8 braces in both) 106 52
2×6 boards bought (not treated) 3 16
T1-11 sheets 16, all 4×8 14: five 4×10, two 4×9, seven 4×8
Roof OSB sheets 7 7
Shingle bundles 8 7
Drip edge, 10 ft 7 6
Felt 1 roll 1 roll, laid double below 4/12
Fascia 1×6 1×8
Extra hardware 2 gable vents, 3 Z-flashing 4 twist straps at the wall corners
Windows 2, side walls 1, back wall
Floor 4 skids, 10 joists, 5 sheets 4 skids, 10 joists, 5 sheets

The lean-to has no ridge, no gable triangles and half the rafters, but its walls take more care. Each side wall has 10 studs stepping about 4 in at a time, from 6′ 5 3/8″ to 9′ 3 1/4″, under an 11′ 9 1/4″ sloped top plate. The 2×6 rafters come out of 14 ft boards with under 2 in to spare, and the front wall needs 4×10 siding.

The lean-to rafters pass the same 30 psf span check (137 in span against a 143 in limit for 2×6). At 3/12, read the minimum slope on the shingle wrapper before you buy. For single-slope layouts, see the 12×14 lean-to shed plan or all lean-to shed plans.

Where the waste goes

  • Wall studs: 90 in from a 96 in board leaves about 6 in each.
  • Rafters: 7′ 6 3/8″ from an 8 ft board leaves about 5 5/8 in. Reject any 8 footer with a split end.
  • Floor joists: 11′ 9″ from a 12 ft board leaves 3 in for squaring the ends.
  • Rafter ties: the eight 12′ 0″ ties come from 14 ft boards, leaving about 2 ft each. Cut the 8 brace stakes from these, a little under 24 in so the ends can be squared and pointed.
  • Collar ties: two 4′ 4 1/2″ ties come out of each 10 ft board, leaving about 15 in.
  • Trimmers: the two 6′ 4 1/2″ door trimmers and four 6′ 1″ window trimmers come out of three 14 ft boards, two per board.
  • Ridge and eave fascia: 12′ 8″ from 14 ft stock leaves about 16 in on each.
  • No spares: the counts include nothing for rejects. Pick straight stock at the yard, and add a few 2×4 x 8 ft if you expect to cull warped or split boards.

The only 16 ft pieces are two 1×4 corner trim boards. A 14 ft framing board still hangs well past a pickup bed, so flag the overhang or ask the yard to deliver.

Tools for a 12×12 build

  • Circular saw, plus a miter saw if you have one for the stud and block cuts
  • Speed square, framing square and a chalk line for the rafter layout
  • Framing hammer or framing nailer, and a drill/driver for the screws
  • 4 ft level, 25 ft tape for checking the floor diagonals match, and a string line to check the rims are straight
  • Hand tamper for the gravel pad, sawhorses, safety glasses and hearing protection
  • Step ladder and a second person to raise the walls and set the ridge

Common mistakes

  • Counting sheets by area. The roof is about 187 sq ft, which looks like 6 sheets of OSB. The layout needs 7, because each slope is cut from full sheets that do not divide evenly into it and every end joint has to land on a rafter center.
  • Forgetting the door sheets. The generator measures the siding cut out of the doorway at 76 1/2 in tall, shorter than the 77 1/4 in door leaf, so each leaf needs its own new T1-11 sheet.
  • Skipping rafter ties. A ridge board is not a beam. The 8 rafter ties at the plates stop the walls from spreading. The 4 collar ties, higher up on interior pairs only, hold the rafter pairs together near the ridge; they do not replace the rafter ties.
  • Deep birdsmouths. A seat cut for full 3 1/2 in bearing notches too deep into a 2×4 rafter. Keep the seat at 2 1/2 in.
  • Skids too far apart. The generator keeps skids no more than 48 in apart. Four under a 12 ft floor land just under 47 in apart; three would be about 70 in apart, past that limit, with more load on each skid and less even bearing on the gravel.
  • Untreated wood near the ground. Skids, rims and joists are pressure treated; plain framing lumber there rots. Use ground-contact rated wood for the skids, and hot-dip galvanized nails and treated-lumber rated screws in treated wood. The USDA Wood Handbook covers why wet, untreated wood decays.

Tie-downs, setbacks and whether a 144 sq ft shed needs a permit vary by town, so check your local permit office before you order.

For how to read any list like this one, see our shed material list guide. For the base under the skids, see shed foundation options. For a rough budget, see how much it costs to build a shed; price this list at two yards, since lumber prices move by region and month. For other sizes, compare the 10×12 shed material list and the 12×16 shed material list.

Get the full plan

The 12×12 gable shed plan is a 3DSHEDPLANS PDF with 40+ steps, 3D images and its own printable material list for its 78 in double door and one window. For the nearest sizes, see the 12×10 gable shed plan and the 12×16 gable shed plan.

Want to see the format first? Download the free 12×12 gable shed plan preview PDF. Need more or less room? Compare all gable shed plans or browse every size on the shed plans page.

Frequently asked questions

How much lumber do I need for a 12×12 shed?

For a 12×12 gable shed on skids with 94 1/2 in walls and a 6/12 roof, our generator lists 106 2×4 framing boards, 12 pressure-treated 2×6 x 12 ft boards for the joists and rims, 4 pressure-treated 4×4 skids, 3 plain 2×6 boards and one 2×8 for the door header.

Is there a 12×12 shed plan with a material list PDF?

Yes. The 3DSHEDPLANS 12×12 gable shed plan PDF includes a printable material list, and a free 12×12 preview PDF shows the format first. This page lists the generator's shopping list and the key cut lengths.

How many sheets of plywood and OSB does a 12×12 shed need?

5 sheets of 3/4 in tongue and groove plywood for the floor, 7 sheets of 7/16 in OSB for the roof, 16 sheets of 5/8 in T1-11 for the walls, gables and door leaves, and 1 sheet of 1/2 in plywood for the soffit and header fillers.

What changes on a 12×12 lean-to shed material list?

The floor stays the same. A 12×12 lean-to at 3/12 swaps the 20 2×4 rafters and ridge for 10 2×6 rafters at 13' 10 1/4", drops to 52 2×4 boards, and needs 14 T1-11 sheets in mixed 4×8, 4×9 and 4×10 sizes.

Shed building guides