The most common pole barn today isn't on a farm. It's a big garage or workshop behind a house: room for trucks, a boat or camper, a lift, a woodshop or a home business.
Popular sizes
- 24 by 24 (576 sq ft): one or two vehicles and storage.
- 30 by 40 (1,200 sq ft): two-car garage plus a work area. Angi lists $18,000 to $32,000.
- 40 by 60 (2,400 sq ft): large shop or RV storage. Angi lists $30,000 to $55,000.
Most owners say the same thing afterward: build bigger than you think you need. Adding length later costs far more than adding it now.
Eave height and doors
Standard garage doors need modest walls, but RVs, campers and lifts need taller eaves and 12 to 14 foot doors. Think about overhead doors (best for insulated shops), sliding doors (simple and cheap) and hydraulic or bi-fold doors for big openings. Put walk doors where you'll actually walk.
Concrete floor
Angi lists concrete contractors at about $4 to $8 per square foot for slab work. For a shop, ask about thickness and reinforcement for vehicle lifts, a vapor barrier, floor drains if allowed, and in-floor heat tubing if you might want radiant heat later.
Insulation and condensation
Bare steel roofs drip when warm, moist air hits cold metal. Options include a condensation-control membrane under the steel, roof insulation with a vapor retarder, spray foam, or fiberglass with liner panels. Angi lists insulation installers at about $1 to $3 per square foot. If you'll heat the shop, insulate walls and ceiling and plan ventilation.
Electrical, heat and plumbing
Most shops need a subpanel, lots of outlets, good lighting and 240-volt circuits for compressors and welders. Angi lists electricians at $50 to $120 per hour. Plumbing for a bathroom or sink, and heat (unit heater, mini-split or radiant), add cost but make a building usable year-round. Power and water lines need trenching from the house; the excavator or builder should call 811 first.
Looks and neighbors
In town and in subdivisions, zoning and HOA rules may limit size, height, setbacks and materials. Wainscot, overhangs, matching colors or shingled roofs help a shop fit with a house.
Barndominiums
Some owners finish part of a post-frame building as living space. That changes the code requirements entirely: residential energy code, egress, fire separation, plumbing and HVAC. Talk with your builder and building department before you commit.
Does it add value?
Angi estimates pole barn ROI often ranges from 50% to 80%, depending on size, quality and permitted uses, with finished buildings yielding more. Make sure the building is permitted so it counts at appraisal and resale.
Planning the layout
Before you settle on dimensions, sketch what goes inside: vehicles with doors open, a workbench along one wall, a lift bay with ceiling clearance, storage racks, and a clear path to the walk door. Many owners add a lean-to on one side for firewood, mowers or a covered porch. A loft over part of the building adds storage without increasing the footprint, but it needs to be designed into the trusses and posts.
Windows and light
Natural light makes a shop nicer to work in. Windows on the sidewalls, translucent panels high on the walls, or a row of windows in an overhead door all help. Think about security, too: windows at eye level on a rural shop show what's inside.
Fire safety and insurance
A shop with welding, woodworking, fuel or vehicles inside has real fire risk. Install smoke detectors, keep fire extinguishers by each door, separate fuel storage, and keep the building a safe distance from the house where possible. Tell your insurer about the new building; it may need to be added to your policy, and some insurers ask about heat sources and use.
Home businesses
Using a shop for a business can change zoning, building code and insurance requirements. Customers visiting, employees, signage and commercial equipment may all trigger rules. Check with your city or county before you build if business use is part of the plan.
Common mistakes
- Doors too small. Measure the tallest vehicle, including roof racks, and allow for future vehicles.
- Eaves too low. A lift, a loft or tall doors need height that's cheap to add now and expensive later.
- Skipping the vapor barrier. Concrete without one can sweat, and roofs without condensation control drip.
- No conduit. Running power later means trenching again.
- Ignoring drainage. Build the pad high and grade it away.
Before you request quotes: a checklist
- Use. Garage, shop, storage, animals or a mix.
- Size, including width, length and eave height, plus your largest door opening.
- Site. Is it level, cleared and reachable by delivery trucks? Are there power lines overhead?
- Floor. Gravel now, concrete now, or concrete later?
- Finish level. Bare shell, insulated, or fully finished with power, heat and plumbing?
- Extras. Wainscot, overhangs, lean-to, loft, windows, gutters and cupolas.
- Zoning. Setbacks and any HOA or city limits on size and height.
- Timeline and budget range.
Builders can price a standard building from these details and refine it after a site visit.
Serving Des Moines and nearby
We take requests from property owners across Des Moines and central Iowa, including Des Moines, Ankeny, Altoona, Bondurant, Pleasant Hill, Grimes, Waukee, Adel, Norwalk, Indianola, Carlisle, Winterset. Coverage depends on contractor availability; tell us your town or ZIP. Before any digging, your contractor contacts Iowa One Call (811) to get buried utilities marked.
Common questions
Can a pole barn garage be heated?
Yes. With insulated walls and roof, a vapor retarder and a proper heater, post-frame shops are heated all winter in cold climates.
Is a pole barn cheaper than a stick-built garage?
Often yes per square foot, especially for larger sizes and wide clear spans, because there's no full foundation and fewer framing members.
How thick should a shop floor be?
Four inches is common for cars and light trucks; heavier equipment and lifts often need thicker, reinforced slabs or footings under lift posts. Your concrete contractor and lift maker will specify.
Do I need a permit to add electricity?
Usually yes, and an inspection. Hire a licensed electrician.
Can I put a bathroom in my shop?
Often yes, but it needs a sewer or septic connection, permits and possibly zoning approval.