Front view of a golf simulator enclosure with a white impact screen set inside a black fabric surround

Golf Simulator Shed: Size, Height, Power and Climate Checklist

A golf simulator shed works when the interior, not the brochure size, clears three numbers: enough ceiling height to swing your longest club, enough width to stand beside the ball, and enough depth for the screen, the ball flight and the launch monitor. Simulator makers commonly recommend about a 10 ft ceiling and 15 to 18 ft of depth. After that, the shed has to stay dry and within the temperature range your electronics allow. This checklist uses the equipment makers' own figures so you can size the building before you order it.

Quick Answer

  • Height: Carl's Place, Uneekor and Foresight Sports all point to 10 ft for a comfortable driver swing. Measure to the lowest beam, not the wall plate.
  • Width: Carl's Place recommends at least 10 ft, or 14 ft to centre the tee for right- and left-handed golfers.
  • Depth: about 15 to 18 ft, depending on the launch monitor.
  • Climate and power: projectors and launch monitors publish temperature and humidity limits, and a shed needs mains power installed to local code.

What Size Shed for a Golf Simulator?

Shed sellers quote exterior footprints. Simulator makers quote the clear space inside. Wall framing, insulation and interior lining all come out of the footprint. BenQ notes that adding insulation to the walls of a small shed reduces the width in which you can swing. Use the makers' interior figures below and work outward.

Source Width Depth Ceiling height
Carl's Place (general room guidance) At least 10 ft; 14 ft for a centred tee About 18 ft; 15 ft is a compromise 10 ft recommended; 8 to 9 ft can work with shorter clubs
Uneekor (general room guidance) At least 13 ft; 15 ft for golfers 6 ft or taller At least 15 ft, tee about 12 ft from the screen (10 ft minimum) 10 ft; overhead units need at least 9 ft
FlightScope (radar units indoors) No requirement; 12 ft suggested At least 16 ft: 8 ft behind the ball and 8 ft to the net or screen 9 ft absolute minimum; 10 to 12 ft recommended
Foresight Sports (room setup guide) Not used here Not used here Aim for 10 ft; 9 ft works for many golfers
Garmin Approach R10 manual Not stated Tee at least 8 ft from the net indoors, unit 6 to 8 ft behind the tee "Adequate ceiling height"; no figure given

The depth column shows why the launch monitor should be chosen before the building. A unit that sits behind the ball, such as the Garmin Approach R10, adds its own distance to the ball-to-screen distance. A unit that sits beside the ball does not. The general space rules are covered in our simulator room setup guide, so this article stays with what is specific to a detached building.

Measure the Clear Height

A shed described as 10 ft tall may not give 10 ft inside. BenQ's guidance for garden-room simulators says that where beams run across a vaulted ceiling, measurements should be taken from the floor to the beam. A raised floor or thick hitting mat takes more. If the clear height ends up under 9 ft, read our low-ceiling simulator guide before committing.

Permits: What the Model Code Says

The 2021 International Residential Code, section R105.2, exempts from building permits "one-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet." Three cautions apply:

  • The IRC is a model code. Your state or municipality may have adopted a different edition or amended the threshold, so ask your local building department.
  • A 200 sq ft building is smaller than most of the room sizes in the table above, so many simulator sheds will exceed it.
  • The same section says an exemption does not authorise work that violates other laws, and its electrical exemptions do not cover a new mains circuit.

Power for a Simulator Shed

A simulator needs power for a projector, a computer and, for most units, the launch monitor. As one example, BenQ's manual lists the AH500ST projector at 300 W maximum. Uneekor's EYE MINI LITE manual requires a properly installed and grounded outlet in accordance with local code. Have a qualified electrician plan the circuit and outlet positions for the equipment you have chosen.

Temperature, Humidity and Condensation

An unheated shed is the hardest environment a simulator will see. Check the limits for each device:

  • Projector: BenQ specifies the AH500ST for operation at 0°C to 40°C and 10% to 90% humidity without condensation, and warns that the air temperature in an enclosed space must not exceed the operating temperature.
  • Launch monitor: Garmin lists the R10's operating range as 14° to 131°F. Uneekor says the storage space for the EYE MINI LITE should be no colder than 20°F and no warmer than 110°F, and not to use the device where high humidity is present.
  • Impact screen: Carl's Place advises a clean, dry environment and a completely dry screen before storage to avoid mould or mildew.

BenQ's advice for simulator sheds is that they need the same attention to heating and insulation as an internal room. In practice that means insulating, sealing drafts and either heating the building or bringing portable electronics indoors between sessions.

What Goes Inside

Once the shell is sized, the equipment list is the same as any indoor bay: an enclosure and impact screen, a launch monitor, a projector, a mat and a computer. Enclosures come in fixed sizes, so check the frame dimensions against your clear interior. The SIG12 enclosure is one example to measure against, and complete golf simulator bundles list their own space requirements. Carl's Place also recommends keeping the impact screen 12 to 16 inches from the wall behind it, which comes out of your depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum shed size for a golf simulator?

There is no single minimum. It depends on the launch monitor and your swing. As a planning range from the makers quoted above: 10 to 14 ft wide, 15 to 18 ft deep and 9 to 10 ft of clear height inside.

Is a 10x12 shed big enough for a golf simulator?

Not for the full-swing layouts the makers describe. A 12 ft depth is below FlightScope's 16 ft, Uneekor's 15 ft and Carl's Place's 15 ft compromise figure.

Do I need a permit for a golf simulator shed?

Possibly. The 2021 IRC model code exempts one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet from building permits, but local rules vary and electrical work is treated separately. Confirm with your local building department.

Can I leave simulator equipment in an unheated shed over winter?

Check each manual. Uneekor gives 20°F as the lowest storage temperature for the EYE MINI LITE, and Foresight Sports advises against leaving its devices in extreme temperatures. Portable units are easiest to bring indoors.

Size the Equipment First

Choose the launch monitor and enclosure, write down their space requirements, then order a building whose clear interior exceeds them.

Shop Golf Enclosures Shop Launch Monitors

Sources

Previous Next