Keter vs. Suncast vs. Lifetime: which resin shed brand is best?

The Lifetime 8x10 is dual-wall high-density polyethylene on steel supports and steel roof trusses, with a floor and a padlock loop. Lifetime rates the roof for 23 psf of snow and the walls for 65 mph winds, and its FAQ says to anchor the floor to the foundation through the four indentations. The Extreme Weather Kit is sold separately and adds steel reinforcements and floor anchor brackets. With the kit on and the shed bolted to its foundation, Lifetime's kit page rates it for 30 psf and 94 mph. The bolts are extra. Its 58-inch doors also take a riding mower. The shed runs $1,300-1,900, and retailers list about six hours for two or three people to build it.

Suncast is the pick for wide doors and tall vertical sheds. The Tremont 8x7 and 8x10 open 60 inches, and the XL Vertical's door is 64 inches. Both Tremonts have metal-reinforced multi-wall panels, skylights, padlockable handles and a floor Suncast builds for mowers and tractors. The XL Vertical is a reach-in shed 3 feet 8 inches deep at $450-600. A walk-in Tremont runs $1,000-1,300 as an 8x7 or $1,400-1,700 as an 8x10. Suncast publishes no roof load for the Tremont or XL Vertical, and retailers list the Tremont 8x10 at 20 psf. Suncast rates all its sheds for 65 mph winds once they sit on a foundation, are anchored and are kept latched and padlocked. The Tremont 8x10 manual calls for 16 masonry anchors on a slab or 16 lag screws on a wood platform. Suncast's 10-year warranty on the Tremont and XL Vertical also requires a new shed bought from Suncast or an authorized seller, not an open-box or clearance unit. Outside California and Connecticut it must be registered within 90 days. It excludes wind and weather damage, so the 65 mph figure is a rating, not coverage.

Keter is the wood-look pick for a walk-behind mower and hand tools. In our guide that means the Darwin 4x6 and Factor 8x6. Keter molds polypropylene resin with a wood-grain face, and both models have steel-reinforced double walls, a lockable door and a window, with a skylight on the Factor. The Darwin's door is 25.5 inches wide. The Factor's 54.5-inch doors take a walk-behind mower, but at 64 inches deep inside it will not hold a lawn tractor. Keter rates both for 15 psf of snow and 65 mph winds, lists a foundation as required for both and marks anchor points in each floor. Anchor either shed and clear the roof in a heavy winter. The Factor runs $850-1,000 and takes two people four and a half hours. The Darwin, sold by Keter rather than on Amazon, runs $550-750 and takes two people about two hours. Treat all three brands as water resistant, not waterproof. Lifetime and Suncast say so outright.