When planning a farm shed, overall width and length are only part of the equation. One of the most important decisions is how the shed bays are spaced.
The wrong bay spacing can make a large shed frustrating to use, even if the overall footprint looks generous on paper. Machinery may be difficult to manoeuvre, headers may not fit comfortably between columns, and access can become restrictive as equipment changes over time.
For farmers planning a new machinery or agricultural shed, bay spacing should be based on how the building will actually be used rather than simply selecting a standard layout.
EziBuilt supplies and builds sheds across Australia, with a growing national distributor network supporting rural and agricultural projects in multiple regions. Farm sheds can be designed around the machinery, access requirements and day-to-day operations of the property.
What Is Farm Shed Bay Spacing?
Shed bays are the sections created between the main structural frames or columns of the building.
The width of each bay affects how much clear access is available for machinery, vehicles and storage.
For example, a farm shed may have several bays used for:
- tractors
- headers
- seeders
- sprayers
- implements
- trailers
- utes and work vehicles
- workshop areas
- general farm equipment
Rather than assuming every bay should be the same size, it can be worthwhile considering what needs to go into each section of the shed.
Start With Your Largest Machinery
One of the best places to start is with the largest piece of equipment you expect to store.
This may be a header, large tractor, sprayer or another piece of agricultural machinery.
Measure more than the basic width and height of the machine. Consider attachments, mirrors, tyres, augers or other components that may affect the space required when entering or parking inside the shed.
The building should also provide enough room to move equipment in and out without requiring extremely precise positioning every time.
A bay that technically fits a machine may still be impractical if there is almost no clearance around it.
Think About How Machinery Enters the Shed
Bay spacing should also be considered alongside the direction machinery approaches the building.
Large equipment often requires significantly more manoeuvring space than a car or ute.
Questions worth considering include:
- Can machinery approach the bay relatively straight?
- Is there enough room in front of the shed to turn?
- Will other stored equipment block access?
- Are structural columns positioned where they could restrict entry?
- Will trailers or attached implements need to enter as well?
For busy agricultural properties, easy access can be far more valuable than squeezing another narrow bay into the building.
Headers Can Require Different Planning
Headers can be particularly important when planning a machinery shed because of their overall size and configuration.
Depending on how the equipment is stored, you may need to allow for the machine itself as well as headers, fronts or other components stored separately.
This can affect both bay spacing and the internal layout of the shed.
It may make more sense to create one larger section specifically for oversized machinery rather than dividing the entire building into identical bays.
A custom farm shed gives you the flexibility to design around these requirements from the beginning.
Wider Bays Can Improve Day-to-Day Usability
Farm equipment does not remain parked permanently.
Machinery needs to be moved for servicing, seasonal work, cleaning and daily operations.
Allowing additional space around frequently used equipment can make the shed much easier to work with.
Wider bays may provide better room for:
- opening machinery doors
- accessing service points
- working around equipment
- removing attachments
- loading equipment
- moving machinery independently
This can be particularly useful in sheds that combine storage with workshop or maintenance areas.
Bay Width and Shed Door Openings Need to Work Together
There is little benefit in designing a generous internal bay if the opening into it becomes the restriction.
Door and opening sizes should therefore be planned alongside the bay layout.
Depending on the building, access may involve roller doors, sliding doors or open-front bays.
Large farm machinery may require additional width or height, so it is important to design openings around the actual equipment rather than choosing doors first and hoping the machinery will fit.
The location of structural columns also needs to work with the intended openings.
Consider Whether Every Bay Needs to Be Enclosed
Not every section of a farm shed necessarily needs the same level of enclosure.
Some machinery may require fully enclosed and secure storage, while other equipment may simply need protection from sun and weather.
A farm shed could potentially incorporate a combination of:
- enclosed machinery bays
- open-front storage
- workshop areas
- covered equipment bays
- enclosed tool or parts storage
The right configuration depends on the farm and what is being stored.
Thinking about these areas separately can help create a more practical building than simply dividing a large rectangle into equal sections.
Allow for Workshop and Maintenance Space
If you plan to service machinery inside the shed, the requirements change again.
A workshop bay may need substantially more clear floor area than a bay used purely for storage.
Consider whether you need room for:
- work benches
- tool storage
- parts storage
- compressors
- welding or maintenance equipment
- vehicle hoists or other equipment
- movement around machinery during repairs
Workshop access should also be considered carefully so that equipment can be brought in without requiring other machinery to be moved first.
Think About the Machinery You May Own in the Future
A farm shed is usually expected to remain useful for many years.
The equipment on the property may not remain the same during that time.
Machinery can become larger, new implements may be purchased and farming operations can change.
Building only around today’s equipment can create problems later.
When planning bay spacing, consider whether future machinery could require:
- greater width
- additional height
- larger door openings
- more turning room
- additional storage bays
Leaving some flexibility in the layout can help the shed remain useful as the operation evolves.
Bay Spacing Is Part of the Structural Design
Farm shed bay spacing cannot be considered purely as an internal layout decision.
Changes to frame spacing, spans, openings and building dimensions can affect the structural design of the shed.
The final configuration needs to be engineered for the building, site and location.
This is particularly important across Australia because wind conditions, terrain and other engineering requirements vary between regions.
EziBuilt’s farm sheds can be designed around both the operational needs of the property and the engineering requirements of the site.
Plan the Shed Around the Farm Operation
The most useful farm shed is not necessarily the one with the greatest number of bays.
It is the one that makes storing, accessing and moving machinery easier.
Before finalising your design, create a list of the equipment that will use the shed and consider:
- machinery width and height
- attached implements
- required door openings
- manoeuvring space
- how frequently each machine is used
- maintenance requirements
- future machinery purchases
- whether sections need to be open or enclosed
That information gives a shed designer a much better starting point than simply requesting a building of a particular overall size.
Custom Farm Sheds Across Australia
EziBuilt is a national shed distributor supplying farm and agricultural sheds across Australia, supported by a growing network of local distributors.
Rather than forcing agricultural equipment into a standard shed configuration, EziBuilt can develop a custom layout around the machinery, access requirements, site conditions and future plans for the property.
For farmers investing in a substantial machinery shed, planning bay spacing properly at the design stage can make a major difference to how well the building works once it is in daily use.
DISCLAIMER:
The information in this article is general in nature and may not apply to your specific project, property or location.
It should not be relied upon as professional, legal, engineering or compliance advice. Every shed build is different,
and requirements vary across states, councils and site conditions. For guidance tailored to your situation, please speak
with a qualified professional or contact EziBuilt Sheds for project-specific advice.
