The Pricing
- Heated and cooled living area: $2.00 per square foot, $1,200 minimum
- Shop, garage, porch and unfinished basement: $0.50 per square foot, no minimum
The difference reflects the work involved. Living space needs interior walls, door and window schedules, electrical circuits, plumbing runs and HVAC. A shop is mostly open floor with a few doors and outlets.
Calculate Your Design Fee
Price Examples By Building
| Building | Heated | Shop / Garage / Porch | Design Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30×40 cabin, one porch | 1,200 sq ft | 240 sq ft | $2,520 |
| 40×50 home, attached garage | 1,600 sq ft | 600 sq ft | $3,500 |
| 40×60 shop house | 1,200 sq ft | 1,200 sq ft | $3,000 |
| 40×80 home with 30×40 shop | 2,000 sq ft | 1,600 sq ft | $4,800 |
| Two-story family home | 3,000 sq ft | 900 sq ft | $6,450 |
| Large home with RV shop | 4,000 sq ft | 3,600 sq ft | $9,800 |
Custom Vs. Stock, Modified And Architect Plans
| Route | Typical Cost | Time | Fits When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock plan | About $850–$1,350 | Instant download | A published layout already works |
| Stock plan with modifications | Plan price plus a modification fee | Days to a couple of weeks | A few changes that keep the footprint |
| Custom design service | $2 / sq ft heated, $0.50 / sq ft shop | About 2–3 weeks | Your own layout, shop size, shell or lot |
| Local architect | Commonly quoted as a percentage of construction cost | Often months | Complex sites or highly bespoke design |
On a build that will cost a few hundred thousand dollars, the gap between a stock plan and a custom one is a small share of the total. If a stock plan is genuinely close, start there: browse over 1,200 stock barndominium plans. If it isn't, custom costs less than living with a layout that doesn't fit.
Watch What A Quote Includes
Some lower-priced "custom floor plan" offers deliver a floor plan, an electrical layout and a 3D rendering. That's useful for collecting rough builder bids, but a builder and building department will still need the foundation, framing, wall section and mechanical sheets. When comparing prices, compare the sheet list, not just the number.
The custom plans we recommend include the cover sheet, dimensioned floor plans, exterior elevations, roof plan and framing, foundation plan and details, electrical, plumbing and HVAC plans, and wall sections, drawn to the International Residential Code.
Costs Outside The Plan Set
Budget separately for anything tied to your parcel and county:
- A structural engineer's stamp, where your county requires one
- A site plan showing the building on your lot
- A property survey and soil testing
- Permit fees
Cost Questions
How Much Does A Custom Barndominium Plan Cost?
$2.00 per square foot of heated living area with a $1,200 minimum, plus $0.50 per square foot of shop, garage, porch and unfinished basement. Most barndominiums with a shop land between about $3,000 and $10,000.
Why Is Shop Space Cheaper To Design?
Shop and garage space has far less to draw: few interior walls, simpler electrical, and little or no plumbing and HVAC.
Are Revisions Included In The Price?
Yes. Two rounds of clarifying revisions are included. Changes that expand the scope after drawing starts, such as adding a story or a bedroom, are billed separately.
Is A Custom Plan Refundable?
No. Custom plans are drawn to order, so sales are final once work begins. Getting your full brief together first, using the barndominium design checklist, keeps revisions inside the two included rounds.
Order Your Custom Floor Plan