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How Much Do Trusses Cost for a Shed? Build or Buy

Site-built trusses from dimensional timber cost a fraction of ordered ones for a small shed. Span and pitch decide whether that is still the right call.

By Zakaria 3 min read Save to Pinterest — opens Pinterest in a new tab
A timber roof frame under construction, rafters and bracing exposed against the sky
Photo: Hreisho, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay
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For a shed, build them. The span is short enough that a simple truss from 2x4 timber with plywood gussets is well inside DIY territory — and manufactured trusses carry engineering, fabrication and delivery costs that a shed span does not justify.

Build or buy

This table answers the question on its own
Site-builtOrdered manufactured
Cost at shed spanSubstantially lessCarries engineering + delivery
Skill neededMeasuring and cuttingNone
TimeA morning for a setOrdering lead time
ConsistencyGood, with a jigExcellent
Long spansHarderBetter
Engineered certificationNoYes, where required

Ordered trusses start to make sense once the span grows, where snow loading is significant, or where local rules require engineered components — all beyond typical shed territory.

Building them

The jig is the whole technique

Lay the first truss out flat, check it carefully for square and dimension, then screw blocks around the members to hold that shape. Every subsequent truss is assembled inside those blocks.

Identical trusses are what make a roof line straight. A set built individually rarely is.

  1. Cut the members for one truss and dry-fit on a flat surface
  2. Check square and dimensions — this one truss sets all of them
  3. Screw blocking around it to form the jig
  4. Glue and fix plywood gussets on both faces of every joint
  5. Repeat, and stack them flat as they come off

Gussets are not optional

A gusset is a plywood or metal plate fixed across a joint to tie the members together.

The timber carries load; the gussets stop the joints opening. A truss relying only on nails driven into end grain is not a truss — end grain holds fasteners poorly, and that joint is exactly where the force wants to pull apart.

Plywood both faces, glued and screwed or nailed.

Spacing and pitch

  • 24 inches on centre — the usual shed choice
  • 16 inches where loading is heavier, the span is longer, or the covering is heavy
  • Pitch around 4 in 12 to 6 in 12 looks right at shed scale and sheds water well
  • Lower pitches need a covering rated for them
  • Higher pitches gain headroom and shed snow, at more material and more wind exposure

Snow load is the condition that changes the answer

In regions with meaningful snow, local requirements rather than the roof’s own weight decide spacing and member size. Check before cutting.

Common questions

How much do trusses cost for a shed?

No single figure is meaningful, because it depends on span, pitch, timber prices where you are and whether you build or order them. What is consistent is the ratio: site-built trusses from ordinary dimensional timber and plywood gussets cost substantially less than ordered manufactured trusses for a small shed, because manufactured ones carry engineering, fabrication and delivery costs that are not justified at shed scale. Get a quote for your specific span rather than relying on a national average.

Should you build or buy shed trusses?

Build, for most sheds. A shed span is short enough that a simple site-built truss from 2x4 timber with plywood gussets is well within the capability of anyone who can measure and cut accurately, and building them on a jig means every truss comes out identical. Ordered trusses make sense once the span grows, where snow loading is significant, or where local rules require engineered components — all of which push past typical shed territory.

How far apart should shed roof trusses be?

Commonly 16 or 24 inches on centre, with 24 inches being the usual choice for a shed and 16 inches used where loading is heavier, the span is longer or the roof covering is heavy. Closer spacing uses more timber but allows thinner sheathing and carries more load. Check local requirements if you are in a region with meaningful snow loads, since that is the condition that decides the answer rather than the roof's own weight.

What is a gusset plate and do you need one?

It is a plate of plywood or metal fixed across a joint to tie the members together, and on a site-built truss it is what actually holds the thing in shape. Plywood gussets glued and nailed or screwed on both faces of every joint are the standard DIY approach, and they do most of the structural work — the timber members carry load, the gussets stop the joints opening. A truss relying only on nails driven into end grain is not a truss.

What roof pitch should a shed have?

Enough to shed water and, where relevant, snow, with the covering material setting the minimum. Many shed roofs sit somewhere around a 4 in 12 to 6 in 12 pitch, which looks right at shed scale and sheds water well. Lower pitches need a covering rated for them, higher pitches gain headroom and shed snow better at the cost of more material and more wind exposure.

Can you use a jig to build trusses?

You should, and it is the main reason site-built trusses come out well. Lay the first truss out on a flat surface, check it carefully for squareness and dimension, then screw blocks around the members to hold that shape. Every subsequent truss is assembled inside those blocks, so they are identical without re-measuring. Identical trusses are what make the roof line straight, and a set built individually rarely is.

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