Have you ever looked into buying a new car? Similar to vehicles, pole buildings have multiple sizes to choose from and building features that you can add. However, unlike cars, purchasing a pole barn does not have an MSRP price. Depending on the size, the average cost for just the shell of a pole barn can range from $20-50 per square foot. But don’t fret; within this blog, we will discuss the ten factors that play into pole barn cost.

You will have to prepare your site at the start of your post-frame project. This includes preparing the building location and where to put the driveway to your pole building. During site preparation, you will also need to consider the materials and equipment that will be arriving and have enough room to access and maneuver the site once they arrive at your pole barn construction site. There are many things to consider when determining your driveway. Just like when selecting your pole barn flooring, the same options are available for your drive. You can go as simple as dirt to as high-end as block paving. Regarding cost, some customers have stated they spent more on their driveway than on their pole barn. Are you planning to leave the entrance as is? Or will you want to add a concrete, asphalt, or gravel driveway? Below you will learn about the six driveway surface options and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Is a pole barn on your to-do list? With a new year starting, it is an exciting time to think ahead about what you want to accomplish this year. You may want to build a pole barn hobby shop to store your boat that you take to Lake Okoboji every year. Plus, there would be room to host the Cy-Hawk game this fall! Maybe your daughter has been asking for a pony, and you need an equine barn to house it in. Perhaps you just upgraded to a bigger John Deere planter and need a larger farm shop. Whatever the reason you find yourself interested in building a pole barn, the frequently asked question is, “How much does a pole barn cost?” Eight factors play into the cost of building a pole barn. Read below or select each category to learn how they affect the overall cost of building a pole barn.

Is a pole barn on your Christmas list? With Christmas right around the corner, you may want to build a pole barn hobby shop to store that new boat that you have been eyeing, plus there would be room to store the Christmas tree. Maybe your daughter has asked for a pony for Christmas, and you need an equine barn to store it in. Or perhaps you want to build a new farm shop and take advantage of the tax savings that the government has going on right now. Whatever the reason you find yourself interested in building a pole barn, the frequently asked question is, “How much does a pole barn cost?”

Editor’s Note: McElroy Metal has been FBi Buildings’ preferred metal manufacturer for 50+ years. We paired up with their in-house experts to inform our readers about the different metal paint systems used in post-frame construction. So, we traveled to the Sherwin-Williams “test fence” facility in Fort Myers, Florida, to better understand their products. This location “provides insight behind the creation and performance of exterior coatings that include pigments, resins, and polymers” that go into their metal paint lines. Our goal is to help you choose a pole barn paint system that increases the aesthetics and longevity of your post-frame building.

Rafters vs. trusses. Two different words that can easily be confused with one another (especially if you’re a construction newbie). Although both types of components are used to support the roof of a building, they each have their place in post frame construction.