An honest look — not a sales pitch
Ryan Shed Plans Review:
Is It Worth the $37?
What you actually get, what works, what doesn't, and who it's right for.
Let me be upfront about something before this review starts: I'm an affiliate for Ryan's Shed Plans, which means I earn a commission if you buy through my link. I'm telling you this not because I'm required to (though I am), but because a review you trust is worth more to me than one that hides its incentives. With that said — here's what's genuinely true about this product, including the parts that aren't perfect.
Ryan Henderson's shed plan library has been around long enough to have a real track record. It's been featured in major DIY publications, has thousands of documented customer builds, and has a refund rate low enough that ClickBank — the payment platform — continues to promote it. None of that means it's right for you specifically. That's what this review is for.
What's Actually Included
The headline number is 12,000+ shed plans and designs. That's real — the members area gives you access to a comprehensive library covering everything from compact 6×8 lean-tos to large garage-style outbuildings. Here's what you get with every plan:
Everything in the package
Written for beginners with no assumed knowledge. Each step tells you exactly what to do, not just what it should look like when done.
Not flat blueprints that require spatial imagination. Full 3D views so you can see every joint before you build it.
Precise quantities with labels indicating what each material is for and when you'll need it. One hardware store run, not five.
One payment, permanent access. New plans added regularly. Accessible on any device.
If you can't find what you need in 12,000 plans, submit your requirements and the team will create a custom plan within two weeks.
Advanced Woodworking Tips ($129 value), Magic Modifications Worksheet ($79), Directory of Suppliers ($39.95), 400 Additional Woodworking Plans ($97) — all included at no extra cost.
Plan Quality: The Thing That Matters Most
The quantity of 12,000 plans is impressive but largely irrelevant if the plans aren't good. What matters is whether you can actually build from them without getting stuck — and this is where Ryan's library genuinely stands apart from the competition.
The free 8×12 sample plan available on the site is worth downloading just to verify this before you buy. The step-by-step instructions are written the way a patient teacher would explain something — not as technical specifications, but as a sequence of clear actions. The 3D CAD drawings show you every connection point from every relevant angle. The materials list breaks down not just what to buy but when each item comes into the build, so your workspace isn't cluttered with boards you won't touch for two more days.
The plans are designed by Ryan Henderson himself, a working woodworker who has spent years teaching beginners. That background shows. The instructions anticipate the places where a first-time builder gets confused and resolve them before they become problems.
"I've been a builder for many years and have seen quite a fair bit of sheds. The plans in Ryan's package has some of the nicest looking sheds I've seen in a while."
"This collection of shed plans is the best investment I've made in a long time. It contains all you need to start on any shed — materials lists, estimated costs, step-by-step details."
Beginner Usability
This is the strongest claim the product makes and the most important one to evaluate honestly. The marketing says total beginners can use these plans successfully. Based on the documented customer builds and testimonials from people who explicitly describe themselves as non-builders, this holds up.
The LEGO-style instruction format removes the main obstacle for beginners: inference. Most plans — including expensive architectural drawings — assume the reader knows things they don't. They show you what a finished wall frame looks like without explaining the sequence of cuts that produced it. Ryan's plans don't make that assumption. Every step is made explicit.
Aaron Knox, who describes himself as a non-builder, built an 8×10 shed for his kids using these plans. Perry Lyons had his materials list so clear he was pricing every item before the ground was broken. Ivan Page saved $3,000 on a 12×20 build compared to a prebuilt kit. These aren't extraordinary outcomes — they're what the product is designed to produce.
Design Variety
12,000 designs is a number that requires some context. It's not 12,000 entirely different sheds — it includes variations in size and dimension across a wide range of styles. In practice, this means that whatever style you're looking for, you'll almost certainly find multiple options at your required size. The library covers gable, gambrel, hip, lean-to, saltbox, pent, and modern flat-roof designs across the full range of sizes from 6×6 to large outbuildings and garage structures.
The custom plan guarantee means the 12,000 designs are effectively a floor, not a ceiling. If you need something specific that isn't in the library, you can get it made.
The Honest Pros and Cons
- Plan clarity is genuinely excellent — written for beginners, not assumed experts
- 3D CAD drawings eliminate the spatial guesswork that derails most DIY builds
- Exact materials lists save real money on the first lumber order
- 12,000+ designs means you're not compromising on style or size
- Custom plan guarantee is a meaningful safety net
- $37 one-time is genuinely low-risk for what's included
- 60-day money-back guarantee removes all financial risk
- Bonuses — particularly the Magic Modifications worksheet — add real practical value
- The members area interface is functional but not the most modern — finding specific designs takes a little browsing
- Plans don't include local code or permit guidance — you'll need to check those separately for your area
- The library is large enough that you need to know what you're looking for before you browse — using the decision framework above helps
- Customer support is email-based; response times vary
Who It's Right For
Ryan's Shed Plans is the right choice if you're a complete beginner who needs instructions that won't assume knowledge you don't have. It's right for someone who's done enough research to know that the plan quality is the deciding factor in whether a build succeeds. It's right for anyone who wants to browse a large library before committing to a design.
It's less obviously the right choice if you're an experienced builder looking for architectural-grade drawings — though even experienced builders report finding the clarity and completeness useful. And it's not the right choice if you're looking for a free option — but at $37, that's not a meaningful threshold for a project that will save you $2,000+ compared to a prebuilt.
Final Verdict
At $37 with a 60-day money-back guarantee, Ryan's Shed Plans is the lowest-risk, highest-quality entry point into a DIY shed build available. The plan clarity is genuinely exceptional for beginners, the variety is comprehensive, and the value relative to what it costs — and what it saves you — is hard to argue with. The minor interface limitations don't affect what actually matters: whether you can follow the plans and build a shed that turns out right. The track record strongly suggests you can.
Try It Risk-Free for 60 Days
If it's not the clearest, most complete set of plans you've ever seen — full refund, no questions.
Introductory price — may increase without notice
Get Instant Access →Secure checkout · Instant download · 60-day full refund guarantee