The average cost to build a warehouse is $15 per square foot. Prices can range from $15,000 for a small 30x40 building up to $475,000 for a 50,000 sq ft distribution center. This price includes the base metal building package along with delivery, construction & foundation. For a rough estimate, cost see our Warehouse Cost Calculator.
Sample Pre-Engineered Steel Building Costs:
| Building Size | Estimate Price | Cost / Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|
| 30x40 | $15,000 | $12.50 |
| 40x50 | $25,000 | $12.50 |
| 50x60 | $30,700 | $10.25 |
| 50x100 | $45,500 | $9.10 |
| 80x150 | $109,000 | $9.10 |
| 100x150 | $136,500 | $9.10 |
| 200x300 | $546,000 | $9.10 |
Other Costs to Consider:
| Item | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|
| Delivery | 5-10% |
| Windows, doors etc. | 10-30% |
| Foundation | $5-10 / sq ft |
| Construction | $5-10 / sq ft |
Planning a prefabricated steel warehouse building is, without doubt, the most critical stage for your company's growing storage requirements. Today, warehouse designs have advanced greatly in their development, creating options that weren’t previously available. A pre-engineered building manufacturer will provide features to make planning and constructing a painless process with sample plans and designs for your proposed storage requirements.
A few key factors you must consider before actually constructing your steel warehouse building are the following:
The overall height may be regulated by zoning laws, but the clearance height will usually have more of an impact on your design decisions. At the low end, 10 ft. clearance is plenty for many applications. Heights of up to 30 ft. can accommodate your extensive warehouse shelving systems, your warehouse heavy construction vehicles and tractor-trailers.
The building dimensions of your roof are extremely important to consider when constructing a metal warehouse building. Make sure you look at both the shape and the pitch of the roof as rigid frame metal buildings can come with several types of roofing options and you want to make sure you get the roof that will best suit your warehouse needs.
When it comes to the pitch of your roof, it’s usually expressed as a ratio. For example: 1:12 is the flattest type of roof, rising 1" for every 12" of width. 4:12 is usually the steepest pitch available for steel buildings. Increased pitch gives you more interior clearance which is great for warehouse buildings; it also helps improve the building's ability to shed rain and snow and can result in a better looking building (more on roofing here)
Once the design of your building has been established, there are a few more things to consider before the actual building begins and they include:
Engineering-Once the basic design is complete and you've paid a deposit, an engineer needs to create the specifications and blueprints for the building. The blueprints will specify what materials should be used and what loads the building will need to be able to withstand to meet local building codes.
Author: Conrad Mackie
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