Carport With Storage: How Combo Carports Give You Parking and a Shed in One

Most people who buy a carport are solving one problem and living with a second. The car is finally out of the weather, but the mower, bikes, salt spreader and patio cushions are still fighting for space somewhere else. A carport with storage — often called a combo carport or utility carport — solves both at once: open, drive-in parking at the front and a closed, lockable room at the back, under one roof and on one frame. This guide explains how they are laid out, how to size one, and when a combo makes more sense than a carport plus a separate shed.

What is a carport with storage?

It is a single steel structure divided into two zones. One part is an ordinary open carport. The other part is fully enclosed with wall panels and has its own door. Because both zones share the same roof, frame and anchors, you get a storage room for the cost of some extra panels and a door, rather than the cost of a whole second building.

Common layouts

• Storage at the back. The classic combo. The rear 5 to 10 feet of the carport is closed in across the full width, with a walk-in or roll-up door facing the parking area. You park in front of the storage room.
• Half garage, half carport. A deeper enclosed section — big enough for a vehicle, a motorcycle or a workbench — with open parking in front for the daily driver.
• Storage along the side. An enclosed lean-to runs down one side of the carport, keeping the full length open for long vehicles or a trailer.
• Carport with side panels only. Not true storage, but closing one or two sides blocks wind and drifting snow and makes the covered area far more usable for stacking firewood or parking a mower.

How to size the two zones

Plan the parking first, then add the storage on top. Do not carve the storage out of space the vehicles need.

1. Parking zone. Use the same rules as any carport: about 12 feet of width per vehicle for comfortable door room, and vehicle length plus walking space. Our carport size guide has the details.
2. Storage zone. List what goes in it. A room 5 feet deep across the back of a double carport holds bikes, bins and garden tools on shelves. Eight to ten feet of depth takes a riding mower, a snowblower and a workbench.
3. Add them together. A two-car carport that would be 20 feet long on its own becomes 25 to 30 feet long with storage behind it.
4. Check the door. A walk-in door is enough for hand tools and bikes. Anything on wheels wider than a doorway — a mower, an ATV — needs a roll-up door.

Every building we install is custom-built for the project, so the split between open and enclosed space can be set to suit what you own.

Combo carport vs. carport plus a separate shed

• One structure instead of two. One delivery, one installation, one foundation to prepare, and one roofline to look at.
• Matched engineering. The whole building is certified together for the snow load and wind at your location, rather than pairing an engineered carport with an uncertified shed.
• Less yard used. Sheds need clearance around them; a combo uses the footprint you were already giving to the carport.
• Permits. One structure can mean one permit application instead of two, though an enclosed section may change how your municipality classifies it. Check first.

A separate shed still makes sense when the best spot for storage is somewhere else on the property, such as next to a garden.

Combo carport vs. a garage

If you find yourself enlarging the enclosed section until the vehicle is inside it too, you are designing a garage. That is not a bad outcome, but it is a different building: fully enclosed, with a garage door, and more likely to need a permit and a slab. A combo is the right choice when you want vehicles easy to drive in and out, good airflow around them, and only the valuables locked up. Our comparison of carports and traditional garages covers the trade-offs, and if you start with a combo you can still close in more of it later — see how to enclose a metal carport.

Details that make the storage room work

• Keep water out. An open carport does not mind a little water running across the pad. A storage room does. A slab or raised pad under the enclosed section and a sealant package on the base rail keep the floor dry.
• Control condensation. A small closed steel room can drip in cold weather. Vents or a condensation-control layer under the roof protect what is stored; our insulation guide explains the options.
• Anchor for the enclosed walls. Walls catch more wind than an open frame, so the anchoring is specified for the building as designed. See carport anchors.
• Think about light. A window or a translucent panel saves running power to a small room you only visit in daylight.
• Choose a vertical roof in snow country. It sheds snow and water off the sides rather than toward the front where you walk in.

What affects the price

A combo is priced like a carport of the same overall size, plus the wall panels, framing and door for the enclosed section. Width, length, leg height, roof style and your county's snow and wind requirements have the largest effect. We break those down in how much a metal carport costs, and current starting prices are on the prices page.

Frequently asked questions

What is a carport with storage called?

Combo carport, utility carport and carport-shed combo are the most common names. All describe open parking with an enclosed storage section under the same roof.

How deep should the storage room be?

Five feet works for shelves, bikes and hand tools. Plan on eight to ten feet if you want to store a riding mower or set up a workbench.

Do I need a permit for a carport with storage?

It depends on your township or city, the size of the structure and where it sits on the lot. An enclosed section can change how the building is classified. We research local requirements at no extra cost.

Can I add a storage room to a carport I already own?

Often, yes, if the frame and anchoring are suitable for enclosed walls. A Building Specialist should confirm that before panels and a door are added.

Design your carport and storage together

Tell us what you park and what you need to lock up, and we will lay out a combo carport sized for both. Start with our metal carports. Request a free quote, design it yourself in 3D, or call (262) 383-4347.

This guide is general information. Layout, structural suitability of an existing carport, snow and wind certification, pricing and local permit rules must be confirmed for your property with a Wisconsin Carports Building Specialist and your municipality.

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