Barn vs. Shed — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
Barn is a large farm building for storing grain, hay, or housing livestock. Shed is a smaller structure for storing tools or equipment, or for other specific purposes.
Difference Between Barn and Shed
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A barn is typically a large structure found on farms and is mainly used for storing agricultural products or housing livestock. In contrast, a shed is often smaller and can be found in various settings, not just farms, serving various purposes from storing garden tools to being a workshop.
While barns are generally associated with agricultural or rural settings due to their primary function related to farming, sheds can be seen in suburban or even urban areas. A shed might be a backyard structure in a residential area, while a barn is predominantly seen on large pieces of land dedicated to farming.
It's essential to note that the size distinction between a barn and a shed is generally consistent, with barns being larger. However, while a shed can be easily assembled from a kit and might be relocatable, constructing a barn requires more planning and is a more permanent structure.
In terms of design and architecture, barns can be quite distinct with features like lofts, large sliding doors, and areas partitioned for different types of livestock or storage. On the other hand, a shed is simpler in design, primarily serving its main purpose of storage or specific activity.
Lastly, the materials used for barns and sheds can vary. While barns are often made of wood, metal, or a combination of materials to withstand the elements and house animals, sheds can be made of plastic, metal, or wood, depending on their intended purpose.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Usage
For agricultural purposes.
For general storage or specific activities.
Common Setting
Farms or rural areas.
Farms, suburban areas, or urban locations.
Size
Typically larger.
Generally smaller.
Design Complexity
More complex with features like lofts or partitions.
Simpler, mainly serving the purpose of storage.
Construction Material
Often wood, metal, or mixed materials.
Can be plastic, metal, or wood.
Compare with Definitions
Barn
A structure for housing livestock.
Cows and sheep took shelter in the barn during the storm.
Shed
A structure for specific activities.
She built a shed for her pottery work.
Barn
A large agricultural building.
The farmer stored his hay in the barn.
Shed
A place to store firewood.
Stack the logs in the shed to keep them dry.
Barn
Used for storing farming equipment.
The tractors are parked in the barn.
Shed
A shed is typically a simple, single-story roofed structure in a back garden or on an allotment that is used for storage, hobbies, or as a workshop. Sheds vary considerably in their size and complexity of construction, from simple open-sided ones designed to cover bicycles or garden items to large wood-framed structures with shingled roofs, windows, and electrical outlets.
Barn
A large and typically rustic building.
The old barn was converted into a dance hall.
Shed
A simple roofed structure used for garden storage, to shelter animals, or as a workshop
A bicycle shed
A garden shed
Barn
A place for storing grain or crops.
The harvested wheat was kept in the barn.
Shed
Park (a vehicle) in a depot
The buses were temporarily shedded in that depot
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building usually on farms and used for various purposes. In North America, a barn refers to structures that house livestock, including cattle and horses, as well as equipment and fodder, and often grain.
Shed
(of a tree or other plant) allow (leaves or fruit) to fall to the ground
Both varieties shed leaves in winter
Barn
A large building for sheltering livestock, storing hay or other agricultural products, or housing equipment used for operating a farm.
Shed
Discard (something undesirable, superfluous, or outdated)
Many firms use relocation as an opportunity to shed jobs
Barn
A large shed for the housing of vehicles, such as railroad cars.
Shed
Cast or give off (light)
The full moon shed a watery light on the scene
Barn
A particularly large, typically bare building
Lived in a barn of a country house.
Shed
Accidentally allow (something) to fall off or spill
A lorry shed its load of steel bars
Barn
Abbr. b(Physics) A unit of area equal to 10-24 square centimeters, used to measure cross sections in nuclear physics.
Shed
Eliminate part of (an electrical power load) by disconnecting circuits.
Barn
(agriculture) A building, often found on a farm, used for storage or keeping animals such as cattle.
Shed
To have (a growth or covering) be disconnected or fall off by a natural process
A tree shedding its leaves.
A snake shedding its skin.
A dog shedding its hair.
Barn
(nuclear physics) A unit of surface area equal to 10−28 square metres.
Shed
To rid oneself of (something not wanted or needed)
I shed 25 pounds as a result of my new diet.
Barn
An arena.
Maple Leaf Gardens was a grand old barn.
Shed
To take off (an article of clothing).
Barn
(slang) A warm and cozy place, especially a bedroom; a roost.
Shed
To produce and release (a tear or tears).
Barn
A child.
Shed
(Archaic) To pour forth.
Barn
(transitive) To lay up in a barn.
Shed
To repel without allowing penetration
A duck's feathers shed water.
Barn
A covered building used chiefly for storing grain, hay, and other productions of a farm. In the United States a part of the barn is often used for stables.
Shed
To diffuse or radiate; send forth or impart
A lamp that sheds a lot of light.
Barn
A child. See Bairn.
Shed
To lose a natural growth or covering by natural process
The cats are shedding now.
Barn
To lay up in a barn.
Men . . . often barn up the chaff, and burn up the grain.
Shed
An elevation in the earth's surface from which water flows in two directions; a watershed.
Barn
An outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
Shed
Something, such as an exoskeleton or outer skin, that has been shed or sloughed.
Barn
(physics) a unit of nuclear cross section; the effective circular area that one particle presents to another as a target for an encounter
Shed
The space made by raising certain warp threads on a loom and lowering others, allowing the woof to be passed between them.
Shed
A small structure, either freestanding or attached to a larger structure, serving for storage or shelter.
Shed
A large low structure often open on all sides.
Shed
To part, separate or divide.
To shed something in two.
To shed the sheep from the lambs.
A metal comb shed her golden hair.
We are shed with each other by an enormous distance.
Shed
(ambitransitive) To part with, separate from, leave off; cast off, let fall, be divested of.
You must shed your fear of the unknown before you can proceed.
When we found the snake, it was in the process of shedding its skin.
Shed
To pour; to make flow.
Shed
(transitive) To allow to flow or fall.
I didn't shed many tears when he left me.
A tarpaulin sheds water.
Shed
(transitive) To radiate, cast, give off (light); see also shed light on.
Can you shed any light on this problem?
Shed
To pour forth, give off, impart.
Shed
To fall in drops; to pour.
Shed
To sprinkle; to intersperse; to cover.
Shed
(weaving) To divide, as the warp threads, so as to form a shed, or passageway, for the shuttle.
Shed
To place or allocate a vehicle, such as a locomotive, in or to a depot or shed.
Shed
To woodshed
Shed
(weaving) An area between upper and lower warp yarns through which the weft is woven.
Shed
(obsolete) A distinction or dividing-line.
Shed
(obsolete) A parting in the hair.
Shed
(obsolete) The top of the head.
Shed
(obsolete) An area of land as distinguished from those around it.
Shed
(physics) A unit of area equivalent to 10−52 square meters; used in nuclear physics Category:en:Nuclear physics
Shed
A slight or temporary structure built to shade or shelter something; a structure usually open in front; an outbuilding; a hut.
A wagon shed; a wood shed; a garden shed
Shed
A large temporary open structure for reception of goods.
Shed
An automobile which is old, worn-out, slow, or otherwise of poor quality.
Shed
A British Rail Class 66 locomotive.
Shed
A slight or temporary structure built to shade or shelter something; a structure often open in front; an outbuilding; a hut; as, a wagon shed; a wood shed.
The first Aletes born in lowly shed.
Sheds of reeds which summer's heat repel.
Shed
A covered structure for housing aircraft; a hangar.
Shed
A parting; a separation; a division.
They say also that the manner of making the shed of newwedded wives' hair with the iron head of a javelin came up then likewise.
Shed
The act of shedding or spilling; - used only in composition, as in bloodshed.
Shed
That which parts, divides, or sheds; - used in composition, as in watershed.
Shed
The passageway between the threads of the warp through which the shuttle is thrown, having a sloping top and bottom made by raising and lowering the alternate threads.
Shed
To separate; to divide.
Shed
To part with; to throw off or give forth from one's self; to emit; to diffuse; to cause to emanate or flow; to pour forth or out; to spill; as, the sun sheds light; she shed tears; the clouds shed rain.
Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?
Twice seven consenting years have shedTheir utmost bounty on thy head.
Shed
To let fall; to throw off, as a natural covering of hair, feathers, shell; to cast; as, fowls shed their feathers; serpents shed their skins; trees shed leaves.
Shed
To cause to flow off without penetrating; as, a tight roof, or covering of oiled cloth, sheeds water.
Shed
To sprinkle; to intersperse; to cover.
Shed
To divide, as the warp threads, so as to form a shed, or passageway, for the shuttle.
Shed
To fall in drops; to pour.
Such a rain down from the welkin shadde.
Shed
To let fall the parts, as seeds or fruit; to throw off a covering or envelope.
White oats are apt to shed most as they lie, and black as they stand.
Shed
An outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage
Shed
Get rid of;
He shed his image as a pushy boss
Shed your clothes
Shed
Pour out in drops or small quantities or as if in drops or small quantities;
Shed tears
Spill blood
God shed His grace on Thee
Shed
Cause or allow (a solid substance) to flow or run out or over;
Spill the beans all over the table
Shed
Cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers;
Out dog sheds every Spring
Shed
Shed at an early stage of development;
Most amphibians have caducous gills
The caducous calyx of a poppy
Shed
A small building for storage.
He keeps his gardening tools in the shed.
Shed
A simple roofed structure.
The shed provided shade in the summer.
Shed
Often found in gardens or backyards.
There's a wooden shed at the back of their house.
Common Curiosities
Are barns exclusive to rural areas?
Mostly, as they serve agricultural needs, but barn-styled structures can be elsewhere.
Are "Barn" and "Shed" synonymous?
No, a barn is generally larger and used for agricultural purposes, while a shed is smaller and used for storage or specific activities.
Can a barn be used for storing tools?
Yes, but it's more common to use sheds for such purposes due to their size.
Can sheds be made from kits?
Yes, many sheds can be assembled from prefabricated kits.
Can sheds be found on farms?
Yes, sheds can be on farms, but they're also common in suburban or urban settings.
Are barns always made of wood?
No, they can also be made of metal or a combination of materials.
Is it easier to build a shed than a barn?
Generally, yes, as sheds are smaller and less complex.
Do barns always house livestock?
While common, barns can also be for storing grain, hay, or equipment.
Can a shed be used as a workshop?
Absolutely, many people use sheds as workshops or hobby spaces.
Can a shed have windows?
Yes, many sheds have windows, especially if used for activities requiring light.
Is it common to convert barns for other uses?
Yes, old barns are often converted into homes, event spaces, or businesses.
Can sheds be relocated?
Some smaller sheds can be moved, but larger ones or those made of heavier materials might be more challenging to relocate.
Which is more permanent, a barn or a shed?
Typically, a barn is more permanent due to its size and purpose.
Are barns typically more expensive than sheds?
Generally, due to their size and complexity.
Do all barns look the same?
No, barn designs can vary based on region, purpose, and personal preference.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
