How Thick Should Shed Cladding Be?

It’s true that the thicker the cladding is, the better protection and insulation it can provide. There are standards, but options often depend on the style and manufacturer.

In this guide, we’ll use wood garden shed cladding as a reference. It should help you narrow down your options before buying. Ready?

A Look at Wooden Shed Cladding

Wooden shed cladding is just panels of wood fixed to the outside of the shed to make the walls. Not every shed has cladding, though. Some are built using basic construction without the extra boards. If cladding is part of the design, you’ll see one of three styles:

• Overlap cladding: Boards sit horizontally, each one overlapping the one below. Simple, but it keeps the weather out.

• Tongue and Groove (T&G) cladding: Boards slot together with a tongue on one side and a groove on the other. This makes a tight, flat surface. It looks neat and strong, and it keeps the shed weatherproof.
• Shiplap cladding: This style mixes overlap and tongue and groove. The boards slot together, with the bottom edge sitting over the one below. It gives a subtle curve that helps rain run off, though it’s a bit thinner than T&G cladding.

All of these cladding styles come in different thicknesses, which we’ll look at next.

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Different Shed Cladding Thickness

Most garden sheds come with cladding that’s around 7mm to 11mm thick as standard. There are thicker options too for upgrades, like 19mm, 28mm, or even 44mm. They’re ideal for something sturdier or better insulated, especially for year-round use.

Overlap does offer weather protection, but the boards are thinner, around 7mm. It’s great if you don’t need heavy insulation and plan to use it for light storage or seasonal use.

Tongue and groove comes in various thicknesses, from 11mm up to 15mm on panel-based sheds. The tight fit and thicker boards block out draughts and stop moisture from getting in.

One perfect example is our BillyOh Pro Pent HD Shed from our Pro Heavy Duty range. It’s the upgraded version of our standard tongue and groove sheds, built to take on more.

To start, it’s thicker and sturdier, with 15mm tongue and groove timber walls, floor, and ceiling. It can handle heavier equipment, including wall-hanging storage that needs drilling. It’s a worthwhile investment if you need solid insulation and year-round use.

There are more designs with the same strong build and handy features:

Tongue and groove connections are also used on log cabin sheds. These are available in 19mm and 28mm thickness. The main difference is that the logs span a much longer length along the walls, and they are built log by log.

Actual insulation in the walls keeps your shed warmer than just having thicker walls. Our guide to Cheap Ways to Insulate a Wooden Shed can be helpful if you’re on a budget.

How Shed Cladding Thickness Affects Weather Performance

Thicker cladding doesn’t just mean better insulation but also stronger weather protection. 

With a greater level being more durable and resistant to damage from wind, rain, and snow.

Let’s say you’re using your shed in tougher conditions—thicker cladding reduces the chances of rainwater seeping through after pelting the walls. It’ll do a better job of blocking moisture and keeping the shed warmer and drier.

Thinner cladding still does the trick if you’re using the shed for lighter storage or seasonal use. It won’t give quite the same insulation or hardcore weather protection, but it’s still strong and durable. This makes it enough for less demanding conditions. It might call for some additional sealing work to be done for its general maintenance.

The warmest options are definitely the aforementioned log cabin sheds, due to the inherently thicker boards used in the walls. However, these are heavier and therefore slightly harder to install.

Round-up

So, how thick should shed cladding be? Well, it comes down to how you plan to use your shed.

For everyday use and good weather protection, it’s best to go for the thicker T&G boards. Our Pro HD Sheds come with 15mm T&G walls as standard, which is a lot thicker than most wooden sheds. For light storage or occasional use, thinner cladding, such as overlap, can do the job just fine.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But knowing the styles and what each thickness is suitable for makes it easier to choose what’s right for you!

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