A cupola is one of the most popular storage shed accessories.
Whether it be for added ventilation or simply curb appeal selecting the proper size cupola for your shed or barn is important. The following information will help you determine what size cupola you need for your outbuilding.

This guide to sizing your cupola is for storage sheds and relatively small barns however, much of this information can be used for larger buildings. If you would like our educated opinion on a size for a larger structure please feel free to comment here or send us an email and it would be our pleasure to assist you.

The first thing you need to do is measure your unbroken roof line. In most cases this is about or exactly the same as the length of the shed.
Unbroken roof line refers to the distance the roof line spans without deviating in elevation.

Next measure the width or depth of the storage shed assuming it does not have over sized eves or overhangs.

The last measurement and typically not included in most cupola size charts is the height of the building from ground to roof peak.

To begin: 1 foot of unbroken roofline equals 1.25 inches of cupola base. So if your structures unbroken roofline is 30 feet long then the cupola base width would be approximately 37.5 inches. With that said the height of the structure must also be considered.

The height of the structure upon which the cupola will be mounted is also a factor in determining size. If your structure is relatively short such as a ranch style home then it is a good idea to change the ratio you use to determine size: “1 foot equals 1 inch” is probably a good ratio. If the cupola will be going on a two story structure where the roof line is unbroken then the 1.25 inch per foot rule of thumb is the better option. If the cupola will be on a large/tall horsebarn etc. then using the 1.25″ per foot rule and then going one (or two) sizes larger may be a good idea.

The majority of cupola buyers now have all the information they need to make their purchase however there are other factors which some of you may need to take into consideration.

*Long and Skinny – Some buildings such as Single Bay Garages, Row Barns and Monitor Barns are long and narrow and therefore the cupola may need to be downsized.Imagine a 12′ wide by 36′ long single story, single bay garage. A 36″ wide cupola would look ridiculous on the roof (at least to most people). So you may want to downsize slightly. A 30″ cupola would probably look appropriate on this building.

*Very steep – When a cupola is installed the base of the cupola is cut to match the pitch of your roof. If the roof is say a 12/12 pitch the cupola will sit lower on the roof. In these cases you should be considering cupolas which are taller. A short cupola will only look shorter once mounted. Conversely, if you have a very shallow pitch like a 5/12 a very tall cupola will still look tall when mounted.

*Multiple cupolas – Larger structures or structures with “broken roof lines” in many cases will look better with more than one cupola as opposed to one very large cupola. “L” shaped houses sometimes look as if something is missing when only the main part of the house has a cupola. A single HUGE cupola on a large Riding Arena may seem lost. These are perfect examples of structures which will look better with multiple cupolas. Determining the size of these cupolas is a matter of taste however if it is an “L” shaped house for example use the 1 foot = 1 inch rule of thumb for each section of unbroken roof line. For a very large barn or Stable you may want to go a bit larger. In the case of a super large structure you may want to consider a large cupola in the center of the roof with 1 smaller cupola on either side centered between the main cupola and each gable end of the building (a total of 3 cupolas).

*Note – This is simply a guide. Many people like the look of an oversized cupola with windows and lighting while others would prefer something basic and less imposing.

If you are on the fence and not sure exactly what you would like on your shed visit a local retailer who offers cupolas. Most large storage shed retailers have several different size sheds on display with cupolas. It is much easier to make your selection when you have seen a similar size shed to yours with a cupola on top.

There are plenty of optional features for your storage shed which you can purchase or build yourself. Here is our top 10 list of storage shed accessories.

1 Tractor Ramp – Although not every shed owner needs a ramp it still tops our list.

2 Loft – Inexpensive to construct, a loft adds additional storage space. Lofts are perfect for storing everything from pool toys to boxes of holiday decorations.

3 Cupola – A vented cupola helps to cool your shed during the hot summer months. Cupolas adorned with a weathervane add character to your storage shed.

4 Bike Hooks – They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used to hang bikes as well as ladders, hose, pool implements etc. I hang a small snow thrower from a couple of hooks in my shed.

5 Shelving – Slat wall works well and give you the ability to add/remove shelves quickly and easily. There are many different types of shelves, baskets, hooks etc. which are compatible with slat wall.

6 Shed Alarm – Probably not the first thing that pops into someones head when thinking about a shed accessory. A MUST have if your storing valuable items in your shed.

7 Lights – This is a necessity to many. Ideally, you were able to run power to your shed and install some lights and outlets. If you don’t need power to your shed basic tap lights work very well for those times when there just is not enough sun light. Another option are solar shed lights. They take longer to install than a tap light but will never need batteries.

8 Heater - Through the wall propane heaters work well and are not expensive to operate. It can also ehat up a 10′x16 shed in a matter of minutes. Electric heaters are another option.

9 Window Boxes – A very popular shed accessory. I recommend vinyl or composite so you don’t have to worry about rotting.

10 Loft Door – You don’t necessarily need a loft to have a loft door. Who would need a loft door? They’re great for plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc. A loft door makes it easy to store lumber, pipes and other long objects (kayaks, canoes) from the outside.

Shed loft door