Barndominiums
Costs, kits, floor plans, and everything to weigh before you build. A barndominium is a steel or post-frame building finished as a full home, blending open, low-maintenance construction with real living space, and it has become one of the most affordable ways to build in rural America.
What is a barndominium?
A barndominium, often shortened to "barndo," is a home built inside a metal or post-frame structure, the same kind of durable shell used for barns, workshops, and pole buildings. The frame goes up fast and spans wide open distances without interior support walls, which gives you large, flexible living areas and lets you finish the inside however you want.
People build barndominiums for three main reasons: they usually cost less than a comparable stick-built house, the steel shell is tough and cheap to maintain, and the open layout makes it easy to combine a home with a shop, garage, or storage under one roof. If you are new to the idea, start with our breakdown of what a barndominium is and how they are built.
Barndominium costs, at a glance.
Price depends on size, finish level, and how much you do yourself. The shell is the cheap part. Most of the budget goes into the interior, the same as any home.
Find the part you're shopping for.
Whether you are pricing a kit, hunting floor plans, or just browsing what is out there, start here.
Pre-engineered steel and post-frame packages you can put up fast, with everything from bare shells to move-in-ready bundles.
See kits and prices Plan itLayouts from compact one-bedroom builds to full family homes with a shop attached. See what fits your land and budget.
Browse floor plans Fast trackFactory-built and modular options that arrive ready to assemble, cutting build time and on-site labor.
Explore prefab BudgetCompact builds that cost less to put up, heat, and maintain. The easiest entry point into barndo living.
See small builds DesignThe dark-exterior look that has taken over the category, with the modern farmhouse styling buyers keep asking for.
See the look BudgetA real breakdown of what shells, finishes, land, and labor run, plus where the budget actually goes.
Run the numbers Buy nowAlready-built barndominiums on the market, for buyers who would rather skip the build entirely.
See listingsThe real upsides, and what to check first.
Why people build them
- Lower cost per square foot than most traditional stick-built homes.
- Steel shells resist rot, termites, and fire, and need little upkeep.
- Wide, open spans mean flexible layouts with no load-bearing walls in the way.
- Easy to combine a home with a shop, garage, or barn under one roof.
- Fast shell construction shortens the overall build timeline.
What to know first
- Financing can be harder. Not every lender writes loans on post-frame homes.
- Some rural counties and HOAs restrict metal residential buildings. Check zoning.
- Insulation matters. A steel shell needs the right system to stay comfortable.
- Resale is improving but still varies by market, so know your local comps.
- Kit prices rarely include the foundation, land, utilities, or interior finish.
Barndominium FAQ.
How much does a barndominium cost?
A bare shell or kit usually runs $20 to $40 per square foot, while a finished, move-in-ready barndominium typically lands between $100 and $200 per square foot. A common 2,000 square foot build comes in around $200,000 to $400,000 depending on finishes, location, and how much work you do yourself. See our full cost breakdown for the details.
Are barndominiums cheaper than a traditional house?
Usually, yes. The steel or post-frame shell goes up faster and costs less than a conventional framed structure, which lowers the all-in price per square foot. The savings shrink as you add high-end interior finishes, since the inside of a barndominium costs about the same to build out as any other home.
How long do barndominiums last?
A well-built steel-frame barndominium can last 40 years or more, and the metal shell resists rot, pests, and fire better than wood framing. Lifespan comes down to the quality of the build, the foundation, and ongoing maintenance, the same factors that determine how long any home lasts.
Can you get a mortgage on a barndominium?
You can, but your options are narrower than with a standard home. Not every lender finances post-frame or metal homes, so many buyers use construction loans, USDA rural loans, or local portfolio lenders that understand the build type. Lining up financing early is smart, because approval can take longer than for conventional houses.
Do barndominiums hold their value?
Resale value is improving as barndominiums become more mainstream, but it still varies a lot by market. In rural areas where they are common and accepted, they tend to hold value well. In markets where buyers are unfamiliar with them, resale can be slower, so it helps to check comparable sales in your area before you build.
What is the cheapest way to build a barndominium?
The lowest-cost path is a smaller footprint, a kit or pre-engineered shell, and doing some of the interior finishing yourself. A small barndominium built from a kit keeps both the shell price and the long-term heating and upkeep costs down, which is why it is the most common entry point for first-time builders.
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