Steel Building Prices: How Much is a Steel Building in 2020?

Accurate steel building prices are hard to find online, with many companies keeping costs hidden until after a site visit.

This is due to fact that there are so many options, and possible site layouts that need to be taken into account.

However

In this guide you will find out exactly how much a metal building will cost, with 58 examples for quick ‘ball park’ quotes.

Minimum metal building costs at a glance: 

• The average steel building price is $12 – $20 per square foot, but these cost vary depending on your options and the overall size of the structure.
• Lean-to metal building kits cost the least per square foot due to the simple design, and residential steel homes cost the most. 
• Metal building kits are cheap and fast to build, it’s possible for some structures to be erected in just days. 

Read on for full prices and details

Here you’ll also find out all you need to know about the factors that affect prices, and how you can build your steel building and stay within your budget. As well as tips you can use to avoid incurring additional costs.

So, let’s jump right in!

What’s in this guide?

58 Steel Building Prices

Lean-to

The first type of tube frame steel building is a simple ‘lean-to’ structure, this is when your frame has a slanted roof, which is attached to either your home or another substantial building, and it is supported by several I-beams on one side.

Sometimes lean-to’s will come complete with a steel roof, which will let water and snow run off the slanted top.

This type of structure will be an excellent fit if you need some extra storage space outside but your garage is full, or you could use it as a BBQ area which is protected from the weather.

Carports

Steel carports feature a frame which is made up of I-beams which are bent at the top and welded together, creating an arch.

Sometimes these steel buildings are completely enclosed with a door big enough for a vehicle. Or, they can be open-ended on one side, or they could have no walls and just a roof.

Carports are best suited for the storage of small to medium-sized vehicles. And, sometimes they come big enough to store several cars at once.

Walkway

Steel walkways are similar to carports in the shape of the frame, however, they usually only have an A-frame roof, and they don’t have any walls.

A-frame roofs allow you to have a roof which will let the snow and other weather runoff safely.

Sometimes, you could assemble a walkway structure in less than an afternoon!

Quonset Hut

Quonset huts were most popular in the second world war, because they were very cheap to construct. And, they could be assembled and disassembled in a short amount of time.

The negatives, however, were that there was a limited amount of interior space because the structure was mainly made out of a single steel sheet which was arched in a half circle shape.

So, as the roof sloped, space below becomes smaller and frequently unusable.

However, in the many years since then there have been significant improvements to this structure. And, now you don’t have to sacrifice any interior space.

Metal Garage Kits

Metal garage kits can give you the opportunity to have one of the most durable frames used today. As well as having a vintage appearance and they are often a cheap alternative to other buildings.

Here are some of the options you can choose from, and general prices you could expect.

Aircraft Buildings

Aircraft hangars usually have 100% useable interior space, as they are made specifically to house large vehicles such as airplanes and your equipment.

Traditionally, they are relatively easy to construct and can be built with customs requirements such as skylights and ventilation.

Recreational Steel Buildings

Recreational steel buildings can be used for many purposes, such as an ice-skating rink, for roller derby or even an inside equestrian arena, depending on your customisation.

The strong arch can withstand harsh weather, such as heavy snowfall and sometimes even hurricanes.

I-beam Structure

Metal I-beam steel buildings feature a simple straight column, hence the ‘I’ in I-beam, which is often welded or joined to a roof with steel walls, often enclosed too.

You can customise the shape of your roof, which can have some effect on the price of your building.

C-Channel

Steel C-Channel buildings are traditionally smaller buildings, and they feature a vertical beam which is usually characterised by the flanges at the top and bottom of the shaft, hence the C shape which is where the name comes from.

Rigid Frame Building

A rigid frame steel building is known as a continuous frame because it features beams which are connected by joints, similar to a table for instance.

Sometimes these joints can allow the different parts to move and rotate, which will enable it to take on more loads and therefore last longer than some other types of structures.

Truss Building

A truss steel building will often have an I-beam structure, but at the top, there will be other beams across the roof which are often made up of V-shaped beams, from one side of the building to another.

This gives better support, as well as giving you the opportunity to weave wiring through these trusses, which makes them appropriate for workshops and mechanics for example.

Churches

Steel churches allow you to benefit from the advantages to steel such as flexibility, durability and long-lasting strength. As well as being cost-effective, and more easily expanded than when using other materials.

The cost of your church mostly depends on size. However, it can also depend on some seats or classrooms.

Residential Homes

When it comes to residential metal homes, steel can provide a low-cost uniform solution to many different needs, such as for your own home or even things like student accommodation.

This is because they can be easily replicated and they are uniform in style.

Take a look below at some pricing examples from Bauhu, who provides prefabricated steel homes.

Are there any other costs for a steel building?

Although this guide will have given you a general idea of the prices that you can expect there are some other factors to consider.

When it comes to the building itself, you might want to think about these elements.

• The materials you choose can affect your building cost
• If you need plumbing and electrical work
• Should you want insulation
• How many windows and doors you want
• Options like colors, insulation and siding

There might also be more costs regarding construction and aftercare.

• The cost of hiring building professionals
• How much plumbers or electricians charge per day
• Aftercare such as maintenance

Each one of these factors could affect the overall price of your steel structure in a significant way. So, you should research each one of these costs just in case.

Steel building costs per square foot

Steel structures are usually priced per square foot, below you can find some examples of each type of metal building kits and their cost.

Metal building kits

Metal building kits are pre-engineered off site, and delivered to you for assembly by a team of professionals. Kits are usually cheaper as the expensive design is split over 100’s of building sales. If you are interested in metal building kits, there are over 40 building types, each with almost unlimited options to choose from. The per square foot price for a metal building kit ranges from $12 – $60.

Can a steel building save me money?

Having a steel building could save you a significant amount of money, as it is generally a much less expensive material overall than many others including stone or wood for example.

How long does a steel building take to install?

Installing a metal building kit, depending on the complexity of the structure, could take as little as a few hours or days, to as long as weeks or even months.

This depends on the size of your building, the extra materials you want to use as well as things such as whether you need plumbing or electrical work.

What affects steel building prices?

Design and size

• Simple, pre-engineered steel buildings are less expensive.
• Larger steel buildings have a lower cost per square foot.

Steel building costs are partially determined by the design that you choose. Whether it be pre-engineered buildings or one that is tailored to fit your specifications. The more complex and customised your plan, the more it costs.

Another aspect of your building’s design that affects the price is its size. It’s safe to say that larger buildings are more expensive. But, if you consider the price per square footage then in that sense, more substantial buildings are less costly per square foot.

However, prices should not be the only factor when it comes to choosing a steel building design. You should carefully consider what you want out of the building, and then decide which building design and size is the best way to achieve your goals.

It may be worth the extra initial cost if it translates into other savings down the line.

Steel Building Regulations

Steel Building prices can change due to local and state building regulations and requirements.

If you want to determine the actual price of a steel building accurately, then you need to have a working knowledge of the building laws and regulations in your county, city, and state.

For example, different types of buildings have unique requirements such as requiring appropriate insulation, fire escapes, or a minimum number of doors and windows.

Altogether, this could bring costs up even more than what you had initially expected.

So, for many, building regulations tend to be forgotten or only given thought much later in the process where additional costs could suddenly pop up.

Therefore, you would be doing yourself a favour by getting ahead of the game and knowing what requirements you need to satisfy to construct a steel building safely.

Price of steel

Fluctuating prices of steel cause similar changes in the rates of steel buildings.

Steel building prices differ based on their main intrinsic component: steel.

What this means is that the current prices of steel as it is traded in the commodities market plays a part in determining the amount of a steel building.

If steel prices go up, you should expect to see this change reflected in the quotes given to you by steel buildings suppliers.

But don’t worry. Price fluctuations in steel are normal, just like daily fluctuations in stock prices. And, these changes tend to be minor.

However, there is the possibility of events such as natural disasters or trade sanctions that could quickly and unexpectedly cause a drastic change in the prices of steel and steel buildings.

These events cannot be anticipated, so the best thing you can do to gauge a better price estimate for your steel building is to monitor the market prices of steel.

Construction

Steel building prices are also determined by the effort required and complexity its construction.

In general, construction accounts for up to 40% of the total price of a steel building. This covers everything that goes into the process of erecting your building from delivery, materials, and insulation.

Various types of steel buildings have their infrastructure requirements that can cause differences in their prices.

For instance, internal structural steel beams (such as I-Beams) cost around $65 per meter, as opposed to Quonset Huts or other self-supporting buildings that don’t require these beams.

Furthermore, each steel building company sets its construction costs based on the services they provide. As well as which region they are located.

You’ll find that companies that are in the same area tend to have similar prices, which are also different compared to companies in other regions.

This is purely down to local competition and what prices attract clients in the area.

Types of steel buildings

One of the main factors which could affect your steel building costs is the type of frame or structure that you choose.

For instance, a basic tube structure only has a small number of materials, and it isn’t complicated to make or construct, which could make it a budget-friendly option.

On the other hand, a church building complete with a steeple or one which requires wooden or stone cladding to fit in with the buildings which surround it could be substantially more expensive.

Let’s take a look at some of the types of steel buildings you can find today.

Tube Frame

Tube frame steel structures are some of the most basic frames on the market, as they often have a single beam which is bent at the top and eventually meets another beam opposite to it.

This creates a type of arch which then is finished by a layer of steel sheeting on top to build a roof. Leaving you with a structure that is open-ended and sometimes doesn’t have walls.

Other times, your structure will have walls, and it might be closed at the back depending on your specific needs.

Here are some of the different uses for tube frame buildings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the costs of your steel building might depend on many different factors such as the type of construction, and the current price of steel too.

Finally, have you found out everything you need to know? Not found what you’re looking for?

Get in touch with us today for friendly, personalised advice to make the right decision for you.