How much does a farm building cost?
As a rough guide in 2026, a steel portal frame farm building, supplied and put up with a concrete floor, comes to about £200 to £450 per m² of floor, before VAT. Where yours falls depends mostly on the walls, the floor and the doors.
Price my building for freeWhere the money goes
For a typical fully clad general purpose barn, the split is roughly:
| Part | Typical rate (supplied and fitted, ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| Steel frame | £2,000 – £2,800 per tonne erected. A 12–18 m span uses about 20–30 kg of steel per m² of floor. |
| Purlins and side rails | £16 – £24 per metre |
| Pad foundations | £240 – £340 per m³ of concrete, dug and with the holding-down bolts set |
| Concrete floor, 150 mm with mesh | £42 – £60 per m² (hardcore only: £14 – £22) |
| Fibre cement roof sheets | £26 – £34 per m² (steel box profile £24 – £32, insulated panels £48 – £68) |
| Wall cladding | Steel sheets £24 – £32 per m², Yorkshire boarding £30 – £42, timber boarding £38 – £55 |
| Precast concrete panel walls | £85 – £120 per m² |
| Roller shutter doors | £280 – £420 per m² of door; sliding doors £170 – £260 |
| Gutters and downpipes | £38 – £55 per metre, plus £140 – £220 a downpipe |
| Soakaway and roof drainage | £1,800 – £4,000 |
On top come delivery, a crane or telehandler and site set-up (about 5–8%), and it is wise to keep 10% back for surprises such as soft ground.
What makes it cost more
- Concrete panels and doors. Lower walls of precast panels and large roller doors can add a third to the price of a simple clad shed.
- Wide spans and high eaves. Steel weight goes up with span, height and the site's snow and wind loads, which are higher on exposed and upland farms.
- Ground. Soft or made-up ground needs bigger or deeper foundations. A slope means cut and fill before the pad can be laid.
- Region. Prices in the South East run about 5% over the UK average; the North East, Wales and Northern Ireland are a little under.
- Planning conditions. In a National Park or National Landscape you may be asked for timber cladding, a darker colour or landscaping.
What quotes often leave out
Many frame suppliers quote for the building only. Check whether each quote includes the groundworks, foundations, the floor slab, drainage and gutters, doors, delivery and cranage. Planning fees, electrics, water and new access tracks are nearly always extra. Farm buildings are usually exempt from the Building Regulations, so there is normally no building control fee.
Get an estimate for your own building
Draw your building on the aerial photo of your farm in Auto Shed Plans, pick the style, and the Construction tab lists the quantities and prices them at the rates above, adjusted for your region. It is a budget figure to take to suppliers, not a quote.
Open the free toolMore guides: Choosing the size of a farm building · Flood zones, protected land and listed buildings