How much space does each horse need in a loafing shed?

Plan about 12x12 of covered space per horse. Two horses are comfortable in a 12x24, three in a 12x36. Going 12 feet deep instead of 10 gives animals room to turn around fully out of the weather, which matters in wind-driven Colorado snow.

How much does a tack room add to a loafing shed?

A tack room is priced per foot of enclosed width added to the building — roughly $205 per foot in the 2026 guide — so an 8-foot tack room on the end of a 12x24 adds about $1,640. It is the single most requested option on our loafing sheds.

Do I need a permit for a loafing shed in Colorado?

Often no, but it depends on county and size. Most Colorado jurisdictions exempt on-grade agricultural shelters under 120 to 200 square feet, and many rural and agricultural parcels in counties like Elbert, Douglas, and Park have broader exemptions for livestock shelters. Zoning setbacks and animal-unit limits still apply everywhere, so confirm with your county before placement.

Are your loafing sheds portable?

Yes. They are built on a 6x6 pressure-treated perimeter with tow hooks, so you can drag them to a new paddock or rotate pasture without disassembly. That is also why they usually avoid permanent-structure permit triggers.

Which way should a loafing shed face in Colorado?

Face the open side away from the prevailing wind — generally away from the west and northwest across most of the Front Range. Animals will use a shelter that blocks wind and drifting snow and avoid one that funnels it.

Can a loafing shed be rented to own?

Yes. Loafing sheds qualify for rent-to-own with no credit check when they are delivered fully assembled, which covers nearly every size we build. A 12x12 works out to roughly $317 a month.

Do loafing sheds need a foundation?

No concrete required. Most sit directly on level, well-drained native ground or a compacted gravel base. Level ground and drainage matter far more than a poured slab, and a floorless design keeps the shelter easy to clean and reposition.

What is included on your loafing sheds?

Kickboard, metal bite guards on exposed edges, tow rings, pressure-treated perimeter, painted exterior, and your choice of shingles or metal roofing. Stall dividers and a tack room are the common add-ons.

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How Much Does a Loafing Shed Cost in Colorado? (2026 Pricing)

The Shed YardBuying Guides · Sep 16, 2026

How Much Does a Loafing Shed Cost in Colorado? (2026 Pricing) — The Shed Yard, Colorado

A loafing shed is the cheapest way to get animals out of Colorado weather, and pricing is refreshingly simple: it comes down to depth, length, and whether you add a tack room. Here are our real 2026 numbers.

Loafing shed with tack room delivered to a Colorado property for horse shelter — A loafing shed with an end tack room — the most requested configuration we build.

The short answer: loafing shed costs in Colorado

Smallest shelter: $3,962 for a 10x6
One horse (12x12): $6,488
Two horses (12x24): $10,487
Three horses (12x36): about $14,600 at 12x34, $15,212 at 12x38
Tack room: roughly $205 per foot of enclosed width added
Rent-to-own: about $317 a month on a 12x12, no credit check

Pricing shown is current as of Sep 2026 and can change at any time. Options, site prep, permits, and delivery conditions affect the final number. Get a live itemized figure from the instant estimate tool below, or download our 2026 price guide.

2026 loafing shed prices — 12 foot depth

Twelve feet deep is what we recommend for horses. It lets an animal turn around completely under cover and keeps the bedding area out of blowing snow. Full specs are on the loafing shed page.

Size	Horses	2026 price	Est. rent-to-own / mo.
12x12	1	$6,488	$317
12x16	1–2	$7,782	$381
12x20	2	$9,254	$453
12x24	2	$10,487	$513
12x26	2	$11,276	$551
12x30	2–3	$12,546	$613
12x34	3	$13,974	$683
12x38	3	$15,212	$744

12-foot-deep loafing sheds. Rent-to-own estimates require no credit check and apply to buildings delivered fully assembled.

2026 loafing shed prices — 10 foot depth

Ten feet deep costs less and works well for goats, sheep, calves, mini horses, or as equipment and hay cover. It is the budget choice when the animals are small or the shelter is supplemental.

Size	2026 price	12 ft. deep equivalent	You save
10x6	$3,962	$4,569 (12x6)	$607
10x8	$4,519	$5,195 (12x8)	$676
10x12	$5,706	$6,488 (12x12)	$782
10x16	$6,934	$7,782 (12x16)	$848
10x20	$8,227	$9,254 (12x20)	$1,027
10x24	$9,322	$10,487 (12x24)	$1,165
10x30	$10,990	$12,546 (12x30)	$1,556
10x38	$12,744	$15,212 (12x38)	$2,468

Dropping from 12 to 10 feet of depth saves roughly $600 to $2,500 depending on length.

Two 12x38 loafing sheds delivered to a Franktown Colorado horse property — Two 12x38 shelters on one Franktown property — read the full delivery story.

Loafing shed vs. barn vs. run-in: cost comparison

Get an Instant Estimate

Skip the guesswork — pick your size and county in our cost calculator and get an itemized estimate in seconds, priced from the 2026 guide.

Get an Instant Estimate

Building	Typical size	2026 price	Enclosed?	Best for
Loafing shed	12x24	$10,487	Three-sided	Two horses or cattle
Loafing shed + tack room	12x24 + 8'	~$12,127	Partly	Horses plus tack and feed
Hi-Wall Mini Barn	12x24	$10,749	Fully enclosed	Hay, feed, equipment, loft

A fully enclosed barn and a 12x24 loafing shed land within a few hundred dollars of each other — the decision is about airflow, not price.

Need an enclosed building for hay, tack, and equipment instead of open shelter? See our breakdown of how much a barn costs in Colorado. Adding poultry to the property? Compare chicken coop costs in Colorado.

Options that change the price

Tack room — about $205 per foot of enclosed width. The most common upgrade by a wide margin.
Stall dividers — split a long shelter so animals can be separated at feeding time.
Metal Pro Panel roof — offered at no extra charge over shingles, and the better choice for shedding snow.
Extra depth — 12 feet instead of 10 for horse-height animals.
Built on site — $6.50 per square foot with a $550 minimum, only needed when access will not allow a fully assembled delivery.

Gray loafing shed set on level ground on a Colorado horse property — Level, well-drained ground matters more than concrete on a loafing shed.

Site prep: what a loafing shed actually needs

No slab, no footings. What matters is that the ground is level and water runs away from the shelter instead of into the bedding area. On soft or low ground, a compacted gravel base under the shelter footprint pays for itself in the first spring melt. See our site preparation services if you want us to grade it.

Permits and county rules for animal shelters

Because our shelters sit on a pressure-treated perimeter with tow hooks rather than a foundation, they are usually treated as portable rather than permanent — one of the reasons they clear most jurisdictions easily. That said, setbacks, animal-unit limits, and county thresholds still apply. Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, and Park counties all handle agricultural shelters differently; our Colorado shed permit requirements guide breaks it down county by county.

Ways to pay

Rent-to-own — no credit check, around $317 a month on a 12x12.
Traditional financing — monthly payments for larger multi-shelter projects.
Cash — the prices above, delivered free within 150 miles of Penrose.

Get your exact loafing shed price

Tell us depth, length, and county and you will have an itemized number in seconds using the estimate tool below. You can also design it in the 3D customizer, browse loafing sheds, or check your service area for free delivery.

Instant Estimate

Get an Instant Loafing Shed Estimate

Choose your depth, length, and county, then tell us whether we can deliver it fully assembled. You will get an itemized estimate in seconds, priced from our 2026 guide.

Building style

Quiet, durable livestock housing with an optional tack room.

Size

County it will be built or delivered in

For our records only — your county never changes your price.

How does the building get set up?

Choose built on site only if there is not enough clearance to deliver it fully assembled.

Your Estimate

10x6 Animal Shelter / Loafing Shed: $3,962
Delivery in our service area: Included
Estimated total: $3,962 plus tax
Rent-to-own, estimated monthly: $194/mo

Estimate Only: This figure represents the base cost only and may include standard door and window package that varies per building. It does not include costs for site preparation, foundation/concrete, permit services, or options such as ramps, which are quoted separately. Pricing is current as of September 2026 and is subject to change.

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