Apex vs Pent Roof Shed: Which Should You Buy? (UK Guide)

An apex roof shed has two sloping sides that meet at a central ridge, giving more headroom in the middle and shedding rain off both sides. A pent roof shed has a single sloping panel, running higher at the front than the back, which makes it cheaper to build and easier to push flush against a fence or wall. If your shed is going near a boundary, or you want the simplest and cheapest option, buy pent. If you want more standing headroom and better airflow and don't mind paying a bit more, buy apex. Below are the real headroom numbers from our own shed range, the UK planning permission rules for each roof type, and which one actually copes better with rain.

In this article

• What's actually different between an apex and a pent roof?
• Which gives more headroom?
• Which is cheaper to buy?
• Will a pent roof leak, and which drains better?
• Which fits better against a fence or boundary?
• Do you need planning permission for either?
• What's a reverse apex or reverse pent shed?
• So which should you buy?
• FAQ

What's actually different between an apex and a pent roof?

An apex roof is the classic triangular shed shape: two panels pitch up from each side wall to meet at a ridge running down the centre. A pent roof is a single flat panel set at an angle, sloping from a taller front down to a shorter back wall, sometimes called a mono-pitch or lean-to roof.

That single difference in shape drives almost everything else in this guide: how much headroom you get, how the roof sheds water, how much it costs to build, and whether it fits against a fence. See our metal vs wooden vs plastic shed guide if you're still deciding on material as well as roof shape.

Which gives more headroom?

Apex wins here, and the numbers from our own range show why. A shed's headroom depends on how far the roof rises from the side wall (or back wall, on a pent) up to its highest point.

Our largest apex shed rises from 155cm at the eaves to 200cm at the ridge, a 45cm jump, the biggest headroom gain anywhere in our range. A pent roof only gives you its tallest point right at the front door; by the back wall you're stooping under a lower ceiling. That extra rise matters if you want to use a workbench standing up, or you're storing anything tall like a ladder.

Pent sheds make up for the lost headroom elsewhere: the flatter roofline gives more consistent wall height along the back for shelving and racking, so a pent can actually beat an apex for straightforward shelf storage even with less headroom to stand in.

Which is cheaper to buy?

Pent roofs use less material and a simpler frame, so they're generally the cheaper option to build, though the gap isn't usually dramatic once you're comparing similar sizes. On our own shelf, a small 5x3ft pent shed starts at From £129.99, while a similarly practical 7x4ft apex shed with double sliding doors starts at From £164.99. The apex is a bigger shed too, so it isn't a perfect size-for-size comparison, but it gives you a real feel for the range.

Pent roof, budget pick

5x3ft Metal Garden Shed with Pent Roof, Brown

Galvanised steel, 1.06m² inside, tucks flush against a fence. Assembly required, about 3 hours with 3 people.

From £129.99 Shop this shed →

Apex roof, mid-range pick

7x4ft Metal Garden Shed with Apex Roof and Sliding Doors

2.37m² of storage, 96cm sliding door opening for bikes and mowers, 4 louvred vents. Assembly required, about 3 hours with 3 people.

From £164.99 Shop this shed →

Will a pent roof leak, and which drains better?

Apex roofs drain faster because both panels pitch steeply away from the centre ridge, so rain clears quickly on both sides. A pent roof only has one shallow slope, and that shallower pitch gives wind-driven rain more chance to get blown back up under the roofing felt joints rather than running straight off, which is the usual cause of a pent shed roof letting water in over time. It's really a felt-versus-EPDM problem rather than an apex-versus-pent one, so it's worth spending a little more on EPDM rubber roofing over standard felt if you're going for a pent, especially at a very low pitch.

One genuine upside of a pent's single slope: all the rainwater runs off to one side, so it's easy to fit a single gutter into a water butt. An apex needs guttering on both slopes, sometimes the back too, which costs more and is more fiddly to fit.

Which fits better against a fence or boundary?

Pent, by a clear margin. The flat back wall sits neatly against a fence, wall or hedge with no roof overhang to worry about, which is exactly why pent sheds are the usual choice for a narrow side return or a shed tucked into a corner. An apex roof's peak needs headroom above it and doesn't sit as neatly against a boundary, so it works better as a stand-alone feature with clear space on all sides.

• Choose pent if the shed is going hard against a fence, wall, or under a low-hanging tree.
• Choose apex if the shed has open space around it and you'd rather have the extra headroom than the tight fit.

Do you need planning permission for either?

Most garden sheds fall under permitted development in England and don't need planning permission, but the height rules differ by roof type. A dual-pitched roof (apex) can go up to 4 metres overall height under permitted development, with eaves capped at 2.5 metres. Any other roof type, including pent, is capped lower, at 3 metres overall height, with the same 2.5 metre eaves limit.

Regardless of roof type, if any part of the shed sits within 2 metres of a boundary (fence, wall or hedge), the whole building must stay under 2.5 metres. Since a pent shed's flat back is the natural choice for exactly that kind of boundary position, its lower height limit rarely ends up being the deciding factor in practice.

These are standard permitted development rules for England; always check your council's local rules before you build, especially in a conservation area or if your home is listed. See the Planning Portal's outbuildings guidance, and our own guide to shed size and planning permission for the full breakdown by shed size.

What's a reverse apex or reverse pent shed?

You'll see these terms on some listings, worth clearing up before you buy. A standard apex has its door on the gable end, under the triangular peak. A reverse apex keeps the same roof shape but moves the door onto one of the long side walls, useful for a wide opening without headroom clearance at the entrance. A reverse pent simply flips which side is tall and which is short, so you can choose which wall faces your fence. Neither changes the drainage or headroom behaviour above, it's purely about where the door sits and which way the slope runs.

So which should you buy?

Work through these in order and you'll have a real answer, not a guess:

1. Is the shed going within 2 metres of a fence, wall or hedge? If yes, buy pent. Its flat back and lower profile fit the space and the planning rules with no compromise.
2. Do you need to stand upright and work inside it, or store anything tall? If yes, buy apex. The extra headroom at the ridge is the whole point.
3. Is budget the deciding factor and the shed just needs to keep tools dry? If yes, buy pent. It's simpler to build and generally the cheaper option.
4. Do you want a classic shed silhouette and don't mind paying a little more? If yes, buy apex.

If you're storing a full-size mower, bikes and garden furniture and want to walk in and move around properly, our largest apex shed is worth the extra outlay.

Apex roof, premium pick

13x11ft Metal Garden Shed with Apex Roof and Sliding Doors

12.28m² of floor space, 138cm sliding doors and a 45cm rise from eaves to ridge. Assembly required, about 5 hours with 3 people.

From £436.99 Shop this shed →

Whichever roof you choose, stand the shed on a proper base rather than bare soil or grass, it stops damp and rot getting into the floor and keeps the frame square.

Accessory

Shed Base ECO Plastic Grids

Click-together recycled grids that raise any shed off wet ground, whatever roof shape you choose. Sized from 5x3ft up to 13x11ft.

From £69.99 Shop shed bases →

Frequently asked questions

Will a pent roof shed leak?

Not if it's felted or roofed properly. The risk with any shallow single-slope roof is wind-driven rain getting under the joints in standard shed felt. Upgrading to EPDM rubber roofing largely removes that risk, since it goes on as one seamless sheet rather than overlapping strips.

Can I put a pent shed against my fence?

Yes, this is the main reason people choose pent. The flat back wall sits flush against a fence, wall or hedge with no roof overhang in the way, and it's easy to run the single slope's guttering straight into a water butt on that side.

Which is cheaper, pent or apex?

Pent is usually cheaper, since it uses less material and a simpler frame, though the gap between similar-sized sheds is often smaller than people expect. Compare like-for-like sizes on the actual product pages rather than assuming a fixed percentage difference.

Do I need planning permission for an apex or pent roof shed?

Most sheds fall under permitted development and don't need permission. Apex (dual-pitched) roofs are allowed up to 4 metres overall height, other roof types including pent up to 3 metres, both with a 2.5 metre eaves limit. Within 2 metres of a boundary, the limit drops to 2.5 metres for any roof type. Always check your council's local rules before you build.

What's a reverse apex or reverse pent shed?

Reverse apex means the door is on the long side wall instead of the gable end. Reverse pent means the tall and short sides are swapped so you can choose which way the slope faces. Neither changes how the roof drains or how much headroom it gives you.

Which gives more storage space, apex or pent?

Apex gives more headroom to stand and move around in, plus room for taller items. Pent gives a more consistent wall height for shelving and racking along its length. Which one actually stores more depends on what you're putting in it, not just the roof shape.