Log cabins worth buying (and three that aren't)
A log cabin is the shed's ambitious older sibling. It's a garden office, a gym, a spare room, or a very expensive place to store the lawnmower. The problem is that the market is full of "log cabins" that are actually just chunky sheds with delusions of grandeur.
We looked at nine cabins from UK suppliers, assembled two, and found three you should avoid entirely.
Proper 28mm interlocking logs, real glazing in the windows, and a roof that doesn't sag under snow. The Dunster House is a genuine room, not a fancy shed.
What makes a log cabin a log cabin
It's the wall thickness. Anything under 19mm is a shed with a marketing team. 28mm is the sweet spot for a garden room you'll use year-round. 44mm and above is a proper building — insulated, warm enough to work in through winter, and priced accordingly.
The other thing that matters is the roof. A log cabin roof needs to take snow load (yes, really — UK snow is wet and heavy). Look for 19mm tongue-and-groove roof boards minimum, not OSB.
The winner: Dunster House 4×3m Log Cabin
Dunster House makes the best-value proper cabins in the UK. The 4×3m model at 28mm thickness is our pick because:
- 28mm interlocking logs with a proper wind seal
- Double-glazed windows and doors as standard on the premium range
- 19mm T&G roof and floor — not OSB
- Storm braces on the corners (these matter more than you think)
- Proper instructions that someone actually wrote
At around £2,500–£3,500 depending on spec, it's not cheap. But it's a room. A real, useable, year-round room that adds value to your property.
The runner-up: Tiger Shiplap Log Cabin
Tiger makes a solid mid-range cabin. 19mm walls put it at the "posh shed" end, but the build quality is excellent, the roof is proper T&G, and the price (£1,500–£2,000) is far more palatable if you don't need winter insulation.
Three to avoid
- Any "log cabin" under £800 — it's a shed. The walls are 12mm overlap. It will leak.
- Cabins with single-glazed fixed windows — you can't open them, and they'll condensate in winter.
- Anything from a marketplace seller with no UK address — the instructions will be in German, the timber won't be treated, and you will cry during assembly.
What about planning permission?
Good news: most log cabins under 2.5m tall and covering less than 50% of your garden don't need planning permission. But if you're within 2m of a boundary, the height limit drops to 2.5m — so check before you buy a 3m-tall cabin.
The honest bottom line
If you want a summer room, the Tiger at £1,500 is plenty. If you want a year-round office or gym, spend the extra on the Dunster House. What you absolutely should not do is buy a £600 "log cabin" from eBay — it's a shed in a trench coat, and you'll find out by November.