Enter the total cost to build the pole barn and the total area into the calculator to determine the pole barn cost per square foot.

Pole Barn Cost Per Square Foot Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Pole Barn Cost Per Square Foot.

PBC = TC / PBA
  • Where PBC is the pole barn cost per square foot ($/ft^2)
  • TC is the total cost to build the pole barn ($)
  • PBA is the total pole barn area (ft^2)

To calculate the pole barn cost per square foot, divide the pole barn build cost by it’s area.

What is the Average Pole Barn Cost Per Square Foot?

The average cost per square foot for building a pole barn is between $15 and $50 when you factor in labor and material costs.

The average cost to build a pole barn will depend on several factors, including:

Your geographic location. Average costs for building a pole barn in New England may vary significantly from the average cost of building a pole barn in the Midwest.

Cost of labor and materials. The cost of labor and materials to build a pole barn will vary depending on where you live.

What type of pole barn you are building. The cost of building an 8′ x 12′ basic pole barn may be very different than the cost of building an 8′ x 24′ all-inclusive deluxe model with windows and finished siding.

Pole barns are generally less expensive to build than traditional framed buildings because there are no internal structural walls, and therefore materials are needed to complete the structure.

There are two basic types of pole barns: one-story and two-story. A one-story pole barn will cost less than a two-story pole barn due to the additional materials required for the upper-level flooring and roofing. However, choosing a two-story design offers more storage space and options in design. The two main kinds of construction used in building a pole barn are metal paneling with metal siding or all-wood construction. Metal paneling is generally cheaper than all-wood construction but offers less flexibility in design choices.