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If you’ve searched for woodworking or shed plans online, two names dominate: TedsWoodworking (the famous “16,000 plans” library) and My Shed Plans (“12,000 shed plans”). Both promise instant-download plan vaults for a one-time fee. Here’s the comparison review sites won’t give you — including the legitimate criticisms of this product category.
What You’re Actually Buying
Both are digital libraries sold through ClickBank (one-time payment, 60-day refund standard). The pitch is volume + convenience: instead of buying individual plans at $5–20 each or piecing together free internet plans, you get a massive searchable collection with materials lists, cutting diagrams, and step-by-step instructions.
| Factor | TedsWoodworking | My Shed Plans |
|—|—|—|
| Focus | General woodworking: furniture, outdoor, toys, shop projects, and more | Sheds and outdoor structures specifically |
| Advertised volume | ~16,000 plans | ~12,000 plans |
| Typical extras | CAD viewer, guides, video content (varies by offer) | Woodworking guides, supplier info (varies) |
| Best for | Woodworkers wanting breadth across project types | Homeowners whose primary goal is a shed or outbuilding |
| Purchase | Official page | Official page |
The Honest Criticisms You Should Know
Fairness requires acknowledging the recurring complaints about this product category:
- “16,000 plans” doesn’t mean 16,000 great plans. Volume libraries aggregate plans of varying quality and era. Some are excellent, detailed, dimensioned documents; others are older magazine scans. Expect to sift.
- Not every plan is beginner-friendly, despite the marketing. Complex furniture plans assume joinery skills and tools.
- You could assemble free plans yourself — sites like Ana White, Woodsmith, and YouTube offer thousands of free plans. What you’re paying for is curation, organization, and time saved. Whether that’s worth the price depends on how you value your time.
- Aggressive upsell funnels — this category is known for checkout add-ons. Decline what you don’t want; the base library is the product.
None of this makes the products scams — ClickBank’s 60-day refund exists precisely so you can inspect the library yourself. But walk in with calibrated expectations.
Who Each One Suits
Choose TedsWoodworking if:
- You want a lifetime project library spanning furniture, outdoor builds, shop jigs, and gifts
- You’re a hobbyist who builds varied projects rather than one big structure
- You’ll use the included CAD/viewer tools to modify plans
Choose My Shed Plans if:
- Your actual goal is a shed, garage, or outbuilding — depth beats breadth here
- You want multiple design options for the same structure type (gambrel vs. gable vs. lean-to) to compare
- You’re planning around local permit requirements and want several candidate designs to price out
Skip both if: you only need one or two specific plans — buying individual plans from specialist designers (or using free resources) is cheaper.
Building a Shed? The Steps That Matter More Than the Plan
Experienced builders know the plan is 20% of the project. The other 80%:
- Permits and codes — most jurisdictions regulate shed size, setbacks, and sometimes footings. Check first; tearing down a non-compliant shed is a miserable weekend.
- Foundation — the decision that determines whether your shed is level and dry in year five: concrete piers, gravel pad, or slab. Budget it properly.
- Site drainage — water is the enemy; build up, not into a dip.
- Materials math — a good plan’s cutting list saves real money here; buying 15% overage is standard practice.
- Tools reality check — a circular saw, drill, level, and square cover most shed builds. Fancy joinery tools are not required.
If you would like to take this further, TedsWoodworking is a paid collection of woodworking project plans. You can see the official TedsWoodworking website and decide whether it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these plan libraries legitimate?
Yes, in the sense that you receive a large library of plans via ClickBank with a 60-day refund. Quality within the library varies — inspect during the refund window.
Can a beginner use them?
Many plans are beginner-accessible, especially shed and outdoor projects with clear cutting lists. Start with a small project (a planter, a workbench) before a 12×16 shed.
Do the plans include materials lists?
The better ones include cutting lists and shopping lists — this is a key quality marker to check when browsing the library.
Can I get a refund if I’m unimpressed?
Yes — both are ClickBank products with the standard 60-day refund. Keep your receipt email and contact support through your order confirmation.
Is one plan library enough for a whole shed build?
Yes — a good plan plus the foundation/permit steps above covers it. The plan is the easy part; execution is the project.
The Verdict
For general woodworking breadth, TedsWoodworking is the more versatile library. For shed-specific depth, My Shed Plans is the more focused tool. Either way: download, browse critically during the refund window, and let the 60-day guarantee de-risk the decision.
