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What is a BarndoBarndominium CostBarndo FeaturesBarndominium KitsBarndominium Floorplans
Not long ago, I purchased some land to set up my homestead. I’ve always wanted a workshop, and eventually, I plan to build a small home on the property. As I explored my options (like moving my tiny house to the land while I build), a barndominium came up as a perfect solution!
What is a barndominium, you ask? It’s essentially just what it sounds like—a barn or metal shed that’s been converted into a living space.
Cheap and quick to erect, a barndo presents an excellent solution for my “where to live while I build” conundrum. I can put up a barndominium and set up a small living space in there while I work on my home. Eventually, it will become my workshop once I’ve finished my permanent living space.
If you’re considering the merits of living in a barndominium, here are the barndominium floor plans, costs, and details you need to get started.
What is a Barndominium?
Barndominiums, or barndos as they’re often called, are an affordable home option. They’re essentially small houses made from metal barns or buildings built with agricultural intent.
Most metal barns are prefabricated in a shop, then erected quickly onsite. Since barns are initially intended for commercial and agricultural use, they’re often scalable and inexpensive. The other benefit is that many metal building shells are large with high ceilings; this allows you to explore different barndominium floor plans and layouts to structure a livable interior.
What Are The Benefits of Barndominiums?
- Metal siding and roofing are simple to construct.
- The buildings are easy to find.
- Barndos are often fire-resistant (made of metal).
- The materials are easy to work with.
- Costs are low.
- Construction time is fast.
- Metal buildings are energy efficient.
- Built for agriculture, they’re low maintenance.
- Barndos are excellent for homesteading.
- They’re easily adaptable—extend them as needed.
Metal barn manufacturers have noted the popularity of barndominium conversions made by buyers and offer an array of options suitable to many different barndominium floor plans.
If you’re wondering what your barndominium layout will look like, don’t. The building itself is just a shell. The fun part is that you can adjust it as you go and change it up to fit your needs. Because metal is so affordable, you can buy it in whatever length you want. When you side your barn, you can put up the whole side of a barn wall assembly in half a day. You can go from bare dirt to done in about four days for 5000 square feet if you’re building a simple structure.
You can dress the barn up with the siding you choose on the exterior walls and drywall or panel the inside just as you would finish a house. Some barndominium house owners even embrace the barn house appearance with trendy vaulted ceilings and barn doors on the inside. Many have the traditional gambrel roof, but even that is changing. People often go with the standard “hip roof” style.
To further add personality and functionality to your dream barndominium, you can add constructed features like a wraparound porch or patio, a deck, an outdoor kitchen, or another type of outdoor entertaining space. Making it your own is all part of the process. The more features you add, of course, the more the cost will increase.
Why You Should Consider a Barndominium
There are a lot of reasons you might want a barndominium. They work great as temporary or permanent living structures. They’re an affordable alternative tiny house, and because they’re essentially a “blank slate,” you can really adjust your barndominium floor plan and layout. They’re also nice temporary options you can later convert to a barn or shop (as in my case).
Barndominiums Are Excellent Structures For A Variety of Uses
- Wood Shop
- Office, studio, or workspace
- Garage
- Man-cave or she-shed
- Meeting center for an organization
- Game room
- Pool house
- Guest House
If you’re building a traditional house or tiny house on your land, you can get a barndominium up in a few days or weeks and live in it until your home is complete. Similar to living in a yurt, a barndo is a good temporary housing solution. When you move into your finished house, you can repurpose your temporary dwelling for anything you like or keep it as a guest house for visitors.
Bigger barndos make great combination buildings. Ceilings can be high enough to have a garage or workshop on the ground floor and an upstairs with living quarters, offices, or a mancave. You can build a barndominium with a shop and run a business under the same roof.
Because your floor space is vast and your ceilings high, the possibilities for your barndominium floor plans are unlimited. A metal barndo is basically an affordable shell you can fill out for any purpose you envision. Play with the barndominium layout to suit your needs.
The Downside of Barndominiums
Now, as with any alternative dwelling, there are a few downsides and issues to contemplate. Before you leap, here’s what you should consider:
The Downsides of Barndominiums
- Lenders might be wary of financing a metal-sided or non-traditional building.
- While costs are lower, metal prices have gone up over the years.
- It’s challenging to make an airtight steel building. You may need to experiment with spray foam and different interior finishing to combat the issue.
- A barndominium is often a large structure. It may require you to have a larger parcel of land.
- There may be local regulations on erecting or living in a metal structure.
All in all, despite the drawbacks, there are quite a few benefits to consider. The cost-savings is a huge benefit. Plus, barndos look great, and you can really personalize them and create a building that you’ll feel proud of.
How Much Does a Barndominium Cost: $70 a Square Foot
Traditional homes run about $150 to $250 per square foot. Barndominiums cost less than half, typically coming in about $70 to $90 per square foot for finished space, including insulation, utilities, flooring, paint, and lighting. A basic barndominium shell without finishing can run as little as $20 per square foot.
The cost savings are not limited to cheap materials, either. You save money on building erection, foundation design, and labor because the structures can be put up so quickly. While barndominium floor plans and costs vary, the outer shell is usually simple—a box with a roof on top. In response to consumer interest, barn manufacturers are starting to offer more elaborate setups and extras.
If you’re building a barndominium, keep in mind that the materials and interior structure you choose will significantly affect the price. As they start to get fancier and more-house like, the costs go up (so simple may be better if you’re staying in a budget). Once you begin adding multi-stories, French doors, and hardwood flooring, they can get pricier. Of course, as affordable as the structure is, I recommend you go ahead and splurge on the nicest finishes and updates you can afford (especially if you plan to live in the barndo long-term or turn it into a guest house).
Barndominiums can be every bit as homey and luxurious as you want them to be, and they are endlessly expandable. Want more room? Just attach another barndo and add a pass-through or door. Modular construction makes it easy to add on as your needs change.
The finished look of your barndo home is all about the details. Porch columns, window and door frames, and wood detailing turns a metal building into a warm, welcoming home. On the inside, choose from the same finishing details you would put in a traditional house. Hardwood floors, marble countertops, fieldstone trim, and even ceiling beams are doable. Again, any home-touches add expense though—the more it looks like a house, the closer you’ll creep to house-level costs too.
You can also add any functional elements you like, such as air conditioning, skylights, and solar panels. Keep in mind that similar to living in a shipping container home, metal walls can occasionally present certain wiring and alteration challenges. Be sure you’re familiar with how to weld and have the necessary information on the metal properties before you begin.
All in all, barndominiums are a unique, customizable, and, as long as it’s simple, affordable tiny home option. The bottom line is that your barndominium can be anything you imagine.
Exploring Barndominium Features
It’s common to find a barndominium with a small shop set up. Barndominiums with a garage can be a bachelor pad dream! There’s room for cars, tools, and projects with a small living space too.
Not to be too general, but most men are really excited about the shop aspect; women don’t typically think about the shop or garage size. They’re often more concerned about the features like bedrooms, kitchens, and living spaces. Fortunately, barndominiums deliver on both with features that are great for big families—you can select a barndominium floor plan with lots of square footage and room for plenty of bedrooms.
The folks who are most interested in barndominium life are usually homesteaders in rural areas. Often, but not always, barndominium dwellers are family-oriented with kids. They’re feeling the squeeze of feeding and caring for kids in a modern-day lifestyle, especially if one or both parents work from home. A barndominium presents an affordable, family-friendly option.
On the flip side, DIY-minded people are also really drawn to the concept of living in a barndominium. A barndominium with a shop is great for woodworkers, craftspeople, and artisans (as well as car enthusiasts). Having a barndominium with a workshop lets you have everything under one roof–a big workshop to run your woodworking or your Etsy shop!
For car fans, barndominiums with a garage allow you to store multiple vehicles and work right on your car project under your own roof. If you have a lot of ATVs, kayaks, boating equipment, or other recreation items, a barndominium with a garage is an excellent way to store and live in an inexpensive home.
You can look for barndominiums with roll-up doors (like a garage door), allowing you to bring in big materials, and open up for fresh air. Some folks even include a car lift in their barndominium with a garage!
Other features that are common in barndominiums include balconies, multiple doors, skylights, and porches. A balcony allows you to double your storage space (as they’re usually pretty tall). The balcony is generally featured above the workshop.
As you can see, there are an array of choices and features for barndominiums. It may seem like living in a metal building would be a challenge, but the truth is, with a little adjustment and planning (and insulation), a barndominium can really be a dream home for some.
A note on the insulation—many people living in barndos want and are willing to splurge on spray foam insulation because it helps seal the metal building so well. Metal buildings shift and constrict on the inside, which can leave gaps and air leaks. Spray foam prevents that entirely as it conforms to the space. This choice provides a huge maintenance advantage, especially if you’re both living AND working in your barndominium year-round.
Barndominium Kits
Several steel companies offer kits with everything you need to build your own barndominium dream home. The cost depends on the floor plan, materials, and extras. Kits typically include all main framing, secondary framing, exterior metal sheeting, trim, closures, fasteners, building plans, and instructions, starting at $10 per square foot.
The cool thing about these kits is how precisely they’re made. Even the holes are pre-drilled, so the work needed to assemble them is minimal. And since steel construction means there’s no need for load-bearing interior walls, you can configure your house plans in any way you choose. Want a gigantic walk-in closet or a bathroom big enough for a garden tub? No problem. Designers and engineers will work with you to design the barndo kit precisely the way you envision it.
Here Are Several Barndominium Kit Manufacturers That Deliver Anywhere
Barndominium Floor Plans with Pictures
You might be surprised at all the options available. The outsides of the building are pretty standard (in varying sizes), but inside, you can have anything from an open floor plan to an elaborate home setup with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.
It seems the number of bedrooms is usually the most significant factor for most people, but keep in mind you can adjust the floor plan and layout of the barndominium to fit your needs. The barndo itself is just a metal shell, so it’s up to you to create a dream 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath 4000 square foot barndo. The number of bedrooms can be adjusted from 2 to 4-bedroom floor plans and on up.
Barndominiums aren’t necessarily “tiny houses” because although some are small, many can be pretty large. After all, these are meant to be barns and structures for agriculture. Many open concept barndominium floor plans rival something you’d see in Architectural Digest or a mansion!
It’s not hard to find inspiring examples of barndominiums. From traditional barn style to modern elegance, you can find all kinds of creative barn house styles online. I know “living in a barn” seems like a strange concept at first, but with the right barndominium floor plan, you can adjust the space to fit anything (and the price is right).
Below, I’ve compiled a selection of some of the best barndominium floor plans I could find. There are quite a few options, from tiny “studio” spaces to spacious barndos suitable for a family.
When you design a barndominium floor plan, keep in mind that while you can build out the space modularly (adding more structures), you are somewhat limited to the size and shape of the metal barn you’ve chosen as your foundational piece. Barndos are usually square or rectangular without a lot of features on the exterior. So you may need to build in a porch or figure out ways to add the features you prefer.
You will also need to consider window placement and how many windows you would like in your barndo. Again, this is where those welding skills can come in handy. Look at the barndominium floor plans with pictures below for inspiration and ideas.
Barndos come in an array of popular sizes. While you can make your barndominium any size you like, a few standard sizes are common and easy to find (especially if you purchase a kit). The most popular barndominium sizes include:
CLICK TO JUMP TO FLOORPLAN SIZE
80′ x 100′Floorplans50′ x 75′Floorplans40′ x 60′Floorplans40′ x 30′Floorplans30′ x 20′Floorplans
80 x 100 Barndominium Floor Plan #1
80 x 100 Barndominium cost: $470,400
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 40′ x 22′ |
| Kitchen | 29′ x 22′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 20′ x 20′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 13′ x 15′ |
| Bedroom 3 | 16′ x 16′ |
| Bedroom 4 | 16′ x 18′ |
| Walk-in Closet | 8′ x 12′ |
| Baths (2) | 5′ x 10′ |
| Laundry Room | 6′ x 12′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 80′ x 28′ |
80 x 100 Barndominium Floor Plan #2
80 x 100 Barndominium cost: $495,500
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 40′ x 22′ |
| Kitchen | 29′ x 22′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 20′ x 20′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 13′ x 15′ |
| Bedroom 3 | 16′ x 16′ |
| Bedroom 4 | 16′ x 18′ |
| Walk-in Closet | 8′ x 12′ |
| Bath 1 | 8′ x 12′ |
| Bath 2 | 6′ x 10′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 80′ x 28′ |
80 x 100 Barndominium Floor Plan #3
80 x 100 Barndominium cost: $465,750
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 30′ x 25′ |
| Kitchen | 20′ x 18′ |
| Dining | 19′ x 17′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 24′ x 22′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 18′ x 20′ |
| Bedroom 3 | 18′ x 14′ |
| Walk-in Closet | 5′ x 12′ |
| Bath 1 | 10′ x 16′ |
| Bath 2 | 6′ x 10′ |
| Mud Room | 12′ x 15′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 28′ x 65′ |
50 x 75 Barndominium Floor Plan #1
50 x 75 Barndominium cost: $212,500
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 28′ x 25′ |
| Kitchen | 18′ x 20′ |
| Dining Room | 15′ x 18′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 25′ x 17′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 15 x 15′ |
| Bedroom 3 | 15′ x 15′ |
| Walk-in Closet | 8′ x 12′ |
| Bath 1 | 12′ x 15′ |
| Bath 2 | 6′ x 12′ |
| Mud Room | 10′ x 12′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 38′ x 25′ |
50 x 75 Barndominium Floor Plan #2
50 x 75 Barndominium cost: $218,750
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 25′ x 22′ |
| Kitchen | 20′ x 22′ |
| Dining Room | 20′ x 17′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 15′ x 15′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 15′ x 12′ |
| Walk-in Closet | 8′ x 8′ |
| Bath 1 | 5′ x 10′ |
| Bath 2 | 8′ x 12′ |
| Utility Room | 8′ x 11′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 25′ x 50′ |
50 x 75 Barndominium Floor Plan #2
50 x 75 Barndominium cost: $209,000
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 35′ x 22′ |
| Kitchen | 15′ x 22′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 18′ x 17′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 19′ x 17′ |
| Walk-in Closet 1 | 12′ x 9′ |
| Walk-in Closet 2 | 12′ x 15′ |
| Bath 1 | 6′ x 15′ |
| Bath 2 | 6′ x 15′ |
| Utility Space | 20′ x 4′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 25′ x 46′ |
40 x 60 Barndominium Floor Plan #1
40 x 60 Barndominium cost: $112,600
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 16′ x 16′ |
| Kitchen | 11′ x 16′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 15′ x 11′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 19′ x 12′ |
| Closet | 6′ x 6′ |
| Bath | 6′ x 13′ |
| Laundry Room | 6′ x 3′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 35′ x 40′ |
40 x 60 Barndominium Floor Plan #2
40 x 60 Barndominium cost: $130,000
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 27′ x 18′ |
| Kitchen | 10′ x 18′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 13′ x 15′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 16′ x 18′ |
| Bath 1 | 6′ x 11′ |
| Bath 2 | 6′ x 11′ |
| Utility Space | 16′ x 4′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 23′ x 40′ |
40 x 60 Barndominium Floor Plan #3
40 x 60 Barndominium cost: $138,500
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 27′ x 18′ |
| Kitchen | 10′ x 18′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 16′ x 13′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 12′ x 13′ |
| Bedroom 3 | 14′ x 12′ |
| Bath 1 | 6′ x 11′ |
| Bath 2 | 11′ x 6′ |
| Utility Space | 4′ x 15′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 18′ x 40′ |
30 x 40 Barndominium Floor Plan #1
30 x 40 Barndominium cost: $62,500
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Great Room | 12′ x 17′ |
| Kitchen | 10′ x 17′ |
| Bedroom | 14′ x 13′ |
| Bath | 5′ x 10′ |
| Utility Space | 4′ x 8′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 18′ x 30′ |
30 x 40 Barndominium Floor Plan #2
30 x 40 Barndominium cost: $81,250
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Great Room | 20′ x 17′ |
| Kitchen | 10′ x 22′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 13′ x 13′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 15′ x 13′ |
| Bath 1 | 7′ x 13′ |
| Bath 2 | 10′ x 8′ |
| Mud Room | 10′ x 12′ |
30 x 40 Barndominium Floor Plan #3
30 x 40 Barndominium cost: $68,500
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Great Room | 11′ x 13′ |
| Kitchen | 11′ x 13′ |
| Bedroom | 18′ x 11′ |
| Closet | 4′ x 12′ |
| Bath | 6′ x 10′ |
| Laundry Room | 7′ x 5′ |
| Garage/Workshop | 18′ x 30′ |
20 x 30 Barndominium Floor Plan #1
20 x 30 Barndominium cost: $42,500
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 20′ x 11′ |
| Kitchen | 18′ x 9′ |
| Bedroom | 10′ x 15′ |
| Bath | 10′ x 5′ |
20 x 30 Barndominium Floor Plan #2
20 x 30 Barndominium cost: $46,250
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 12′ x 12′ |
| Kitchen | 13′ x 8′ |
| Bedroom 1 | 9′ x 15′ |
| Bedroom 2 | 9′ x 11′ |
| Closet | 5′ x 6′ |
| Bath | 8′ x 6′ |
| Laundry Space | 3′ x 6′ |
20 x 30 Barndominium Floor Plan #3
20 x 30 Barndominium cost: $49,500
| Room | Room Sizes |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 20′ x 10′ |
| Kitchen | 10′ x 10′ |
| Dining Room | 10′ x 10′ |
| Bedroom | 15′ x 10′ |
| Closet | 5′ x 3′ |
| Bath | 5′ x 10′ |
| Laundry Room | 5′ x 10′ |
Interior Barndominium Photos
When you design the interior of your barndominium, you have similar options to any home. The biggest challenge is that you’re dealing with a rectangular-shaped dwelling with set parameters. Other than that, you can pretty much design your barndominium interior however you see fit (and in a way that meets your needs.
Many folks like to play up the barn-style with farmhouse décor and a rustic look, but you’re certainly not limited there. Some folks go for the barndominium with a workshop or garage on the interior—making it a spot to live and work. Check out these interior barndominium photos below to get a feel for what people are doing with the insides of their structures.
Barndominium Exterior Photos
Below, you’ll find a gallery of barndominium exteriors to help you get some ideas about your barndominium build-out. Keep in mind that some of these structures are quite large (they are barns, after all), but you can also go much smaller with your design and layout. In many ways, it’s similar to designing the interior floor plans of a tiny house.
Barndominium Workshop Photos
One of the biggest appeals to barndominiums are the ability to have a dream workshop. You might be into cars, like woodworking or maybe you run your metal fabrication business out of your home, these are a few ideas for you.
Your Turn!
- Did you save money and time by building a barndo?
- What tips do you have for making a barndominium floor plan?
Tags: Construction, Design, Tiny Home
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