Texas & Regulations
Should I put my shed on gravel or concrete?
For the majority of portable buildings, a gravel pad is the better default: it costs less, drains water away from the floor, tolerates clay movement, and lets the building be re-leveled if needed. A well-built 6-inch gravel pad supports a shed for decades.
Choose concrete when you're building a large workshop or garage, want a finished floor to roll equipment on, or plan to bolt down machinery. Just know a slab costs more, requires proper prep on clay, and generally means an on-site build since the building goes on top of the cured slab.
Why it matters
The gravel-vs-concrete choice affects cost, drainage, and even whether the building can be delivered or must be built on site. Matching the foundation to how you'll use the shed avoids both overspending on concrete you don't need and under-building for a real workshop.
Real examples
Gravel for storage
A gravel pad under a storage shed drains beautifully and cost a fraction of a slab — ideal when you don't need a hard floor.
Concrete for workshops
A customer running heavy tools wanted a slab to roll equipment and anchor a bench. Concrete was worth it for that use.
Common mistakes
- Defaulting to concreteMany people assume concrete is 'better,' but for simple storage a gravel pad drains better and costs less.
- Undersizing a gravel padToo thin or too small a pad won't drain or support well. Aim for about 6 inches, extended past the footprint.
- Forgetting slab means on-siteA building on a slab is typically built in place, not delivered fully assembled. Plan for that.
Related questions
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