How Much Will it Cost to Build a Barn

The overall cost of a barn includes several variables: the style of the barn, the materials used, the number of doors and windows, and the cost of other extras such as insulation. For a traditionally constructed wooden barn, the cost of labor and services are a major portion of the overall cost. First, an architect must be hired to design the barn or existing plans must be purchased. Then a general contractor and construction crew are needed to build the barn. Depending on the design of the barn and the amount of customization, the cost per square foot can range from $25 to $100 and up.

Many questions must be answered before a price could be estimated on a barn. For example:

• is this barn for a dairy farm?
• do you need a tack / storage room?
• do you need a wash rack for horses?
• Will you need a hayloft in your barn?
• Will it be used to house animals? If so, are these large animals like Clydesdale horses?
• Is your barn going to be used primarily to store equipment?
• How big is the equipment?
• Are there tractors or are there harvesters?
• Will you be milking cows in this barn?
• Will you feed your animals in your barn?
• Do you need a wide center aisle through the middle as a pass-through?
• Will you use some of your barn as an indoor corral where your animals can be treated by a veterinarian?

As you can see, you need first of all to make a list of the things you want your barn to do. Then you will need to talk to a designer, usually made available by the manufacturer, and decide how it will all come together and what already-designed-and-produced elements you can select to keep the prices in check.

Of course, if you want a round barn or an octagon-shaped barn, many manufacturers make them as well. It’s much easier and less expensive to purchase a metal barn in an odd shape than it is to have it built by traditional methods.

This hasn’t given you a very specific answer. However, a good rule-of-thumb to help you begin to think about what the cost will be is the following: a straight-wall 20' x 20' metal building will come to about $11,000 delivered, but without foundation or any embellishments. A quonset hut building of the same size will come to about $7,500 delivered and without foundation and unaccessorized. Perhaps you can make a rough estimate based on this. Most sellers are very willing to work with you to give you an estimate for whatever kind of building you want.

A prefabricated steel barn is a lower-cost alternative to a wooden barn. Prefab barns are predesigned. Instead of starting from scratch with a new design, a prefabricated barn uses a proven layout. This eliminates the cost of hiring an architect or purchasing building plans. 

The cost of steel is less than wood and steel is safer (think fireproof) and easier to maintain. Finally, a prefabricated steel barn comes ready to assemble. Some owners of prefab steel barns are able to assemble the barns themselves, eliminating the need for a general contractor and paid construction crew. All of these savings combine to put the cost of most prefabricated steel barns at less than $25 per square foot.

For further horse barn planning & buying information see:

• Sample Barn Photos
• Barn Buyers Guide
  
• Sample Barn Floor Plans
• Barn Pricing & Estimates
• Barn Planning & Buying FAQs