More People Are Considering ‘Barndominiums’—Here’s How Much It Costs To Build One

Renee Hanlon
·4 min read
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Plus, examples of barndo floor plans.

Your first thought of living in a barn may have started as a kid. At the time, that might have sounded somewhat appealing—a nice, carefree lifestyle without restrictions. Although now, you may not want to live in an actual barn, you may have recently heard about "barndominiums," perhaps on Fixer Upper or from scrolling through social media, and are wondering what they are exactly. One thing is for sure, it's a housing trend that has become popular for a reason. But how much does it cost to build a barndominium, exactly?

With the price of traditional homes being so high, any home that can be built for a lower cost will be appealing. Barndominiums, or barndos, are one of those options. They are both affordable to build and flexible in interior design. If you like a sizeable open-concept-style home, you may want to consider living in a barndominium. You can either build a new barndo, or renovate an old barn into a brand new living space.

If you are becoming intrigued by the concept of barndominiums, read on to get more familiar with barndos, along with all of the pros and cons, and examples of costs and floor plans.

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What Is a Barndominium?

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A barndominium is a cross between a barn and a condominium. It could either be constructed like a pole barn or a stick-built barn on a concrete foundation. The square or rectangular exterior is typically made of metal, but could also be wood. Because you have a large squared-in area to work with, the actual floor plan is very customizable. Most of the time, the interiors are open-concept with interior walls just for the private areas of the home like bedrooms and bathrooms.

For the most part, the trend is to build a barndominium strictly for living space. However, some divide up the space for living and for work. That might mean a workshop or storage warehouse. Depending on the type of business that you have, it could be ideal to have the work area connected to your home. You can't beat the commute!

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How Is a Barndominium Different Than a Traditional Home? 

Typically, a barndominium is less expensive to build or renovate than a traditional home. Here are some of the differences that make a barndominium more affordable.

  • A barndo is built on a concrete foundation without a basement.

  • The exterior is framed in metal sheeting instead of typical wood and siding on a traditional home.

  • Barndominiums feature an open-concept design that requires fewer labor costs. 

Cost of Building a Barndominium

Although the cost to build a barndominium is typically cheaper than a regular house, it does depend on the materials and finishes that you decide to use. Like any building, costs can get out of hand when premium finishes are used.

Here are a couple of examples of barndos that were built for less than $200,000.

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At a total cost of just $160,550, this barndominium provides everything that you need for a very affordable cost. Depending on where you live, the total cost of this barndominium could be a little higher or lower. However, here is one example of the breakdown of costs that you could expect.

  • Exterior shell - $52,000

  • Framing - $11,500

  • Windows and doors - $5,500

  • Porches - $4,600

  • Carport - $12,000

  • Trim and beams - $5,700

  • Electrical - $6,500

  • Plumbing - $9,300

  • Sheetrock - $5,400

  • Flooring - $6,000

  • Countertops - $3,300

  • Custom Cabinets - $8,800

  • Septic - $5,500

  • Light Fixtures - $2,000

  • Plumbing Fixtures - $1,100

  • Cultured Marble Showers - $4,100

  • HVAC - $9,000

  • Samsung Appliances - $5,850

Obviously, you can look at this list and see additional ways you can save money or even how you can afford a few more luxuries. Maybe you don't need cultured marble showers, but you would like a full garage instead of a carport. There are so many ways to make it work for you and your budget.

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This barndominium is a nice size of 1800 square feet for only $176,000.

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Barndominium Floor Plans

Although you may want to draw up your own floor plan using graph paper, here are some examples that you could use or tweak to your own specifications.

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This one is the Maple Plan and includes 2400 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

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For a rectangular barn style, this plan boasts just over 2000 square feet and includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

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This last plan allows you to not only see the floor plan but a 3D version plus the final built home as well. 

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