How much does a pole barn house cost?
How much does a pole barn house cost?
$50 – $150 cost per square foot (finished)
$120,000 – $360,000 average total cost to build (2,400 SF)
Pole barn house cost by size
A pole barn house costs $120,000 to $360,000 for a finished 2,400-square-foot home. Pole barn house kit prices are $15 to $40 per square foot with assembly. Pole barn home finishing costs $35 to $110 per square foot for the site prep, foundation, utilities, and completed interior living space.
| Square feet | Dimensions | Average cost finished |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 25x40 | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| 1,200 | 30x40 | $60,000 – $180,000 |
| 1,500 | 30x50 | $75,000 – $225,000 |
| 1,800 | 30x60 | $90,000 – $270,000 |
| 2,000 | 40x50 | $100,000 – $300,000 |
| 2,400 | 40x60 | $120,000 – $360,000 |
| 3,200 | 40x80 | $160,000 – $480,000 |
| 3,500 | 50x70 | $175,000 – $525,000 |
| 4,000 | 50x80 | $200,000 – $600,000 |
| 5,000 | 50x100 | $250,000 – $750,000 |
Average cost to build a pole barn house
The average cost to build a finished pole barn house is $50 to $150 per square foot, including the kit and materials, assembly, site prep, and finishing the interior.
| Factor | Cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Base kit materials & delivery | $10 – $30 |
| Kit assembly and installation | $5 – $10 |
| Finishing costs (site prep, foundation, utilities, and interior finishing) | $35 – $110 |
| Total cost per square foot | $50 – $150 |
Pole barn house kits, plans, and prices
The cost of a pole barn house depends on if you select a prepackaged kit or a custom design. Starting with a kit saves you money on architect fees and may reduce total material and labor costs.
Shell only – A pole barn house kit costs $10 to $30 per square foot for plans and materials to build the exterior shell structure. Assembly labor costs another $5 to $10 per square foot.
Kit package – Some companies offer a complete turnkey package deal with interior finishes.
Pre-made plans – Stock pole house blueprints and house plans cost $500 to $1,500.
Custom home – Hiring an architect costs $100 to $250 per hour or $2,000 to $2,000 to design a custom pole barn house.
Labor cost to build a pole barn house
The labor cost to build a pole barn house is $5 to $10 per square foot for installers to assemble the pole barn kit on-site. Labor costs increase for site prep, installing a slab foundation and utility services, and finishing the interior. Consider hiring a contractor to manage your project.
A general contractor charges 10% to 20% of construction costs to manage the build.
A structural engineer costs $100 to $220 per hour to review the plans and advise on the structural aspects of the build.
Pole barn house prices finished breakdown
| Factor | Percentage of total cost |
|---|---|
| Building shell / kit | 20% |
| Assembly | 10% |
| Site prep | 5% – 10% |
| Concrete slab | 5% – 10% |
| Utilities | 15% |
| Finishing costs | 40% |
| Permits | < 1% |
| Total | 100% |
Pole barn site prep
Preparing the property and foundation costs $3,000 to $30,000 and may include:
Land clearing costs $1,200 to $3,700.
Excavation costs $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard.
Land leveling or grading costs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot.
A land survey costs $200 to $1,200.
Building permits cost $500 to $2,000.
Pouring a concrete slab foundation costs $5 to $14 per square foot.
Pole barn plumbing, electric, and HVAC
Running water, electricity, and septic or sewer lines to your new pole barn house will incur additional costs. Adding utilities on vacant land costs $9,000 to $34,500+ for electricity, water, gas, and septic services.
Drilling or digging a well costs $3,750 to $15,300 or $25 to $61 per foot for a complete install including a pump.
Installing a new septic tank system costs $3,500 to $8,500.
Installing plumbing pipes costs $2,300 to $5,100.
Running power lines to the house costs $5 to $15 per foot for overhead lines or $10 to $25 per foot for underground power.
The cost to wire a new house is $6,000 to $22,500.
A new HVAC system costs $7,000 to $16,000 with ductwork.
Interior finishing
Completely finishing the interior living spaces costs $35 to $110 per square foot and may include:
Drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot of wall or ceiling surface area.
Spray foam insulation costs $1.00 to $4.50 per square foot of surface area.
Flooring installation costs $4 to $15 per square foot, depending on the material chosen.
Interior painting costs $1 to $3 per square foot of surface area.
Installing light fixtures costs $70 to $300 per fixture or about $3,000 for the whole home.
Interior door installation costs $155 to $688 for each bedroom, bathroom, or closet door.
Kitchen cabinets cost $4,500 to $15,000, depending on if they're stock, semi-custom, or custom cabinets.
Kitchen appliances cost $2,500 to $6,800 to install a complete set.
Sink installation costs $330 to $1,300 for each kitchen or bathroom sink installed.
Countertops cost $50 to $150 per square foot installed.
Pole barn house with basement cost
A pole barn house can be built over a full, partial, or walk-out basement foundation. A basement foundation costs an additional $40,000, and finishing a basement space costs $22,000 to $46,000, depending on the size.
Adding living quarters to an existing pole barn
Adding living quarters to an existing pole barn is often more complicated and costly than building a completely new pole barn house. Starting from scratch ensures your home is properly engineered, structurally secure, and the entire building is the same age and appearance.
Pole barn home FAQs
Are pole barn houses cheaper to build?
A pole barn house is cheaper to build than a traditional home. Traditional new home construction costs $100 to $200 per square foot. The pole barn outer shell costs less to build than a traditional home shell, but the site prep, foundation, utilities, and finishing costs are the same.
| Home type | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Pole barn house | $50 – $150 |
| Traditional house | $100 – $200 |
How long do pole barn houses last?
A pole barn house lasts 40 to 65 years or longer with proper upkeep.
How long does it take to build a pole barn house?
A pole barn or post-frame house takes 3 to 6 months to build, depending on the home’s size and details. Building the pole barn house with a kit is faster than starting one from scratch.
What does a pole barn house include?
A prepackaged pole barn house kit includes everything you need to assemble the frame or shell of the home including:
Posts and beams
Exterior walls
Windows and doors
Builder-ready blueprints
Interior features like insulation, drywall, flooring, and major systems like plumbing and electricity are added on-site by the general contractor.
Can you finance a pole barn house?
Yes, you can finance a pole barn house. Look for a lender that has experience with post-frame home mortgages and construction loans to ensure they understand the quality and market value of your unique property.
Who builds pole barn houses?
Pole barn building companies and most construction companies build pole barn homes. DIY pole barn house construction is not recommended since the smallest error in measurement makes the building unsafe.
Getting estimates from pole barn house builders
When getting quotes from barn house builders, follow these important tips:
Research licensed, insured, and bonded barn house builders.
Get three or more estimates with similar materials to compare.
Read builder reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Select a builder that fits your budget and timeline.
Request a written contract detailing the timeline, payment schedule, and warranty information.
Follow a payment schedule with the last payment due upon project completion.
Questions to ask
Asking these important questions can help you find the right pole barn house builder:
Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
How many pole barn homes have you built?
Can I visit one of your completed barn homes to see your work?
Does the quote include site prep and cleanup?
Do you obtain the necessary permits? Is the permit cost included in the building quote?
How long will the pole barn home take to construct?
Do you have a full-time construction manager on-site during the build?
How much of a deposit is required? What are the payment terms?
Do you have a list of preferred lenders I can contact?