Cost of Building a Metal Home in 2024: See Prices & Compare

Houses 30x30 home metal building rendering 3

Are you considering building your own metal home?

If you are, then you’ll want to keep on reading.

There are multiple benefits to building a home, as opposed to buying a home. When you build your own home, you can select unique designs, newer appliances, and other personal touches that make the home sincerely yours.

Plus, newer homes have a longer lifetime in terms of insurance and repairs, which generates cost-savings down the line.

So what is the cost of building a metal home?

The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) estimated that the average cost of building a metal home added up to $359,228 including all construction, land & finishings. With that said, if you already own the land and opt for a smaller 40 x 60 square foot building the costs can be $5,000 – $30,000 for the shell only.

At this point, you’re probably wondering what specific expenses are involved and how this number is justified.

We’ve got you covered.

In this guide, you’ll find all you need to know about what goes into the final cost of building a home, and the steps you can take to stay within your budget.

What’s in this guide?

What are the Costs of Building Metal Homes?

The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) estimated that the average cost of building your own home added up to $359,228.

But what makes up this cost?

As a homebuilder, you want to know what goes into each component that you are paying for.

Keep on reading to find out.

From the $359,228 you pay at the end, $237,760 is attributed to basic construction costs as listed below.

Basic component Cost Description
Site Work $15,903 Building permit fees, Impact fees, Design & Planning, Inspections
Foundations $25,671 Excavation, Concrete Foundations, Backfill, Wall Retaining
Framing $41,123 Framing, Trusses, Sheathing, Metal Beams
Exterior Finishes $33,066 Exterior Wall Finishing, Roofing, Windows, Doors
Major Systems $32,746 Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC
Interior Finishes $67,939 Insulation, Drywall, Interior Accessories, Lighting, Appliances, Flooring, Painting
Exterior Amenities $16,591 Landscaping, Clean-Up, Outdoor Structures, Driveways, Finishing Touches
Misc. $4,722 Other unforeseeable costs

In addition to this, you accumulate other associated costs until you reach (or surpass) the estimated $359,228. These other costs are as follows.

Component Cost Description
Lot Cost and Service Connections $91,996 Purchasing the lot or deconstruction of existing property, installing water, drainage, electricity, gas, and telephone connections
General Expenses $21,835 Other costs associated with working with an external contractor
Additional Financing $7,636 Cost of financing the construction

How Does Location and Size Affect the Cost of Metal Homes?

There are 2 ways location and size affect metal home costs:

  1. Cost of building homes in prime real estate locations are more expensive
  2. Larger buildings are more costly but offer a lower price per square foot

Whether you are buying or building a home, location plays a significant part in determining the cost. This is based on the housing market in that area, as homes become increasingly expensive in cities with a lot of housing demand.

For example, it would cost much more to build or buy a home in Los Angeles than Oxnard, California.

In terms of size, it’s easy to see that larger homes cost more due to the higher level of components and the time required to complete.

However, suppliers generally offer a lower cost per square foot when you choose to build larger metal homes. The average cost ranges from $111-$127 per square foot, depending on the final size and location of your house.

If we use $120/sqft as a proxy cost, different sizes of houses would cost as follows:

  • A 2,000 square foot home would cost $240,000
  • A 3,000 square foot home would cost $360,000
  • The average-sized home is 2,776 square feet and would cost $333,120
 

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Types of Metal Homes

Not only does location and size significantly affect the overall price of your steel or metal building, but the style of metal homes can also make a big difference too.

Let’s take a look at some popular styles of steel houses, to see how and why these prices can change depending on these elements.

Quonset Huts

Quonset Huts are some of the most popular building styles on the market today, because of the simplicity that these types of buildings offer.

In some cases, Quonset Huts are made using a single sheet of steel which is moulded to your specific shape on top of a concrete slab.

However, for your metal home, you will usually have straight walls joined by an arched roof, which allows you to make the most of the clear interior space.

Because these types of buildings are more simple to both design and build, they are often less expensive than specific alternatives.

Quonset Hut $13 – $15 per SQFT

Learn More: Quonset Hut Pricing Guide

Barndominiums

Barndominiums are quickly growing in popularity when it comes to living space solutions because they can be used for multiple purposes.

For example, your barndominium can double as a space to store your vehicles, or even as extra storage for use on a farm.

They also have a charming barn-like appearance which is making them a fond option for those who want a unique looking home.

While you could generally find a barndominium shell which would only cost you around $20,000, to have a full stable structure as well as interior finishes you could expect to pay $200,000 or more.

Barndominiums $20 – $85 per SQFT

Learn More: Barndominium Pricing Guide

Rigid Frame

Rigid frame buildings essentially mean that they are pinned down and resistant to weight from at least one direction, providing more stability than with alternative options.

Single span buildings will provide your home with a completely clear-span interior space, which means that it won’t be interrupted by things like beams or columns.

This can be an excellent fit for metal homes.

This allows you to fully utilise your interior space, whereas multi-span buildings will generally require more support, but it’s more useful for larger industrial buildings rather than homes.

Rigid Frame $13 – $18 per SQFT

Learn More: Metal Home Building Cost Guide

A-frame Homes

A-frame homes and holiday buildings are quickly growing in popularity, thanks to things like Pinterest and home building websites starting to pick up on the growing trend.

These types of homes first became popular thanks to the generally low costs associated and fast construction times.

Sometimes, you can order and build an A-frame kit home in less than a year, which might include the time it takes to get planning permission and time figuring out which kit would be best for you.

However, there are A-frame homes which can be quite expensive due to the materials used and the interior finishes, which is why they can be high in price.

A-Frame $13 – $125 per SQFT
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Advantages of Building Your Own Metal Home

  • Customizable – you control every detail and aspect of your home, which means you have the final say on how it turns out. Plus, most suppliers will work with you to find a solution that meets your needs while still being within your budget
  • Easy upgrades – Since you are constructing your home from scratch, you’ll be able to add new appendages or change existing ones to your liking such as an office space
  • Quality – New structure, foundation, and appliances mean that their lifetime is longer than those in an already-built house
  • Lower Insurance – As steel homes are more structurally-sound, they are favoured by insurers because they provide qualities such as weather-resistant and durability.
  • New Home Warranty – steel home suppliers, offer a minimum 20-year warranty for new homes, as a testament to the trust they have in the quality of their homes.

Disadvantages of Building Your Own Metal Home

  • Time – it takes a considerable amount of time and planning to build a house, up to a year for average houses
  • Stress – each decision you make is critical and changing it would incur more costs, so it might take even more of your time when deciding on aspects such as floor plans and appliances
  • Initial Cost – building a house requires a lot more upfront capital than buying an already-built house

Metal Home Building Companies

1. Morton Buildings

Morton Buildings

Type: Steel building company

Locations: Florida, Minnesota, Vermont, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Idaho, Colorado, Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, Texas, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts

Morton Buildings are a company that has been around for over 100 years, with a stellar reputation evidenced by the many detailed five-star reviews and project information on their website.

As part of their residential offerings which include garages, cabins, and workshops, they can offer you homes which have a clear-span construction and made from high-quality materials.

Some of the home styles they offer include a combination of stalls and living spaces, barndominiums or traditional looking homes.

2. Callahan Steel Buildings

Callahan Steel Buildings

Type: Steel building company

Locations: Oklahoma

Callahan Steel Buildings are a company which is based in Oklahoma, founded in the late 1960s with many employees that have been with the company for almost 20 years.

This local style friendly business offers their customers customised steel buildings for both commercial, community and residential buildings that can be used for many different purposes.

Their residential structures can come with extra finishing building touches such as lofts or porches for example.

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3. Ameribuilt

Ameribuilt

Type: Steel building company

Locations: Florida

Ameribuilt is a popular American steel building company, with a 4.6/5 rating on their Google page, with many customers stating that they have had a positive experience, and help with complicated paperwork.

Their steel and metal homes can be customised to your specific needs such as the number of doors and windows you have as well as their sizes.

You can also choose aesthetic options such as the colour of your building, the cladding materials used and even the specific style of your roof.

4. Kodiak Steel Homes

Kodiak Steel Homes

Type: Steel home company

Locations: Arkansas

Kodiak Steel Homes are a unique steel building company because they claim that they don’t offer traditional metal buildings, which they claim are often cold and unappealing.

Instead, they offer steel house kits which are a real alternative to wooden framed homes because they are finished with materials such as drywall.

They have a more comprehensive list of steel homes on offer, which comes in different styles with unique roof shapes, sizes and even shapes, such as their A-frame homes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cost of your metal home might depend on certain factors such as the location of your home, how complex you need it to be as well as whether you need things such as plumbing and electrical work.

Ready to get started, easily compare multiple pricing quotes to make the right decision for you, start here.