Common sizes
| Footprint | Living area | Typical layout | Turnkey estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30×40 | 1,200 sq ft | 2–3 bed, 2 bath | $184,000–257,000 |
| 30×50 | 1,500 sq ft | 3 bed, 2 bath | $214,000–303,000 |
| 40×50 | 2,000 sq ft | 3–4 bed, 2–2.5 bath | $286,000–404,000 |
| 40×60 | 2,400 sq ft | 4 bed, office, 2.5 bath | $343,000–485,000 |
| 50×60 | 3,000 sq ft | 4–5 bed, bonus room | $408,000–576,000 |
Turnkey with slab, before land, site work and septic. Estimates; add a shop, porch and utilities in the calculator on the home page.
Adding a shop bay
A shop under the same roof is the reason many people want a barndo. A 30×40 unheated bay with a slab and a 12×12 door adds roughly $36,000–66,000 (estimate). Size the door to your tallest truck, trailer or tractor, and remember the shop counts toward the county permit fee (it's under roof) but not toward appraised living area.
Porches
A deep covered porch keeps summer sun off the walls and is where a lot of living happens. Figure about $30–55 per sq ft of porch (estimate); a 10 ft porch on two sides of a 40×50 is about 900 sq ft.
One storey, loft or two storeys
Single-storey plans are simplest to build and finance. A loft adds bedrooms without a bigger slab but needs stairs, more HVAC and fire-safe egress windows. Two full storeys cost more per square foot of frame but less per foot of roof and slab.
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
Editorial note: General planning information, not engineering or legal advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rules with your local officials and a qualified pro.