Design the ultimate shed house with shed designer.
Design a shed house online with Class 1a liveable shell options. Free quotes from ShedSafe accredited dealers using Australian BlueScope steel.
Why choose Shed Houses?
Australian BlueScope Steel
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Change every dimension to suit your needs
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What is a shed house?
A shed house is a steel-framed home built inside the shell of a shed. The structure looks like a shed from the road, but the interior is a fully fitted home with insulation, plasterboard, plumbing, kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms. In Australian planning terms it is a Class 1a building under the National Construction Code, the same classification as a brick veneer house, even though the framing and cladding are 100% Australian-made BlueScope steel and Colorbond®. That is the part that trips up most first-time buyers: the building work and approvals are house-grade, not shed-grade.
ShedDesigner gives you the shell. Pick the closest shed house template, set your span, length and eave height, then submit your design once for free comparable quotes from ShedSafe accredited dealers in your region. Internal fit-out (electrical, plumbing, kitchen, bathroom, fitout trades) is contracted separately to a licensed residential builder.
Shed house options
Most shed house buyers are choosing between three patterns.
Single-storey shed home. The simplest build. Full footprint of liveable space, 4m to 4.5m wall height for vaulted ceilings, integrated alfresco under the same roofline. Great for retirees, single-level rural living, and accessible-design briefs.
Loft-style shed house. Single high-eave shed shell with a mezzanine loft inside, typically used as a master bedroom or studio. 5m to 6m wall height. Open-plan main floor with a tall void. Common for couples building first on rural blocks before adding a separate shed.
Barndominium / shop-house. Shed split into living and workshop in the same shell. Roller-door workshop on one end, fully finished home on the other, fire-rated wall between. Popular with tradies, hobbyists and primary producers who want to live where they work.
In every case, the shell is the easy bit. The hard bits are the certifier, the insulation, the bushfire rating, and your finance.
NCC, NatHERS and bushfire compliance
A shed house is held to the same NCC standards as any new home. Three areas to settle early.
Class 1a habitable building. The NCC sets fire egress, ceiling height, ventilation, weatherproofing, slip resistance, balustrades and structural performance for Class 1a buildings. Your dealer's engineer designs to those rules, your private certifier signs off the build.
NatHERS energy rating. NCC 2022 lifted the minimum to 7 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme for new homes (Australian Building Codes Board, NCC Volume Two 2022). NCC 2025 retains that minimum where adopted. You will need ceiling, wall and underfloor insulation specified on the design before you can hit the rating.
Bushfire Attack Level (BAL). Sites in bushfire-prone areas need a BAL assessment under AS 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas. The rating (BAL-Low, 12.5, 19, 29, 40, FZ) drives your eaves, vents, glazing and external lining choices. Most rural shed-home blocks come back BAL-12.5 to BAL-29.
Before you get quotes
A shed house is the most regulated shed build there is, and the one with the highest stakes if the shell is wrong.
100% Australian-made BlueScope steel. Structural framing and Colorbond® cladding. COLORBOND® steel roofing on residential dwellings carries BlueScope warranties of up to 36 years against corrosion to perforation, depending on location; for non-habitable shed and garage applications the warranty runs up to 15 years (BlueScope, Warranty pages). Check your build on BlueScope's online warranty estimator.
ShedSafe accredited dealers, no exceptions. Every dealer on ShedDesigner is ShedSafe accredited under the Australian Steel Institute programme, which independently assesses dealer design and engineering against the National Construction Code and AS/NZS 1170.2 wind loading.
One design, multiple quotes. Your shed house shell goes out to dealers in your region. Quotes price the same shell, in the same steel, to the same engineering. Browse the full shed homes range for Class 1a liveable shells and barndominium options, or the commercial range if a workshop with a small habitable corner is closer to your build.
Key Specs
Accreditations
1 Design
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Submit your shed design and have multiple shed dealers quote for the best price.
1 Website
Unlimited Designs
From barns, garages, covers to 1, 2 or 3 vehicle garages the design options are limitless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a shed home and a shed house?
Both terms describe the same thing in Australia: a Class 1a habitable building with the structure and cladding of a shed. Some builders use "shed home" for any liveable shed shell, and "shed house" for a barndominium-style mixed home and workshop. The compliance bar is the same. Both must meet NCC Class 1a, NatHERS energy rating and any applicable BAL rating.
How much does a shed house cost in Australia?
Most shed house shells (the building shell only, no fit-out) sit between $80,000 and $300,000 depending on size, span, wind region and BAL rating. The fit-out (electrical, plumbing, insulation, plasterboard, kitchen, bathroom, fixtures) typically adds another $150,000 to $400,000 to deliver a finished home. Total turnkey costs of $250,000 to $700,000 are common for a 200 to 300 square metre build.
Can I get a home loan on a shed house?
Yes, but lender policy varies. The big-four banks (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ) have all approved shed-home / barndominium mortgages on Class 1a builds with a licensed residential builder, a fixed-price building contract and a private certifier. Some lenders limit LVR (loan-to-value ratio) to 80% on rural shed homes, and some require Owner-Builder permits to be excluded. A mortgage broker who has done a shed-home loan before is worth their weight in gold here.
Do shed houses meet the 7-star NatHERS energy rating?
They can, but they need to be designed for it. NCC 2022 lifted the minimum to 7 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme for new homes, which most states have adopted. To hit 7 stars in a steel-framed shed home you need to spec the right roof and wall insulation R-values, double glazing in cooler regions, and orientation for passive solar. Run the NatHERS rating before you submit the development application.
What insulation do I need in a shed house?
Most shed homes run R5 to R6 insulation in the ceiling, R2.5 to R3 in the walls, and reflective foil sarking under the roof and behind the wall sheets. The exact spec is set by your NatHERS rating for your climate zone. Steel framing needs a thermal break (insulated batten or composite) to stop conductive heat loss in cooler regions.
What BAL rating does a shed house need?
It depends on the site. If you are in a bushfire-prone area mapped under your state planning instrument, you need a BAL assessment under AS 3959. Most rural shed-home blocks come back BAL-12.5 to BAL-29. Higher ratings (BAL-40, BAL-FZ) require fire-rated cladding, vents, glazing and lining, which can add $20,000 to $80,000 to the build.
Do I need a private certifier for a shed house build?
Yes. A Class 1a habitable building requires a private certifier (or council-appointed certifier in some jurisdictions) for development consent and final occupation certificate. The certifier will require structural engineering from your shed dealer, a BAL assessment, NatHERS report, and stamped plans for the fit-out work. Engage the certifier at design stage, not after the slab is poured.
Can I live in a shed house while I build the rest?
In some cases, yes, with a council-issued occupancy permit on a partial completion. Many councils allow temporary occupation of a habitable Class 1a portion (kitchen, bathroom, one bedroom) while non-essential work continues. Always get the permit before moving in. Living in an unapproved shed-home is a common compliance trap.
Other Shed Home designs
Kit Homes
Class 1a habitable steel kit home. 7-star NatHERS, BAL-rated, ShedSafe accredited dealers, BlueScope steel.
Class 1a Liveable Sheds
NCC Class 1a habitable shed homes. Energy-rated, mortgage-eligible, BlueScope steel, fully customisable.
Shouses
A shouse pairs a Class 1a habitable home with a Class 10a workshop or garage under one Australian-made BlueScope roof, fire-rated wall between.