How Much Does a Pole Barn Home Cost? Everything You Need to Know

Pole barn homes have been around for longer than you think, as they can trace their origins back to agricultural buildings that were converted and refurbished for residential use. And while you might have heard about pole barn homes because of their affordability, the full details of a pole barn home cost aren’t always clear upfront.

A pole barn home saves you time and money through the quick building construction method called post-frame design. This allows for the high ceilings and easily customized open floor concept you’ve probably seen on some pole barn home design show. If this is the type of vacation home or large family residence you’ve always dreamed of, it’s especially important for you to completely understand the pole barn home cost for you through the construction process.

Read on to learn about choosing your pole barn home materials, the cost of labor to build your pole barn home, along with other important pole barn home cost details to consider before you begin construction on your new dream house.

Choosing your pole barn home materials

While traditional homes will usually depend on timber-framing and load-bearing wall construction, pole barn homes use a post-frame design to cut down on building materials and weight-bearing posts throughout your home. This means the two main construction supplies you will need to get started are concrete for your floor slab and large wood poles for your pole barn home’s frame.

After the pole barn home frame is set into place, you will need to decide if you would like to upgrade to the steel roof and siding of a barndominium or if you want to stick with traditional wood building materials. While metal post-frame homes will last longer and will keep your family safe from mold and rot, metal construction supplies can be very expensive.

Metal building supply costs can range from $6 to $120 per square foot, depending on where you buy land to build and the current state of the steel market. A traditional pole barn home cost is kept low through supplies that cost $10 to $30 per square foot.  You will never be able to avoid wood construction materials completely, so you ultimately have to decide if you want to save more money upfront or as your home ages.

Labor to build a pole barn home

It’s true that with the help of a pole barn home kit, you are able to complete most of the construction of your pole barn home on your own. However, if you don’t have any experience in home design, your pole barn home would still benefit from the support of a contractor or builder with pole barn home construction experience. Help from a building professional will guarantee your pole barn home is built within the building codes of your property’s area and with the backing of local construction businesses.

The base rate for construction crew labor is $48 per hour per person. So even with a crew of one or two workers, this line in your pole barn home cost budget can add up quickly. Just remember – your home will benefit from their expertise!

Building a pole barn home kit yourself

Your pole barn home can function as a giant DIY project as long as you are willing to follow the guidance of building experts in your area. This can be done through the easy-to-follow pole barn home kits.

With the help of a pole barn home kit, you can purchase all of your necessary construction supplies through one vendor while also receiving step-by-step building plans and access to a large library of previous pole barn home project floor plans. When you don’t have to wait on someone else to complete your new home project, you will be surprised at how quickly your pole barn home will be completed. In as little as eight weeks and with guaranteed low pole barn home cost, you can move into and start enjoying your new pole barn home!

Pole barn home kits can range in price from $4,000 to $50,000. The price is determined by regional material costs and location design requirements.

Adding utilities to your pole barn home

While you may be hoping to build your pole barn home as an off-grid getaway, you still need to consider road and utility access when purchasing the land where you plan to break ground on your new pole barn home. If you don’t keep this in mind, you can expect to pay between $6,000 and $35,000 to set all utility lines up on a property.

Property that is already connected to local sewage, water, and electricity lines will save you a lot of time and money. You might also want to consider on-sale land that is already cleared for building or can be cleared easily, as this will also help keep your pole barn home cost low.

Besides building utilities, it’s also helpful to look for land that has nearby access to grocery stores and schools. No matter the size or lifestyle of the family unit you plan to move into your pole barn home once it’s done, these considerations will help you better retain your pole barn home cost whenever you plan to sell it in the future.

Pole barn home interior finishes

We all love a new home that has been designed with great attention to detail, but the interior finishes of your home can also be a huge money suck if you’re not careful.

Here are the top four interior design details that are worth your money and can help increase the overall value of your pole barn home:

Cabinets

Cabinets aren’t just for the kitchen anymore. Custom cabinetry is one of the best ways to install storage throughout your house and add personal detail to each room of your pole barn home construction. Working with a local cabinet maker can help cut costs and turnaround time. Then you can also decide if you want painted or stained cabinetry. 

Countertops

Countertops are something to consider for your kitchen and bathroom space, along with any wet bar or floating desk spaces you might want to add to help keep your floor plan uncluttered.

Granite and marble countertops will require more monetary investment at the beginning of your project. Still, they will age better over time and require less maintenance than butcherblock countertops, which must be resealed every few years. There are also some new eco-friendly options like PaperStone, which is made from recycled paper and resin.

Stairs, doors, and trim

Stair railings, doors, and wall trim are all great opportunities to add personality and detail to every home in your house. They are also important to consider as you decide how you want to break up the zones of your open concept home and where you want to guarantee privacy from guests when they visit.

Based on the width and depth of the staircases in your new home, you might need to consider something more than a decorative stair railing. But the greatest benefit of any of these interior finishes is that you should be able to install them on your own.

Flooring

The flooring you install in your pole barn home should be most determined by the lifestyle you and your family plan to have after moving in. Stained concrete flooring is affordable and durable, most especially because your pole barn home will already have a concrete slab as the base of your residential design.

If you’d rather go for a high-end finish to the floors of your home, you should consider natural stone flooring. It retains heat better than any other floor, and you might be able to repurpose stone that has been unearthed in the building of your pole barn home. For any custom flooring detail, you also need to plan to reseal it at some point in the future.

Lighting

Thanks to the naturally high ceilings of a pole barn home, you have some great opportunities to add statement lighting pieces to your interior home setup. But the distance between ceiling and floor can also mean you’re up for a bit of a challenge.

Maybe you choose to splurge on a custom chandelier or install lights along the walls throughout your home. There are a lot of great pole barn home lighting ideas out there!

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read through our complete pole barn home cost guide, the only thing left is to start building your pole barn home! You will not once regret investing in this budget-friendly, quick-construction home.

Feel free to also look for further building inspiration on our Barndominium Life blog, including inspiration from an amazing 4 bedroom Russellville, Kentucky barndominium and tips on how to plan for the cost of your pole barn home’s concrete slab.

Want to learn more before you commit to a metal building kit provider? Make sure to check out our program, “Barndominiums Made Easy.” It’s affordable, informative, and will give you every resource you need to move forward confidently with your barndominium build.

If you would like more guides like this one, check out the rest of BarndominiumLife.com. There, you will find more helpful tips and tricks from the pros. You will also find featured barndominiums, barndominium floor plans, and information on financing and insurance. Knowing as much as you can will help you get the best results for your dream home.