Ideal Shop size

[Duane McGuire]

50% larger than you can afford.

[Gary Herrmann]

Gah, just gimme some head room. The joists in my basement are 3" taller than me.

[Chris Damm]

You will always want it bigger than it is. So the best size shop is the biggest you can afford and leave room for expansion! Mine is 25x25x9 and I wish it was 10' longer and 2 ' higher but mine is attached to a 26x36 garage so I do have some overflow room (if I can convince the wife to park her car outside).

[Bill Houghton]

My shop's 11 feet square, and I dream of a two-car garage - I've done about a dozen layouts in my head.

[Drew Sanderson]

Thanks for all the perspective. I had not given thought to a finishing area or the ability to add a lean-to on the side for lumber storage / drying. Great advise for sure. Also, the link to the poll was helpful. I have a long way till it becomes reality but I have to start somewhere. I am going to try and get a variance to try and put it closer than 25 ft to my property line. The outcome of that will impact the size I end up with.