Do you find yourself wondering if you should wait until prices go down or take the chance and invest in a pole barn this year? If you decide to stay, there is a risk that prices will continue to go up. While we can’t tell you when prices will go down (we don’t even know when that will be), we can help you understand how much your pole building will cost.
Once you get past the basic building shell, multiple factors will influence your pole barn cost. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of common cost components that’ll help provide you with a realistic project total.
Please keep in mind that these are meant to be estimates to help you figure out your budget needs. It’s not uncommon for prices to fluctuate up or down depending on the commodity markets.
A standard 40 x 60 pole building shell can cost anywhere from $35 to $50 per square foot (for the building shell only). Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “Why is there a big difference in price per square foot?” Here’s why...
The following factors will determine if your pole barn is leaning toward the low/high side of the cost spectrum:
Remember, it’s not uncommon for the cost of materials to fluctuate year after year. If you've received a quote from us in the past, there's a good chance that the quote is now outdated.
For example, adding a porch, cupolas, and numerous doors and windows will push you closer to the $40 per square foot. If you want a basic 40 x 60 without the bells and whistles, then you’ll pay closer to $25 per square foot.
The most underrated expense of the building process is site costs. Site preparation is the work done on your land before pole barn construction. This process allows you to discover and resolve any site complications before it’s too late. The following factors drive site costs:
Naturally, some projects will require more site prep than others, affecting the cost. Below are the typical site costs for the following building types:
|
Agricultural |
$1,000 to $30,000 |
|
Residential |
$500 to $5,000 |
|
Commercial |
$1,000 to $50,000 |
|
Equine |
$500 to $20,000 |
Proper site preparation will extend your building’s lifetime and reduce total construction costs. You can further lower costs by owning the machinery and performing your excavation.
Are you feeling overwhelmed? We created a simple guidebook that’ll provide you with helpful insights into preparing your building site.
Other design considerations include pole barn size, external/internal features, and future preparation (e.g., pole barn additions, adding a loft for extra storage, or even finishing the interior of your pole barn with insulation and steel liner).
Once you’ve selected a post-frame building design, you’ll need to obtain a building permit to move forward with construction. Permitting costs are based on the following factors:
The best way to find out how much you will owe in permitting costs is to contact your city hall or county courthouse. Here’s an idea of what you can expect:
Please check to see if your county exempts ag-related buildings from permits. You’ll still need one, but it is free of charge.
Depending on the site location, some residential buildings will require a permit from the town rather than the county.
Some commercial projects are required to obtain a permit at the state level. Commercial permits tend to be more expensive because they ask for:
The wide range of permitting costs is based on the fact that horse barns can be viewed as agricultural, personal, or commercial-use buildings.
Most design fees (minus commercial properties) are included in the total package and are considerably less on the bright side.
Depending on your professional builder’s scope of work, you may have to have the following external and internal work subcontracted out:
Think you have what it takes to be your general contractor? Download our General Contracting Guidebook to ensure a successful building project.
Some owners will want minimal landscaping – just enough to complete the project site visually. Meanwhile, others will put a lot of effort into their landscaping. Don’t forget to get the best bang for your buck with energy-efficient landscaping plans.
As you think through paving – sidewalks and driveways – decide if they are nice-to-haves or need-to-haves.
Please keep in mind that some commercial projects require these features. Examples include:
Ideally, you’d have the cash on hand to fully fund your dream pole barn. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, and you’ll have to take out a loan.
Financing costs include principal and interest on any loans you may need to take out. Don’t forget to ask your post-frame construction company the following questions:
A reliable post-frame builder will have these resources on hand to help you navigate the world of pole barn financing.
After reviewing each cost component, a rough percentage breakdown of an average 40 x 60 post-frame building will be:
It’s important to note that the above percentages will vary based on a variety of factors.
For example, the following options will make your costs go higher:
If you don’t plan to finish out your building, the interior portion of the finishing percentage will be significantly reduced.
Regardless, it’s a great starting point for your budget.
If you’re still following along, you can see there are multiple factors that will influence your total project cost. Ultimately, the price comes down to how you design your pole barn.
Ready to take the next step in the building process? Please give us a call at (800) 552-2981 or reach us online to determine your pole barn estimate.
Are you unsure if your idea is worth pursuing? That’s okay! You can still request a rough ballpark quote without 100% committing to a post-frame project.
Have more questions about open-sided buildings not covered in this article? Please contact FBi Buildings at 1.800.552.2981 or click here to email us. If you’re ready to get a price, click here to request a quote, and a member of our sales team will call you.