Pent Roof vs Apex Roof Shed – Which Should You Buy?
When buying a wooden garden shed, one of the first choices is usually pent roof or apex roof. Both work well. Neither is automatically the “better” shed. The right choice normally comes down to where the shed will sit, the appearance you prefer and how you intend to use the building.
At Puffin Sheds, we manufacture both pent and apex garden sheds to order, so the roof style is only the starting point.
Pent vs Apex Shed – The Simple Difference
A pent shed has a single-sloping roof, running from a higher side down towards a lower side. An apex shed has two roof slopes meeting at a central ridge. That difference changes the appearance of the building and can influence where it works best in your garden.
| Pent Shed | Apex Shed | |
| Roof | Single Slope | Two slopes with Central Ridge |
| Appearance | Simple, contemporary | Traditional shed shape |
| Internal Layout | Particularly useful against walls or boundaries | Balanced internal layout |
| Headroom | Can be built to suit | Can be built to suit |
| Bespoke Options | Doors, windows, height and roof covering | Doors, windows, height and roof covering |
When Does a Pent Roof Shed Make Sense?
A pent roof shed is often a good choice when the building will sit alongside a fence, wall or boundary. Its simple roofline also suits customers who prefer a less traditional-looking garden building.
Because the roof falls in one direction, you can also consider which way you want water to run when deciding how the building should be positioned.
Why Choose an Apex Shed?
An apex garden shed gives you the familiar traditional shed shape, with the roof rising towards the center. It works particularly well for customers who simply prefer the appearance of an apex building or want a symmetrical roofline.
Apex sheds are available for general garden storage as well as larger workshop-style buildings. View our Classic Puffin Apex Shed
What About Headroom?
This is where buying a made-to-order shed becomes useful. You will often hear that apex sheds provide substantially more usable headroom than pent sheds. With Puffin Sheds, that doesn't necessarily need to influence your decision.
We generally manufacture our standard garden sheds with approximately 6ft of internal height at the lowest point, whether you choose pent or apex.
Our workshop buildings are normally made slightly taller. More importantly, every Puffin Shed is made to order.
If you're 6ft 6in tall and want more internal clearance, tell us before we manufacture the shed. We can amend the building height to suit your requirements. You don't have to choose a roof shape simply because you are worried about hitting your head.
The Build Specification Doesn't Change
Choosing pent instead of apex doesn't mean choosing a different standard of shed.Both are manufactured using the same core Puffin Sheds specification, including:
- 45mm x 45mm planed timber framing
- Framing positioned at no more than 450mm centres
- 14.5mm rebated redwood shiplap cladding
- 18mm structural plywood flooring on 45mm x 45mm runners
- 18mm plywood roof
- Pressure-treated timber using Tanalith E preservative
- End-grain preservative applied to timber cuts
The decision between pent and apex should therefore be about the building you actually want, rather than trying to work out which roof type is stronger.
Can I Change the Doors and Windows?
Yes. Because we manufacture each building to order, you can customise either roof style. Options include:
- Additional windows
- Repositioned windows
- Additional doors
- Moving the door position
- Changing from a single door to double doors
- Increasing the overall building height
This is worth considering before ordering. A small change to a door or window position can make a shed considerably more practical once it is in your garden. Some changes are available in the 'Customise your Shed' category.
Felt or EPDM Rubber Roof?
Both pent and apex sheds are available with our standard shed roofing system, with an EPDM rubber roof upgrade available where suitable. If you're considering the rubber roof option, you can also read our existing guide: EPDM Guide
So, Should You Buy a Pent or Apex Shed?
Choose a pent shed if you prefer the single-slope appearance or it works particularly well with the position you have available.
Choose an apex shed if you prefer the traditional central-ridge design. If headroom is your main concern, don't let that decide the roof style for you. We can manufacture your shed with additional height to suit.
Whichever style you choose, Puffin Sheds offers supply and delivery or professional installation, with every building manufactured to order in Swindon. Browse our range of garden sheds.
