How to supply electricity to a garden shed

Garden sheds are no longer being used solely to store gardening tools and old furniture; they’re now serving as mini rooms in our backyard. 

Most are being turned into garden offices, studios, and cosy nooks. And what do these three things need? Electricity. Whether you need to extend your home wifi to your garden, add a few cosy lights, or install a heating system that actually works, we can help you do so.

Our guide on supplying electricity to a garden shed will provide you with everything you need to turn it into a lively entertainment space or cosy cinema room. After all, if you’re spending that much time in your garden shed, you might as well spend a bit more time and money making it liveable!

Why should you connect your shed to your mains?

You may be thinking that a few solar-powered lights or battery-powered lamps may do the trick, and while you’re right that it would definitely work, it’s not ideal to rely on them in the long run. 

Connecting your shed to your mains supply is really a no-brainer when you’re planning on spending a lot of time in it. While it may cost you a bit of time and money to get it sorted, it’ll save you a lot of hassle in the future. 

1. Freedom to work outdoors: If you work from home, you’ll know how much a change in scenery can do the trick. Dedicating your shed to work creates a boundary between work and home life, so a stable Wi-Fi connection is really important so you can have that.
2. Better atmosphere: Whether you’re turning your shed into a reading area, games room, or office, you want to make it somewhere you enjoy spending time. Adding power to your shed will make it feel like an extension of your home, so you can relax more easily and make the purchase worth it.
3. All-round convenience: while yes, a portable heater, a few blankets, and some battery-powered lights may do the trick, a plug socket would make your life 100 times easier. No long-winded setups in the morning, no trying to stretch a power cable from your back door to your shed (which is dangerous in itself). 

From powering lights and heaters to running tools or a Wi-Fi router, a powered shed opens up a world of possibilities. But is it really so easy to do, or do you have to jump through hoops to connect your shed to your mains?

Do I need a permit to run electricity to my shed?

In the UK, a permit isn’t required to connect a garden shed to a mains supply. Instead, electrical work is classified as either notifiable or non-notifiable under building regulations. 

Since connecting your garden shed to the electricity supply is classed as notifiable work, it must be inspected and notified by a professional body. An electrician can sign off on the job without you having to fill out any forms or pay any extra fees.

Understand UK Regulations

Outdoor electrics are very serious, so they shouldn’t be treated as a simple DIY job. 

In fact, any new circuit or mains wiring run to a shed or garden room is classified as “notifiable work” under Part P of the Building Regulations. This means that any electrical work must be carried out, or at least inspected and signed off, by a qualified electrician. 

So, that leaves you with one of two options:

• Hire a registered electrician: This is the option that we strongly recommend, as it’s the safest route. NICEIC-, ELECSA- or NAPIT-registered electricians will be able to design and install the system to comply with regulations, then self-certify the work as Part P compliant. 
• DIY with building control sign-off: While more expensive and time-consuming, it’s legally possible to go down the DIY route if you are confident in your abilities. However, you must notify your local Building Control office before you start, as you will need to pay permits/fees. They will also need to send an inspector to check the work at various stages to make sure everything is under control.

Getting your shed wired: where to get started

Before we walk you through getting prepared to connect your shed to the electricity, we’d like to stress that you shouldn’t attempt to do it on your own unless you’re a qualified electrician. 

Qualified electricians will know how to safely connect your shed to the mains and certain guidelines and regulations you need to follow. So, here’s how to do it:

1. Create a plan

When adding electricity to your shed, it’s important to plan how you want the space to look. For example, if you’re adding mains power, where would you prefer your sockets to be? Do they need to be near a desk or television? 

Or, perhaps you own a garden workshop and need the electricity to power tools such as drills? The best way to plan is to draw up a mock-up of the walls, showing where you want your larger items of furniture to sit, as well as where you would like your main sockets/electricity outlets to be. 

This is an ideal thing to do before discussing anything with an electrician, as it lets you raise important questions early in the setup that can save you a lot of messing about afterwards.

2. Find and hire a qualified electrician

Even if you consider yourself a handyman around the house, it’s best to talk with a professional before trying anything yourself. 

Not only is working with electricity extremely dangerous, but it should also be carried out only by professionals with experience in installing mains outdoors. When looking for the perfect tradesman for the job, ensure you’re not hiring a cowboy electrician. 

Make sure you check their consumer safety mark and ensure that they meet the right requirements for working with electricity, especially in the garden. It’s best to look for an electrician registered under a government-approved scheme (those carrying a NICEIC, ELECSA, or NAPIT badge). 

3. Planning the route

Once you’ve contacted an electrician, you will need to decide on the best route for your cable. 

The most common option is to run the cables underground across the garden or, in some cases, along the wall or fence. You could even run it overhead via a catenary wire. 

The electrician will determine whether your home’s consumer unit has capacity for a new circuit and, if not, upgrade it or install an extra breaker. 

4. Choosing and laying the cable

The go-to cable solution is an SWA (Steel Wire Armoured) cable, as these are tough and insulated for outdoor use. It has steel armour that protects against accidental damage and is water-resistant. 

These can be buried in the ground without a conduit, so your electrician will select an appropriate cable diameter based on the distance and the load you plan to draw. They will also fit any IP-rated junction boxes or glands to seal the cable entries against moisture.

If you’re burying the cable underground, you or your electrician will need to dig a trench that leads from the shed to your house (ideally, you can do this yourself to save a bit of money!). Armoured cable should be buried around 450–600 mm deep (about 18–24 inches) to keep it safe from gardening tools.

5. Connecting and fitting out the shed

The electrician will install a mini consumer unit inside the shed once the trench is done to distribute power safely. These are fitted with RCDs and breakers for the shed’s lighting and socket circuits. 

From there, they should be able to wire up all your internal sockets and any IP-rated light fixtures for outdoor/damp environments. On the house end, the electrician will connect the other end of the SWA cable into your main consumer unit (or an isolation switch) on a separate fused circuit.

After that, the system will need to be tested to make sure everything is running properly. The electrician will issue an Electrical Installation Certificate, and then you’re done!

Can I just use an extension lead to power my shed?

While this can serve as a temporary solution for low-power needs, we strongly suggest against doing so, as these aren’t designed for outdoor use. 

It’s not a valid substitute for a proper installation. If you do use one for short-term needs, you’ll have to unplug it and store it after each use and make sure it has a thick, waterproof cable with proper insulation. 

Choose the right shed with Atlas Sheds

If you’re still in the planning phase, it’s a good idea to choose a shed or garden building that suits your electrical needs from the start.

Luckily for you, we have a range of stunning timber sheds to choose from. You can browse sheds with plenty of headroom and space to safely run cables inside, mount light fixtures, and accommodate furniture. 

Browse our range of premium garden rooms, workshops, and summer houses to find the perfect match for your needs. Installation and delivery are completely free!