60×100 Steel Building Cost (Land, Materials & More)

Steel buildings are often used for farming and industrial purposes. There are pros to building them from scratch. And when planning to build a 60×100 metal building from scratch, you have to wrap your head around the costs associated with the entire building process, from start to finish.

The costs of building a 6,000 sq. ft. steel building include more than just the steel kit. It also includes the costs of the concrete laid down and the construction costs (assembly). On average, the budget could be up to $150,000 in total, with the steel and concrete materials themselves taking up the bulk of the budget (up to around $70,000).

Below, we’ll outline costs in more detail, including unexpected costs that arise during the building process, like installations, building additions, and factors that affect costs.

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How Much Does It Cost to Build a 60×100 Metal Building?

These costs are broken down into two main cost elements – the steel building kit and the cost of the concrete pad. Later on, we’ll discuss the cost of construction. One thing to note about steel costs is that the price per square foot usually drops in relation to more square footage. 

For more than 5,000 square feet of steel material, the cost is a lot lower. This is a bonus for those building 60×100 ft. buildings since it significantly lowers the cost per square foot.

Steel Kit Costs ($48k)

On average, it costs about $8 per square foot (around $48,000 total) when you buy a steel building kit for materials. Minimum costs could be as low as $7.50 per square foot, depending on where you live, and as high as almost $9 per square foot if you factor in the costs of insulation.

Concrete Costs ($42k-$54k)

While many are focused on the steel costs from the get-go, they forget to factor in the cost of something essential to metal buildings – the concrete. This cost factors in necessary concrete footers, as well as the concrete slab, which could be 4 inches or 6 inches thick, and is only used in some buildings. 

The average cost of a concrete slab will be between $6-$8 per square foot, depending on the thickness.

Obviously, the thicker the concrete, the more expensive it will be. Thicker slabs are required for more heavy-duty friendly structures, like ones designed to house heavy equipment. This puts the total price for concrete slabs between $36,000 and $48,000 for 6,000 square feet. 

Then, builders also need to factor in the cost of the footers (or piers). In some cases, note that a steel building won’t need a concrete slab. Structures that require a flat dirt or gravel floor, like barns, just need piers. And for a 60×100 ft. building, get around one dozen piers, which cost around $500 each, on average. This brings the total cost of piers to around $6,000. 

And in total, for a building with both piers and a slab, consider an average concrete cost of about $42,000 to $54,000. 

Building Cost Breakdown, Step By Step

There are other costs to building a 60×100 ft. steel structure that goes beyond just the basic materials. Let’s take a look at some costs you’ll incur in different steps of the building process, starting with the cost of purchasing a property. The following average figures are estimates based on average prices for each step of the process.

Purchasing Land ($500)

One of the obvious first steps to building a steel structure is securing the land to build it on unless you already own some property. You can buy an already cleared lot or clear one yourself, but either way, you should consider the price range. 

Factors that will affect land costs include:

For starters, since the structure will take up 6,000 square feet, decide what size lot is needed. Keep in mind that you’ll need a property that’s larger than the building itself so you can accommodate building materials and possibly extra room for add-ons, driveways, equipment, and more.

Additionally, the land must have space to accommodate things like utilities (water, sewer, etc.) that some people need for their buildings. Also, make sure to consider property line and setback laws, as these could affect how much space you need on your land. 

In general, though, note that 6,000 sq. ft. is equivalent to about 0.14 acres. Therefore, you can plan to buy a piece of land that is slightly larger than that. 

Take a look at the national average costs of land per acre across different regions. These numbers are based on the USDA 2020 Land Value Summary and are based on farm real estate values:

Based on these numbers, you could be looking at around $173.60 – $855.40 minimum for a piece of land that accommodates your 60×100 ft. building, depending on what region you are in. The national average is about $442.40. 

Getting Necessary Permits and Drawing Blueprints/Plans ($225)

Buildings built in a city have to conform to building codes. But in general, all building construction requires a building permit and adherence to local regulations. 

To get a permit, get the building engineer to stamp and approve the blueprints/building plans. You also need permits to install different utilities, like plumbing and electricity, on the property. Consider the following potential cost for permits and plans – permit application fees: average $225, depending on location. 

Construction ($45k)

This cost accounts mainly for hired construction crews, should you choose to have them do everything. You will pay a construction crew to build your steel building according to code. It will be very useful to hire someone for this part, as a good construction crew can put together a metal building in close to a week’s time. They will:

Break ground – breaking ground is beginning work on the site. Hired construction workers will need to lay the foundation that the building goes on so that it is level.

Pour concrete – in the previous section, we already established the cost of the concrete slab and piers themselves. But you’ll also have to pay to have the concrete poured by hired laborers. 

Build – construction crews can complete the rest of the building.

Professional construction workers typically charge an average of $7.5 per square foot ($45,000 total). 

Installing the Exterior (Windows, Doors, and Roof) ($1k)

You’ll also want to account for the cost of installing windows, doors, and the roof to the building. These exterior elements can be done by a construction crew as well. Most steel kits, like the ones we mentioned earlier, include roof material. 

The average cost of a 30×30 inch window for a steel building is around $150. Let’s say as a standard, you add 4 windows to your 60×100 foot building. You could be looking at a minimum of $600 for windows. And the average cost of a walk-in door for a steel building is just over $200. Then, you should factor in the cost of installation (average of $40/hour). 

You can expect to pay around $1,000 for interior work in a 6,000 sq. ft. building, on average. 

Installing the Inside ($30k)

Since steel buildings are commonly used for outdoor purposes like farming, working on the land, and warehouses in some cases, don’t worry about too many internal steps. However, consider whether the building needs plumbing and/or electricity installation.

When it comes to plumbing installation costs, consider the fact that you are starting anew. This means you need to buy new pipes. Installation is typically pried by the plumbing fixture, and these can cost between $600 and $1,600 per fixture.

Note that copper is the more expensive pipe option, though there are other cheaper options. In terms of square footage, the cost of plumbing for a 6,000 sq. ft. building could be up to $4.50 per square foot ($27,000). However, note that not all steel buildings require that much plumbing (or any), depending on their intended purpose.

And when it comes to electrical installation costs, note that this is more common in steel buildings that require electricity to power tools and equipment. Consider the costs of the wires, the cost of materials, and the electrician’s rate. The national average cost to install electrical wiring in a home is $1,330, but this number would typically be less for a steel structure used outside.

Interior Work ($500)

Consider whether the building needs interior structures. For example, buildings used for warehouse purposes need places to stock inventory, so consider the costs of shelves and storage in this case, too (the typical cost range is around $400-$600).

Extra Additions to the Building ($10k)

Additions are of course optional, but many people choose to add features to their buildings, such as paved driveways or walkways, landscaping work, patios, and more.

These elements can each get pretty costly. In the table below, take a look at the average costs for some of these common add-ons to buildings:

Budget Tips

Keep the following concepts in mind that may help one save a little money on a building project:

1. Follow the rule of rectangles – keeping the design rectangular (whether that comes to the building shape, window shape, doorway shape, etc.) will save a lot of money in terms of materials, installation work, and design. 
2. Plan ahead – Planning out exactly how much materials are needed, how much space is needed, and more can help one save money by avoiding mistakes. Getting construction re-done or fixed can cost thousands of dollars more.
3. DIY – Choosing to do some of the work that hired workers could do – like landscaping – could save thousands of dollars. For example, it’s easy enough for most people to plan and execute their own landscaping work, with a little free advice from the staff at most hardware stores. 

Factors that Will Affect the Costs

Keep in mind the following factors that affect the costs of building a steel building:

• Add-ons
• Number of windows and doors
• Electrical or plumbing installation add-ons
• Concrete slab or just piers?
• Where is the building located (affects costs of permits and hired worker rates)?
• How much of the project is DIY vs. assigned to paid workers?
• Using already available land vs. buying land

Are You Ready to Build a 60×100 Metal Building? 

Building your own steel building, as opposed to buying one, is not a task for the impatient. Assembly itself is not a super long process with a good construction crew (it can usually be done in about a week). 

However, the process alone of buying a piece of land and obtaining necessary building permits can take months in some cases.

Can You Really Afford to Build a 60×100 Metal Building?

One important question you should ask yourself before you undertake this project is Am I ready? If you aren’t yet willing to put down the financial investment, then this is not the project for you. 

Building a 60×100 ft. steel building can cost upwards of 6 figures in some cases, once you factor in the cost of the property, construction work, add-ons, and materials.

In Summary

All in all, a 60×100-foot steel building itself is not terribly expensive (around $48k on average). However, choosing to build a 60×100 foot steel building from scratch, and buying the property to account for it, could cost upwards of $150,000. 

Cost factors like materials (concrete, steel, etc.), hired construction work, permits, location, utility installation, and add-ons all affect the cost of this project. Consider that a person may be able to save a lot of money by doing this job solo, but without planning ahead, costs will add up very quickly.