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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.
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.
Your cost to build a barndo or convert an existing barn depends on several factors. The most significant considerations are:
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.
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.
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.
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.
You’ll find countless perks to building a barndominium, from saving money to moving into your new home faster.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While barndominium construction can save money and is easier to maintain, there are some significant potential drawbacks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
