Last Updated: February 13, 2023

How Much Does a Pole Barn Cost?

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Pole Barns

Pole barns are very simple, inexpensive and often semi-finished buildings. They have a variety of applications, from farming to recreational use. Carports, covered picnic areas, storage buildings, garages, workshops, warehouses and horse barns are popular uses for pole barns.

About Pole Barns

A pole barn is a building that is supported by poles that are set in concrete. The poles hold up the roof. Sometimes pole barns have walls; other times they don’t. Finished floors are also optional, depending on how the building will be used. In a horse barn or a covered picnic area, finished floors aren’t of much use.

Occasionally, a pole barn is built to serve as an inexpensive home or office building. In those cases, finishing touches like walls, doors, windows and floors are a must.

Pole barns are simple to build, economical and sturdy. The poles are made of wood and the roof and shell are usually made of galvanized steel, although asphalt shingles can be used for the roof. Pole barns can be custom built to meet your exact specifications, or you can purchase a prefabricated kit. They can be just about any size.

Pole Barn

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Cost of a Pole Barn

Pole barns are an attractive option because they are affordable. The cost savings over traditional buildings is mostly due to three things: the building components are prefabricated in a factory, no foundation is required, and less finishing work is required.

It is difficult to estimate the cost of a pole barn because it depends on so many factors: your location, the size of the building, the siding and roofing materials you select, and the presence of finishing features like walls, doors and windows.

Generally, budget anywhere from $7 to $30 per square foot for a professionally-constructed pole building. Larger and very basic buildings will fall on the low end of that range, while smaller buildings and those with detailed finishings will fall on the higher end of that range.

  • A 24-by-24-foot pole barn used as a garage might cost $10,000, or about $17 per square foot.
  • A larger storage unit, 40-by-60 in size, would likely cost about $20,000, or about $18 per square foot.
  • A 36-by-48-foot structure used as a horse barn might cost around $30,000, or slightly more than $17 per square foot.

These prices, though just estimates, are about one-third less than you would spend to have similar buildings constructed in the traditional way.

If you are purchasing a prefabricated pole barn kit but doing the construction yourself, budget closer to $5 to $20 for materials. Again, the price varies based on the materials, size and finishings.

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