If you’re planning to build a pole building in Iowa or Illinois or any surrounding state, one of the first questions you might ask is: “How much is this going to cost?” The simple, straight-forward answer is that every building is different and each difference can affect the price significantly. Cost drivers such as quantity/size of doors and windows, porches, quality of metal, type of foundation (yes, there are many foundation methods to choose from!) can have enormous impacts on the final price of a building. While it’s tempting to search for an average price per square foot, several factors determine the final investment. Understanding these variables will help you budget accurately and avoid surprises during the building process.
What Impacts Pole Building Prices?
1. Building Size
Larger buildings generally cost more overall, but they often become more economical on a per-square-foot basis.
For example:
- 30' × 40' Hobby Building
- 40' × 60' Shop
- 50' × 80' Machine Shed
- 60' × 120' Agricultural Storage
Each serves a different purpose and requires different design considerations. For instance, a hobby building is often insulated and has nicer interior finishes; possibly stained or painted plywood or LP Smart siding on the interior walls or epoxy finished concrete floors. A machine shed will typically have no insulation and simpler, less expensive doors. An agricultural storage building might have no doors at all, greatly reducing the cost per square foot.
2. Intended Use
A cold-storage machine shed costs significantly less than a fully finished commercial shop.
Common building types include:
- Machine sheds
- Equipment storage
- Livestock buildings
- Commercial shops
- Garages
- SHOME® and residential buildings
- Storage facilities
The more insulation, concrete, windows, doors, porches, and high-end interior finishes you add, the more the overall investment increases.
3. Site Conditions
Every property is unique.
Items that can affect pricing include:
- Site grading
- Excavation
- Soil conditions
- Drainage
- Accessibility
- Utility locations
Preparing the site properly helps ensure the building performs well for decades. The site can also dictate foundation parameters such as possibly required a concrete wall on part of or the entire building.
4. Material Selection
Not all post-frame buildings are built with the same materials.
Your choices may include:
- Steel thickness (gauge / strength)
- Galvanization (G90 v. G60 or Galvalume for protection from rust)
- Paint systems (SMP v. PVDF paint for protection from fade)
- Engineered trusses
- Laminated columns and how they are protected / backfilled (dirt, rock or concrete for instance)
- Insulation packages (fiberglass v. spray foam for instance)
- Window and door selections (quantity, size, style, composition, brand/model – the variation can be enormous!)
Higher-quality materials often reduce long-term maintenance while increasing durability.
5. Design Features
Every customization changes the overall investment.
Popular upgrades include:
- Lean-tos
- Porches
- Wainscot
- Cupolas
- Overhangs
- Interior liners
- Skylights
- Hydraulic or bifold doors
- Heated shop space
These features create a building designed specifically for your needs rather than a one-size-fits-all structure.
Should You Budget by Square Foot?
Square-foot pricing can provide a rough estimate, but it should never be considered an exact quote.
Two buildings with identical dimensions can vary significantly in price depending on:
- Engineering requirements
- Door sizes
- Roof design
- Insulation
- Interior finishes
- Concrete specifications
- Local building codes
That is why custom quotes provide the most accurate pricing.
Why Quotes Can Vary Between Builders
If you’ve received multiple estimates, you may notice large price differences.
Before choosing the lowest number, compare:
- Engineering included
- Material quality
- Crew experience
- Warranty coverage
- Scope of work
- Is the builder insured?
- Who is providing builder’s risk insurance? This could cost you, the customer, thousands of dollars!
- Items excluded from the proposal
How to Get the Most Accurate Estimate
The more information you provide, the more accurate your quote will be.
Helpful information includes:
- Building dimensions
- Intended use
- Desired doors and windows
- Insulation plans
- Building location
- Site conditions
- Future expansion plans
- Pictures of exterior / interior what you want the building to look like (generally)
- Example floorplans / layouts you like
Our team works with you to develop a building that fits both your needs and your budget.
Download our FREE Post-Frame Planning Guide for expert tips on budgeting, design options, permits, and everything you should know before starting your project. Download the FREE Buyer’s Guide. It walks you through the planning process, from budgeting to key building features, to help you make informed decisions.
Ready to Start Planning?
Whether you’re building a machine shed, workshop, commercial facility, or custom post-frame building, our experienced team is here to guide you through every step, from design to construction.
Contact Greiner Buildings today for a free, no-obligation quote, and let’s start planning a building that’s built to last.