Guide
Metal building cost in Texas
What a metal building actually costs in Texas in 2026, by size and by scope, with the site costs nobody puts in the brochure number.
Published pricing
Metal building pricing
Most contractors will not put this on a website. Here it is. Price per square foot drops as the building grows, because the fixed costs spread further. If these ranges do not work for your budget, you have saved a phone call.
Commercial shell
| Building size | Per SF |
|---|---|
| 1,500 - 2,999 SF | $52 - $68 |
| 3,000 - 4,999 SF | $46 - $58 |
| 5,000 - 9,999 SF | $38 - $50 |
| 10,000 - 19,999 SF | $32 - $42 |
| 20,000 SF and up | $27 - $36 |
Commercial turnkey
| Building size | Warehouse, light industrial | Retail, office, flex |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 - 2,999 SF | $98 - $125 | $125 - $165 |
| 3,000 - 4,999 SF | $88 - $112 | $112 - $148 |
| 5,000 - 9,999 SF | $78 - $100 | $100 - $132 |
| 10,000 - 19,999 SF | $68 - $88 | $88 - $118 |
| 20,000 SF and up | $60 - $78 | $78 - $102 |
Barndominiums
| Finish level | What it is | Per SF |
|---|---|---|
| Shell, dried in | Slab, frame, roof, wall panels, windows, exterior doors. No interior. | $62 - $78 |
| Basic finish | Spray foam, HVAC, standard cabinets, LVP flooring, builder-grade fixtures. | $118 - $138 |
| Mid finish | Quality cabinets, mixed flooring, upgraded fixtures and trim. | $145 - $172 |
| High finish | Custom cabinets, stone counters, premium fixtures, custom features. | $185 - $225 |
Under 2,500 SF, add 10 percent. Fixed costs do not shrink with the house. Attached shop or garage space runs $48 - $62 per SF.
Finish allowances
| Item | Basic | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinets and countertops | $18,000 | $34,000 | $62,000+ |
| Flooring | $5/SF | $9/SF | $16/SF |
| Plumbing fixtures | $6,000 | $12,000 | $25,000+ |
| Appliances | $7,000 | $14,000 | $30,000+ |
| Lighting and electrical trim | $5,000 | $9,000 | $18,000+ |
Specialty structures
| Structure | Per SF |
|---|---|
| Clear-span shell, 60 ft span and over | $58 - $82 |
| Churches and event venues, finished | $135 - $195 |
| Distilleries, finished production and tasting | $165 - $240 |
| Cabanas and covered pavilions, finished | $115 - $210 |
| Greenhouses | $45 - $95 |
| Agricultural, open or semi-enclosed | $28 - $48 |
The small end
Small buildings cost more per foot
Engineering, permits, mobilization and the crane cost about the same on a 2,000 SF building as on a 20,000 SF one. Those costs spread thinner as the building grows, which is why the top row of every table on this page is the most expensive one.
Worked examples
5,000 SF warehouse
Shell at $38 - $50 per SF
$190K - $250K
Turnkey at $78 - $100 per SF is $390K to $500K.
15,000 SF industrial
Shell at $32 - $42 per SF
$480K - $630K
Turnkey at $68 - $88 per SF is $1.02M to $1.32M.
2,500 SF barndominium
Mid finish at $145 - $172 per SF
$363K - $430K
Plus land, septic, well, driveway and utilities.
Not included in any number
Not included in any number we quote. On rural East Texas land these routinely add $30,000 to $100,000 or more before we pour anything.
- Land
- Well or water tap
- Septic system or sewer tap
- Utility extension to the site
- Driveway and culvert
- Land clearing beyond one acre
- Rock excavation
- Retaining walls
- Detention and drainage improvements
- Impact and development fees
- Furniture, fixtures and equipment
How we contract
- Quotes are good for 30 days. Steel moves.
- Lump sum against a written scope. Not cost-plus.
- Draws at deposit, slab, steel delivered, dried in, rough-in, and substantial completion.
- Price escalation applies only above a stated steel index move, written into the contract.
Is this a fit
We're probably not your builder if
- You need a repair or a service call.
- You're looking at a shed, a carport, or a kit.
- You want the steel dropped and nothing else.
We're a fit if
- You're building 1,500 SF or more of finished commercial or industrial space.
- You're building a 2,000 SF or larger home on your land.
- You want one contractor from slab to final finish.
Questions
- Why does the price per square foot go down as the building gets bigger?
- Fixed costs. Engineering, permits, mobilization, the crane, the crew getting to site. Those cost roughly the same on a 2,000 SF building as on a 20,000 SF one, so they spread thinner across a bigger footprint. Any contractor quoting one flat rate for every size is either overcharging small jobs or losing money on big ones.
- Are these real numbers or a teaser?
- Real ranges we will stand behind at the budget stage. Where you land inside a range depends on eave height, span, doors, insulation, site conditions and county. A written quote comes after we walk the site.
- Is the slab included?
- Yes, in every number on this page. A lot of published metal building pricing excludes the foundation, which is why those numbers look lower. Foundation runs $8 to $12 per square foot on its own and it is not optional.
- Do you do cost-plus?
- No. Lump sum against a written scope. You get one number and a document that says what it covers.
- How long is a quote good for?
- Thirty days. Steel moves, and 2026 tariff policy could move it further. Past thirty days we requote rather than eat the difference or pass you a surprise.
Where these numbers come from
Guide
What a slab actually costs
Foundation cost per square foot in Texas by loading, why Blackland clay changes the design, and why leaving the slab out of a quote makes it look cheap.
Guide
Shell versus turnkey
What a dried-in shell includes, what turnkey adds, what the gap costs, and how to tell which one is right for your project before you sign anything.
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