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What size garden room do I need for a home office?

Single desk office: A compact 2m x 2m or 3m x 2m room is plenty of space for a desk, office chair, and shelving.

Two-person office: We recommend at least a 4m x 3m room to comfortably accommodate two full workstations and storage.

Related FAQs:

Absolutely. While we offer over 160 standard size combinations, our bespoke ranges (like the Custom Studio) allow you to configure dimensions to maximize tricky or unusual garden layouts. You can also book a free home site survey where our team will measure your space and advise on the best fit.

For a functional home gym, we recommend at least a 4m x 3m space, which allows room for a treadmill or rack setup. If you plan on housing heavy equipment, a multi-station setup, or floor exercise mats alongside machines, a 5m x 4m or larger building is ideal.

Yes. If you need a multi-room setup—such as a primary home office with a separate shed or toilet section—you’ll want to look at our larger models starting from 5.9m x 3.5m up to 8.4m x 3.9m. This ensures each partitioned space remains functional and spacious.

Under Permitted Development, outbuildings must not cover more than 50% of the total area of land around the original house. As long as you stay under that 50% limit and adhere to maximum height restrictions 2.5m within 2m of a boundary, or 3m for single-pitched roofs further away), most domestic sizes do not require formal…

Under standard Permitted Development rules, if your building is under 2.5m in total height, you can install it as close as 0.5m from a boundary fence or wall. If the overall height exceeds 2.5m it must be placed at least 2m away from any boundary.

When browsing sizes, measurements generally refer to the external wall footprint (log-to-log). Keep in mind that roof overhangs will extend slightly beyond this footprint, and internal wall dimensions will be slightly smaller depending on the timber cladding thickness and insulation fitted.

Our 4m x 3m and 5m x 3m models are by far the most popular. They offer a generous footprint for a dual-purpose room (like a desk setup plus a sofa or small gym area) while easily fitting into standard UK gardens without taking over the whole lawn.

Under UK rules, garden buildings (including any existing sheds or extensions) must not cover more than 50% of the land around the “original house.” Find out more about planning permission.

While you can technically build right up to a boundary, most experts recommend leaving a gap of 0.5m to 1m for maintenance (like painting or gutter cleaning) and to avoid height-restriction issues. View our planning permission guide

While concrete slabs are traditional, they are not the only option. Johnsons provide a Structural Timber Base that is more sustainable and allows for garden buildings to be built easily on uneven ground. Timber base work also allow for additional air flow and ventilation to your garden room.