Price by finish level (with slab)
The finish level moves the price more than anything else. These ranges are for the house only, on a slab, on a lot that's already cleared and reachable.
| Size | Shell / dried-in | Owner-finished | Turnkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30×40 (1,200 sq ft) | $67,000–96,000 | $130,000–182,000 | $184,000–257,000 |
| 30×50 (1,500 sq ft) | $79,000–114,000 | $152,000–216,000 | $214,000–303,000 |
| 40×50 (2,000 sq ft) | $105,000–152,000 | $202,000–287,000 | $286,000–404,000 |
| 40×60 (2,400 sq ft) | $126,000–182,000 | $243,000–345,000 | $343,000–485,000 |
| 50×60 (3,000 sq ft) | $151,000–218,000 | $289,000–410,000 | $408,000–576,000 |
Planning estimates built from the dated builder prices and guides listed at the bottom of this page. Not bids: the builder who walks your land sets the price.
What each level includes
| Level | Builder does | You (or your subs) do |
|---|---|---|
| Shell / dried-in | Slab, steel or wood frame, metal roof and walls, windows, exterior doors, often interior walls framed | Plumbing, wiring, HVAC, insulation, drywall, everything inside |
| Owner-finished | The shell plus plumbing, electrical and HVAC rough-ins, insulation and drywall | Flooring, cabinets, counters, paint, trim, fixtures |
| Turnkey | Everything, to a set finish allowance | Pick finishes; pay for upgrades over the allowance |
Summertown Metals prices the same 1,716 sq ft, 30×40 two-storey plan three ways: $117,264 exterior shell, $210,414 shell-plus (rough-ins, insulation, drywall) and $293,317 turnkey, plus tax and shipping. That's about $68, $123 and $171 per sq ft.
What local builders publish
Most barndo builders won't print a price. Two that serve Huntsville do:
| Builder and plan | Heated sq ft | Starting price | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryse Homes, Willowbrook | 1,440 | $213,970 | $149 |
| Ryse Homes, Mulberry | 1,728 | $270,350 | $156 |
| Ryse Homes, Rosa | 2,042 | $320,185 | $157 |
| Ryse Homes, Albany | 2,304 | $393,750 | $171 |
| Ryse Homes, Fairhope | 2,815 | $484,180 | $172 |
| Summertown Metals, River View Cottage (turnkey) | 1,716 | $293,317 | $171 |
Read November 2026 from Ryse Homes and Summertown Metals. Ryse's figures are "starting at" prices and leave out land, site work, utility hookups, septic and the driveway; most of those plans include a two-car garage that isn't in the heated square footage.
Statewide guides land in the same zone: Latestcost puts finished Alabama barndos at $120–220 per sq ft (October 2026) and says rural builds can run 5–15% below Huntsville. An older 2024 Huntsville figure of $67–112 (HomeBlue) is well under what builders charge today.
Worked examples
| Build | What's included | Estimate | Per living sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30×40 starter, shell only | Slab, dried-in shell, you finish inside | $67,000–96,000 | $56–80 |
| 30×50 owner-finished | Slab; builder does rough-ins, insulation, drywall | $152,000–216,000 | $101–144 |
| 40×50 turnkey | Slab, move-in ready | $286,000–404,000 | $143–202 |
| 40×50 turnkey + shop | Above + attached 30×40 shop bay | $322,000–470,000 | $161–235 |
| 40×60 turnkey, shop and porch | Slab, shop bay, porch on two sides, septic, site prep | $422,000–643,000 | $176–268 |
Planning estimates built from the dated builder prices and guides listed at the bottom of this page. Not bids: the builder who walks your land sets the price.
The costs outside the walls
| Item | Low | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab with footings | $8/sq ft | $14/sq ft | Included in the tables above |
| Attached 30×40 shop bay | $36,000 | $66,000 | Slab and one 12×12 door, unheated |
| Covered porch, 10 ft deep on two sides | $30/sq ft | $55/sq ft | Timber or steel posts, metal roof |
| Conventional septic system | $5,000 | $12,000 | Engineered systems on poor soil: $15,000–30,000 |
| Private well with pump | $8,000 | $20,000 | Often unnecessary where a water line runs by |
| Clearing, building pad, gravel driveway | $8,000 | $25,000 | Slopes, rock and long drives cost more |
| County permits (Madison Co.) | $600 | $1,500 | $0.17/sq ft under roof + trade permits |
| Contingency | 10% | 15% | Guides recommend holding this back |
Estimates from Latestcost, Barndominium.org, eLocal/HomeGuide and the Madison County fee table. Your builder prices your site.
What pushes the price up or down
- Finish level, then heated square footage. Shop and porch space are far cheaper per foot than living space.
- Frame: red-iron steel, post-frame or stud-frame. Each can work; compare full quotes, not frame prices.
- Two storeys or lofts add stairs, structure and HVAC zoning.
- Insulation: in our humidity most builders use closed-cell spray foam under metal to stop condensation.
- Ground: rock, slopes and sinkhole-prone limestone need more site work and sometimes a soils engineer.
- Utilities: distance to power and water, and which septic system the soil allows.
How to compare barndo quotes
- Same plan, same heated square footage and the same finish level on every quote
- What's in the allowance for cabinets, flooring and fixtures
- Who does the slab, septic, driveway and utility hookups, and who pulls the permit
- Sealed engineering for the frame and trusses (Madison County requires it)
- The builder's Alabama home builder licence number and insurance
- Draw schedule that matches your lender's
Sources & further reading
- Ryse Homes: barndo plans and starting prices (read Nov 2026). North Alabama builder; starting prices exclude site work, utilities, septic and driveway
- Summertown Metals: River View Cottage, shell / shell+ / turnkey (read Nov 2026). Hayden, AL branch; plus tax and shipping
- Latestcost: cost to build a barndominium in Alabama (Oct 2026). Statewide ranges, site work, slab, contingency
- Barndominium.org: Alabama (Oct 2026). Kit, erected shell and septic ranges
- HomeBlue: Huntsville barndominium cost (May 2024). Older local range, for comparison
- eLocal (citing HomeGuide): well installation cost. Per-foot well drilling
Editorial note: General planning information, not engineering or legal advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rules with your local officials and a qualified pro.