A horse barn can range from a simple structure with one or more stalls and a place to store feed and tack, to a larger, more finished building with multiple stalls, wide aisles, a hay loft and other amenities. The most common types of small to medium-sized horse barns are a pole barn (post-frame construction) or the traditional wood barn, although it's also possible to use a metal building as a horse barn. (See How Much Does a Metal Building Cost.)
Typical costs:
A kit to build a simple pole barn (post-frame construction, which does not require a foundation) starts around $5,000-$10,000 for the materials to build a small, basic structure for one or a few horses, but can cost $30,000 or more for a larger, well-finished pole barn. Having a pole barn built can cost $8,000-$50,000, depending on the features included. Do-it-yourself pole barns can be built for $2,000-$3,000 in materials. For details, see How Much Does a Pole Barn Cost.
These prices are usually for the basic pole barn structure. Adding horse stalls to a pole barn could add $100-$1,000 or more per stall, depending on materials or if pre-fabricated stalls are used.
Costs to build a wood barn with a foundation and a hay loft vary considerably depending on size, style and location, but can range anywhere from $20,000-$100,000 or more, depending on what's included. BarnPros.com offers pre-fabricated kits[1] (just the materials) for $28,000-$52,000 for a 4-stall horse barn, and $42,000-$82,000 for an 8-stall horse barn.
These kits do not include concrete (foundation), nails, roofing, shipping or the labor to build the barn, which can double or triple the cost, depending on what's included. BarnPros says its kits come with step-by-step instructions and photos, and require basic carpentry knowledge and skills. Uncle Howard's Gorgeous Wood Barns[2] says to expect it to take a month to build a medium-sized barn kit, depending on the size of the crew and the number of changes made to the basic plan. Uncle Howard's suggests hiring a reputable contractor, but says the kits can be built by experienced do-it-yourselfers with strong carpentry skills.
Selecting a barn site with adequate drainage is important. One of the most common barn styles has a center aisle with a single row of stalls on both walls, but the double-row barns, with two rows of stalls back-to-back in the center, is more suitable for warmer climates. HorseInfo.com provides an overview of basic horse barn styles[3] as well as the important factors[4] when building a barn.
Space is important, and narrow aisles are a common problem. Equisearch.com offers tips for building a barn that works[5] .
Horsebarn.com explains how to build a simple one-horse barn[6] with basic lumber and supplies.
Most areas require a building permit to build a horse barn, but actual regulations vary considerably. Check with the local planning/zoning department.
Additional costs:
Horse barn plans are available online for $50-$300 (depending on complexity and number of copies) from sites such as barnsbarnsbarns.com[7] or BarnPlans.com[8] .
If building a barn as a do-it-yourself project, Uncle Howard's Gorgeous Wood Barns recommends getting an insurance rider[9] to cover the construction project, which it says in some states can be as low as $15 to cover a one-time barn building project.
Discounts:
The University of Tennessee Extension provides free horse barn plans[10] .
Shopping for a horse barn:
Many barn kits provide just the outer shell; additional features can be added but will increase the total cost. Be sure to understand exactly what is included with each kit.
Request detailed written quotes. When hiring a contractor, ask about specific experience building horse barns. Search the National Frame Builders Association for referrals to pole barn builders and suppliers. Traditional wood barn builders are typically a small local business; ask friends and neighbors for referrals.
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