What Is a Barndominium? Everything You Need to Know (Updated for 2025)

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You can make the renovation world sit up and take notice by transforming a dilapidated old barn into a gorgeous new home. This trending home style is lovingly called a barndominium — or barndo for short. With a barndo, you can use much of its impressive space for living, and the remainder for guest rooms, hobbies, home businesses or even keeping animals. 

Are you unsure if you could use the extra square footage a barndo offers? To help you decide whether a barndo is right for you, this guide tells you how to build a barndominium and its related options.

What Is a Barndominium?

In the distant past, more people worked the land than in any other profession. Because they needed to live close to their work, their homes were nearby or even attached to their barns. The Industrial Revolution changed this dynamic. More people moved into factory work, reducing the need for barn homes. As technology advanced through the years, farmers also chose to stay further from their animals. 

Fast forward to modern times — the extra space this living environment affords makes it popular among homeowners again, especially those needing easy storage, economical business premises or even to fulfill a barn’s original function — to house animals. Barndominiums are typically steel or wood structures with massive square footage. You’ll typically furnish part of the building as a normal home, with the remainder left semi-finished and open for other purposes. 

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Barndominium?

Your cost to build a barndo or convert an existing barn depends on several factors. The most significant considerations are:  

• The cost price of the land.
• Whether you’re retrofitting an existing structure or starting from scratch using a barndominium kit.
• The structure’s overall size.
• The square footage you intend to cover.

A barndominium’s cost to build is cheaper than buying an average home in the United States. You can expect to pay between $130,000 and $320,000 to construct a barndo kit,  while purchasing a house would cost you an average of $492,300 at the end of 2023. Even after factoring in the cost of buying a few acres of pasture land, your barnominium cost will save you money. 

Choosing Your Perfect Barndominium

Building a barndominium is easier and more cost-effective. If you already have land and a barn structure, depending on the structure, you may still have to extensively renovate to make it secure and safe for home living. Building a complete barndo from the foundations up using a pre-ordered kit means you’ll outlay more initially, but have the security knowing the whole structure is new and conforms to safety regulations, with a level of sustainability sometimes not afforded to existing structures.  

1. Retrofitting

When barndominiums first became popular, people would find old barns, buy them without a massive financial outlay and convert them into gorgeous homes. The costs were minimal, but as demand for existing barns grew, finding suitable properties in particular areas became more difficult. If you managed to locate a fine old barn in decent condition, there were still many pros and cons to weigh before investing, as opposed to building new using one of the many kits barndominium suppliers offer.

Pros of Retrofitting

• Cost: You’ll save on the initial funds needed to get your new home in functional order.
• Uniqueness: Existing barns come with long and storied histories, so your new home will have character not afforded to new barns.
• Sustainability: Depending on how its builders built the barn, there will likely be sustainability options you can consider. At the very least, you’re reusing an old, often abandoned structure and giving it a new life. 
• Revenue building: With a renovated and reconditioned old barn, you could create extra income by hosting a couple of bed and breakfast or self-service rental units. These would encourage travelers to stop over and experience the ambience and history of your unique building.
• Space: Your barndominium will be spacious, but the design of older barns includes high roofs, which further accentuate their space.

 Cons of Retrofitting

• Location restriction: Upgrading an existing barn means rooting yourself to a specific location, potentially out in the country. The same applies to building a new barndominium, although you can construct a new barndo on a suburban plot, likely nearer civilization.
• Zoning restrictions: Existing regulations could mean seeking authority to live in your new home from local authorities and submitting a potential rezoning request. You may find this process drawn out and bothersome.
• Heating: Installing power and heating in your barndominium could be expensive, depending on its location and provider access. 
• Pest control: Old unoccupied buildings  — especially wooden ones — that have stood unused are susceptible to pest damage and infestation. If you experience these problems, you may require costly fumigation and other pest control to keep your home up to livable standards.

2. Building New

As existing barns became scarcer, many property hunters decided to appoint specialist companies to erect brand-new barndominiums instead of searching for existing barns. Doing so affords you various advantages that existing buildings don’t, although you still have to weigh the pros and cons before making an informed decision. 

Pros of Building New

• Wider location choice: When constructing a new barndominium, you can choose where to build and how large your new home will be. You won’t have the same locational restrictions as when buying an existing barn.
• Adaptability: New barndominium plans and prices vary substantially and depend almost entirely on your choices. Suppliers offer various options, so barndominium kit prices differ considerably. You could choose a pole barn kit or a steel barndo kit, depending on your preference.

• Interior customization: Because of your adaptability in size, design and the barndo kit you select, you have plenty of scope to budget for and customize your barndominium interior. Some barndo kits may include interior options. Whether you self-design a cheap barndominium interior or splurge on an interior designer to manage your barndo layout is entirely up to you, with the custom choices afforded to you with a new barndominium.
• Easier construction: Barndominium kits, especially pre-engineered steel ones, reduce construction labor costs and time. The streamlined, more straightforward erection process and predesigned finishing allow you to save on your building budget for other essential areas like education and healthcare.
• Durability: A brand-new barndominium offers resilience and strength you won’t find in a retrofitted home. Newer, treated construction materials and contractor guarantees ensure your home’s sturdiness and safety.

Cons of Building New

• Cost: New barndos will likely cost more than retrofitted alternatives. Weigh up the other pros and cons of each to ascertain whether the additional cost makes sense.
• Space constraints: Depending on where you’re building, you may not have the same space that an existing old barn conversion affords you due to suburban restrictions related to property borders and the like. Achieving the equivalent amount of space using a barndominium kit might also try your budget.
• Income opportunities: If your barndo is in a built-up area, you may reduce your chances of growing your income through the hospitality sector, compared with owning a rustic barndominium in the country. Advertising accommodation in an urban location will also mean greater competition.

Benefits of a Barndominium Compared to Traditional Housing

You’ll find countless perks to building a barndominium, from saving money to moving into your new home faster. 

1. Money Saving

Steel barndominium walls and roofs can reduce upfront costs, especially if you purchase a kit. You’ll also save a great deal by refurbishing an old barn to suit your needs. With either option, Labor will cost less than building a traditional suburban home. 

2. Faster Build

Labor is less intensive with a bando, so you can move into your new home faster than with traditional construction. The outer structure goes up much quicker —  you could finish part of your living area and stay there while building continues. 

3. Extra Space

One of a barndominium’s biggest perks is the sheer amount of extra space you possess. You can spread out your floor plan, create grand rooms and even build an indoor pool or a home-based business. Keeping animals in an unfinished area as a hobby farm is another possibility — your options are practically limitless. 

4. Durability and Safety

Metal barndos are durable and safe, protected against the elements by steel shells and resistant to mold, rot, pest damage and house fires. With the latter, the steel resists and holds its shape for longer, giving emergency services more time to extinguish a blaze and save the structure. Your home will protect you for many years.

Potential Drawbacks of a Barndominium

While barndominium construction can save money and is easier to maintain, there are some significant potential drawbacks. 

1. Financing Difficulties

Since barndominiums aren’t yet quite mainstream, many banks or other lenders may consider them differently than traditional residences. As such, getting a mortgage to fund your build might be tricky. After investigating your options, you may have to settle for a different type of loan. 

2. Increased Taxes

Before proceeding with your barndo build, speak with a tax expert about your new property assessment. Some professionals will count only the finished, heated square footage, while others may consider the entire structure. Knowing your area helps determine how much annual taxes on your new property could cost. 

3. Zoning Limitations

Check your zoning regulations before beginning your barndominium project. Some cities don’t allow barndos, while others have specifications you’ll need to meet and hoops to jump through. Make sure you have the proper permits before beginning to dig.  

4. Extra Noise

Steel is strong and durable, but can also be incredibly noisy, and wood is no different. Even with insulation offering soundproofing, your walls will amplify outdoor sounds rather than subdue them — you’ll hear every bird singing and every raindrop landing. Decide if you can handle the noise factor before choosing a barndominium.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does a Barndominium Make a Good Home?

A barndominium makes a good home, as it is cost-effective, customizable and durable. However, homeowners contemplating barndominiums should consider challenges like financing difficulties, zoning issues, and noise or privacy concerns.

2. What is a Barndominium Kit?

A barndominium kit is a pre-packaged material set used for constructing a barndominium — a residential space with a barn-like aesthetic. For either steel or wooden barndominium construction, these kits can include pre-cut lumber, roof trusses, metal panels, doors, windows and other assembly components.

3. What is a Barndominium Plan?

 A barndominium plan is the architectural design of a combined barn and a condominium, often with a rustic, barn-like exterior and an open-plan, modern interior. These plans are usually versatile, allowing combined residential, recreational, and business spaces.

Is a Barndominium Right for You?

People move forward with building barndominiums mainly for their aesthetics or the extra space they afford. If you love the thought of living in a refurbished barn or a new steel or wooden one, a barndo is an ideal option, no matter the drawbacks. If you work from home, entertain regularly or fancy the idea of a hobby farm, you’ll also likely benefit from the increased square footage a barndominium provides.

Original Publish Date 05/01/2023 – Updated 05/30/2025