The Best Shed Alarms To Protect Your Tools And Equipment
Six shed alarms that sound off the moment someone gets at your mower and power tools.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best shed alarm is the Yale SAA5015 Wireless Shed Alarm. It's our favourite from our own installs, with the PIR, siren and keypad in one battery-powered case and nothing to wire or pair. For a shed at the bottom of a long garden, go for the Defender Redshield PIR Shed Alarm, whose 130 dB siren carries further.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Yale SAA5015 Wireless Shed Alarm
- Check price of Tech Traders Mini Wireless Shed Alarm
Best Value
Tech Traders Mini Wireless Shed AlarmSmall sheds on a tight budget where a remote is handy
- Check price of Defender Redshield PIR Shed Alarm
- Check price of KERUI DIY Wireless Security Alarm
Best Expandable
KERUI DIY Wireless Security AlarmLarge sheds, workshops and outbuildings needing several sensors
- Check price of UltraPIR GSM Alarm For Sheds
- Check price of Friedland Response ML1 Shed Alarm
Distance and entry points decide which shed alarm suits you. A shed a few steps from the back door doesn't need a huge siren, but one down a long garden or out on an allotment needs a much louder siren or an alarm that rings your phone.
Then think about how a thief would get in. Door contacts ignore a kicked-out side panel or a forced window, while a PIR picks up anyone moving inside. Our picks run from a cheap door-triggered alarm to a 4G unit that calls your mobile.
How We Tested These Shed Alarms
There are sheds at our home, the office and a few rental properties we manage, and each one is protected by its own alarm. That's meant installing and testing a number of systems from the main UK brands.
Our favourite is the Yale SAA5015 in the photo. It's a simple unit, but it's easy to set up, can stand on a shelf or go on the wall, and does a good job of guarding a shed. Each alarm on this list was judged on these points:
- Siren volume: how loud the brand rates it and how far it will carry
- Detection: the PIR range and angle, or how door contacts are fitted
- Installation: how easily it goes into a shed with no power
- Usability: arming with a code or remote, and entry and exit delays
- Functionality: extras such as remotes, phone alerts and extra sensors
- Build, warranty and value: how well it's made for the money
Where we haven't measured something ourselves, such as decibel output or detection range, we've used the brand's figures.
The Best Shed Alarms We Recommend
Five of these use a PIR motion sensor and the Friedland works from a door contact. All of them are a DIY fit.
Best Overall
Yale SAA5015 Wireless Shed Alarm
Best for: Most garden sheds, garages and outbuildings
Check Price On AmazonThe Yale SAA5015 is the alarm in our testing photo and the one we'd fit to most sheds. It's made for sheds, garages and other outbuildings, with the PIR sensor, siren and keypad all in one battery-powered case, so there's nothing to wire.
You can screw it to the wall or stand it on a shelf, and we ran ours free-standing, which makes it easy to move if you rearrange the shed. The PIR covers up to 12 metres, more than enough for any garden shed, and the 100 dB siren is loud for its size. You arm and disarm it with a four-digit code, and a low battery warning tells you before it goes flat. It's basic, with no remote or phone alerts, but that simplicity is part of why it's so easy to live with.
What we like
- Loud 100 dB siren
- PIR detection up to 12 metres
- Free-standing or wall mounted
- Four-digit code to arm and disarm
- Low battery warning light
- Quick to set up with no wiring
What to know
- Basic features with no remote or phone alerts
Our verdict
Simplicity is the Yale's strength. There's nothing to pair, no app and no wiring, just a code pad, a 12 metre PIR and a siren loud enough for a shed near the house. If your shed sits a long way down the garden, though, its 100 dB won't carry far enough, and that's where the Defender Redshield earns its place.
Best Value
Tech Traders Mini Wireless Shed Alarm
Best for: Small sheds on a tight budget where a remote is handy
Check Price On AmazonThe Tech Traders Mini is one of the cheapest shed alarms worth buying, and it comes with two remote controls, which is generous at the price. The built-in PIR scans a 110-degree arc according to Tech Traders, with an 8-metre detection range that suits a standard garden shed.
Its 105 dB siren is a touch louder than the Yale, and entry and exit delays give you time to get in and out without setting it off. It needs no wiring and comes with a mounting bracket. The catch we found in testing was battery life, as it went through its four AA batteries quite quickly.
What we like
- Two remote controls in the box
- 105 dB siren
- 110-degree PIR scan according to Tech Traders
- Entry and exit delays
- Mounting bracket included
What to know
- Went through its four AA batteries quickly in our testing
- Shorter 8 metre range than the Yale
Our verdict
Two remotes and a 105 dB siren for very little money make the Tech Traders Mini hard to argue with on a small shed. Keep a pack of AA batteries handy, though, because battery life was the weak spot in our testing. If you don't need a remote, the Yale's longer 12 metre range and low battery warning make it the easier alarm to live with.
Loudest Siren
Defender Redshield PIR Shed Alarm
Best for: Sheds at the far end of a long garden
Check Price On AmazonThe Defender Redshield is the alarm to choose when a normal siren wouldn't be heard from the house. At 130 dB it's the loudest here, level with the UltraPIR, and a big step up from the Yale's 100 dB.
It comes with a remote control, so you can arm it from the back door, and exit and entry delays give you time to get in and out. Setup is simple with the supplied wall bracket, and Defender backs it with a money-back guarantee. It's relatively expensive for a shed alarm, but the extra volume is what you're paying for.
What we like
- Very loud 130 dB siren
- Remote control to arm from the house
- Exit and entry delays
- Wall bracket supplied
- Money-back guarantee from Defender
What to know
- Relatively expensive for a shed alarm
Our verdict
Distance is the deciding factor. A workshop at the bottom of a long garden or a shed backing onto an alley needs a siren that neighbours will hear, and 130 dB with a remote to arm it from the back door does exactly that. For a shed you can see from the kitchen, the Yale is plenty.
Best Expandable
KERUI DIY Wireless Security Alarm
Best for: Large sheds, workshops and outbuildings needing several sensors
Check Price On AmazonThe KERUI system is the one to choose if a single sensor won't cover the space. It's a control panel with wireless sensors, and KERUI says it supports up to 30 detectors, 8 remote controls and 4 doorbell buttons, so you can add PIRs and door contacts across a workshop, garage and shed.
Kits range from a basic starter set to larger packs aimed at big outbuildings, and every KERUI part works with the same panel. The siren is rated at 115 dB, a remote is included and fitting is straightforward in any shed. You pay more than for an all-in-one unit, and setting up several sensors takes longer.
What we like
- Supports up to 30 wireless detectors according to KERUI
- Add PIRs and door contacts as you need them
- 115 dB siren
- Remote control included
- Range of kit sizes
What to know
- Relatively expensive for a shed alarm
- More setup time than an all-in-one alarm
Our verdict
One panel watching a workshop, garage and shed together is where KERUI pulls ahead of the single-unit alarms. Adding PIRs and door contacts over time keeps the cost spread out. It's overkill for one small shed, and the extra sensors take longer to set up than an all-in-one unit.
Best For Remote Sheds
UltraPIR GSM Alarm For Sheds
Best for: Allotments, stables and sheds away from the house
Check Price On AmazonThe UltraPIR GSM is different from the rest because it uses a mobile network signal to ring up to three key-holders when it's triggered. If none of them answers, it sends a text message as a last resort, which makes it the only alarm here that reaches you when you're out of earshot.
It also works as a normal alarm, with a 130 dB siren and a 10-metre detection range. A remote control and mounting bracket are included, and you can add more sensors. The original was a 3G alarm and UK networks have switched 3G off, but UltraSecure Direct now sells the UltraPIR in 4G models, so make sure that's the one you buy. It's the most expensive alarm in this list, which is the price of an alarm that phones you.
What we like
- Calls up to three key-holders when triggered
- Text alert as a backup
- 130 dB siren
- Detection range of 10 metres
- Remote control and bracket included
- Can be expanded with more sensors
What to know
- The most expensive shed alarm in our roundup
- Only the 4G versions work now that UK 3G is switched off
Our verdict
An allotment, stable or lock-up where nobody would hear a siren is the job this alarm was made for, because it rings you instead. It also works in caravans and garages. Buy a 4G version, as the old 3G models no longer connect now that UK 3G has been switched off.
Best Budget
Friedland Response ML1 Shed Alarm
Best for: A cheap door-triggered alarm for a shed near the house
Check Price On AmazonThe Friedland Response ML1 works differently from the others. Instead of a PIR, it uses pre-wired door contacts, so the alarm sounds when the door opens rather than when someone moves inside. The contacts connect to the keypad on a 2.5-metre cable, which means you can mount the keypad away from the door.
There's a 20-second entry and exit delay, tamper protection, a panic button and a red indicator light, and fitting takes minutes. The weak point is the 88 dB siren, the quietest here, so it's best for a shed close to the house.
What we like
- Door contacts trigger as soon as the door opens
- 20-second entry and exit delay
- Tamper protection and panic button
- Keypad on a 2.5-metre cable
- Fits in minutes
What to know
- 88 dB siren is the quietest in our roundup
- Only protects the door, not a window or side panel
Our verdict
For very little money, the Friedland ML1 puts an alarm on the shed door with a keypad and a panic button. Its siren is quiet next to the rest, so it belongs on a shed within earshot of the back door. Expensive kit inside deserves a PIR alarm such as the Defender Redshield.
Choosing A Shed Alarm That Works
A shed alarm only does its job if someone hears it or gets a warning, so the right one depends on how far the shed is from the house and what's inside. Start with the points below.
Siren Volume And Distance
Siren volume is rated in decibels, and every extra 10 dB sounds roughly twice as loud. A shed a few metres from the back door is fine with around 100 dB, while one at the end of a long garden or near an alley needs something nearer 130 dB to wake the house. If no one is close enough to hear any siren, choose a GSM alarm that rings your phone.
PIR Sensors Or Door Contacts
A PIR detects body heat moving inside the shed, so it catches someone who gets in through a window or a kicked-out panel. Door contacts only trigger when the door opens, which is fine for a solid shed but misses other ways in. Point a PIR towards the door and away from windows that get direct sun, as heat changes can set it off.
Power And Battery Life
Most sheds have no mains supply, which is why battery alarms dominate. Battery life varies a lot between models, so check the type of battery and keep spares in the house. Batteries also run down faster in a cold shed over winter, so test the alarm every few weeks from autumn onwards. A low battery warning, like the one on the Yale, saves you finding a flat alarm after a break-in.
Arming And Delays
Entry and exit delays give you time to set the alarm and leave, or get in and switch it off. A keypad is simple, while a remote lets you arm it from the house. Make sure everyone who uses the shed knows the code.
Making The Shed Harder To Break Into
An alarm works best alongside physical security. Swap a cheap hasp for a closed shackle padlock, use coach bolts on the hinges, and cover windows. A motion sensor security light on the shed or house means anyone heading down the garden is lit up, and an outdoor security camera pointed at the shed records who it was.
Shed Alarm Questions From Readers
Do shed alarms need electricity?
No, most shed alarms run on batteries and need no electricity in the shed at all. The Yale SAA5015 and Tech Traders Mini both run on batteries, so you can fit one in a few minutes without running a cable. Keep spare batteries handy and choose a model with a low battery warning so it doesn't go flat unnoticed.
Where should you put a shed alarm?
Put a PIR shed alarm high on the back or side wall facing the door, so anyone coming in walks straight into its view. Keep it out of direct sunlight through a window, as heat changes can trigger false alarms. For a door contact alarm like the Friedland ML1, fit the contacts at the top of the door frame on the opening side.
Will a shed alarm lower my home insurance?
A shed alarm on its own won't lower most home insurance premiums, but it does help protect what's inside and can put off a thief. Many insurers set a limit on items kept in outbuildings and expect them to be locked. Check your policy for outbuilding cover, and keep receipts and photos of expensive tools and garden machinery.
What else can I do to stop shed theft?
Pair the alarm with a strong closed shackle padlock, security screws or coach bolts on the hinges, and frosted film or covers over windows so nobody can see what's inside. Mark tools with your postcode, chain bikes and mowers to a ground anchor and fit a dummy CCTV camera or a real one where it can be seen.
Is the Yale SAA5015 loud enough for a shed at the bottom of the garden?
The Yale SAA5015 suits a shed near the house, with a 100 dB siren, but a shed at the far end of a long garden needs more volume. The Defender Redshield has a 130 dB siren and a remote to arm it from the back door. The further the shed is from anyone who'd hear it, the louder the siren needs to be.
Is a PIR alarm better than a door contact alarm for a shed?
A PIR alarm is better for most sheds, because it detects movement inside and so catches someone who gets in through a window or a kicked-out panel. The Friedland Response ML1 only triggers when the door opens, so it protects the door and nothing else. Its 88 dB siren is also the quietest in the roundup, which makes it a close-to-the-house option.
Is the Tech Traders Mini worth choosing over the Yale?
The Tech Traders Mini is worth it on a small shed when you want remotes, as it comes with two and has a 105 dB siren with entry and exit delays. The catch we found in testing was that it went through its four AA batteries quickly. The Yale SAA5015 has a longer 12 metre PIR range and a low battery warning, but no remote.
Is the UltraPIR GSM worth the money for an allotment shed?
The UltraPIR GSM is worth it where nobody would hear a siren, because it rings up to three key-holders and sends a text if none of them answers. It's also the most expensive shed alarm in our roundup. The original model was a 3G alarm and UK networks have switched 3G off, so make sure you buy a 4G version.
Our Top Shed Alarm Picks
The Yale SAA5015 is the shed alarm we'd fit first, because it goes up in minutes, needs no app or wiring and sits just as happily on a shelf as on the wall. For a shed too far from the house to hear it, the Defender Redshield's 130 dB siren is the louder alternative.
Plenty of sheds hold a pressure washer, a petrol lawn mower and a bag of power tools, so a decent alarm is cheap insurance for the kit inside.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.