Metal Building Kits

All buildings are constructed from factory-engineered kits. Find out why novices and experts alike love kit buildings ...

Metal frame buildings are everywhere in the United States and Canada, even if you don’t always see them right away. You’ve probably seen them used as agricultural buildings, warehouses, or garages, and using prefab kits to build homes or retail stores is increasingly common.

These building systems are strong, versatile, and up to 50% cheaper than conventional construction.

Whether you want a warehouse, a hunting cabin, or a custom-built home, every pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) is precision-designed and fabricated using state-of-the-art computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) processes. These advanced engineering processes allow for highly efficient material utilization and the production of structural members with a high strength-to-weight ratio that minimizes raw material costs and waste.

Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any construction material - about 25 times greater than wood and steel frames are actually lighter!

Your custom-designed building will be delivered directly to your construction site all at once, so you won’t be waiting for materials or managing extra fees or delays from multiple manufacturers.

Steel buildings require fewer total building elements, and every single bolt and fastener you need is included in each kit building package.

Construction is far more turnkey than conventional buildings and requires fewer on-site laborers, lowering the total cost of construction.

A metal frame building can be constructed in just a few days. The typical timeline for metal-framed building construction from a kit is 4-28 days, compared to several months for other construction options.

Smaller buildings under 2,000 square feet can be built in just a few days. Larger buildings, such as a 10,000-square-foot warehouse, can be completed in a matter of weeks rather than months with traditional construction methods.

The total cost of ownership for metal structures remains low, even in unpredictable or hurricane-prone areas. Insurance premiums are up to 40% lower because steel buildings are fireproof, weatherproof, and extremely damage-resistant. Warranties start at 20 years, so buildings are intended to be long-lasting.

You’ll also save on maintenance costs over time. Metal structures don’t rot, mold, or shrink. They arrive already painted with high-quality rust-proof paint in your choice of colors. They won’t invite damage from termites, ants, or other pests. They have 60% lower HVAC costs, are easy to clean, and don’t require extensive exterior maintenance.

Simply put, pre-engineered buildings are more predictable to build and maintain, lowering costs throughout construction and throughout the lifespan of the building.

Absolutely! They make great family homes or a combination of home and workspace (AKA shop houses). Many homeowners choose metal for its low cost and versatility in design, they are also a popular choice for barndominiums.

In most cases, yes. Depending on where you live, most buildings larger than a shed (typically 200 sq ft) require a permit for construction. Check your local laws or visit our building codes guide for more information. You can also research local codes on our building codes by state page.

I-beam steel buildings are considered to be a green building solution, from raw materials to building maintenance. Engineered with up to 70% post-consumer materials, all steel buildings are 100% recyclable. Manufacturing your custom building is also less wasteful, with only 2% unused materials as opposed to almost 20% wasted materials for traditional lumber construction.

When fully insulated, steel buildings are more energy efficient than buildings from other construction materials, and their longevity means that fewer resources are wasted over the building’s lifespan.

Cool metal roofing panels are easily finished with state-of-the-art coatings to reflect, rather than absorb, light and heat from the sun, lowering the cooling costs and emissions in hot environments. The use of cool roofs can result in as much as a 30 percent reduction in heat gain through the roof, and due to the applied reflective coatings, they can also provide up to 40% savings in building cooling costs.

Do-it-yourself enthusiasts love the streamlined planning, design, and construction process of steel prefab buildings. Did you enjoy building with erector sets as a child? Constructing a metal framed building might remind you of that experience—with the added reward of adding your own custom doors, windows, and other personalized options.

 These buildings strongly appeal to people who like to build and customize their own homes and workspaces.

They’re also a favorite of those who would rather save money by taking on much of the construction process themselves. But are they really do-it-yourself?

Think of pre-engineered buildings as semi-DIY. You can control the design, color, windows and doors, and style of build. You choose the kit and design the building to best suit your needs.

With some construction experience and adequate planning, DIY constructing a building is totally doable. This is particularly true for smaller buildings under 2,000 square feet. However, we strongly recommend that professionals design and install the concrete foundation.

See our build process section for an overview of the planning, designing, and construction process.

American-made steel is used in all of the buildings you’ll find on BuildingsGuide. The steel is made from up to 70% recycled materials and doesn’t warp or shrink. It can withstand much higher loads than wood. If you live in an area where you may experience hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes, steel is more resistant to those natural phenomena, able to withstand peak gusts of 160 mph, and are significantly more likely to remain standing during strong seismic events.

Typically, the metal components are painted in the factory with high-quality rust-resistant paint, usually with a 30-40 year warranty. The paint our manufacturers use also won’t chip, peel, blister, or crack.

Building manufacturers offer many color options, so you’re not stuck with basic beige (unless that’s your preference).

Straight out of the package, steel frame buildings are more environmentally friendly. They don’t require the same additional chemical treatments that wood buildings require. The provided bolts are rust-resistant and won’t expand over time.

All building packages are custom-engineered to meet or exceed your local code requirements for wind, snow, and seismic activity.

Most everything in your kit package is 100% recyclable as well, making them a sustainable construction choice.

All kits on BuildingsGuide use solid steel I-beam framing. They can be engineered to withstand 160 mph wind gusts. These buildings are known as 'rigid frame' buildings for a reason. They’re the durable, extremely strong beams used in most modern commercial construction projects.

Retail, eBay, and other online suppliers may sell kits with tubular steel frames. These types of frames are hollow steel tubes with no longevity or rigidity. They can only withstand up to 50 mph winds and don’t handle the same snow load. These types of structures are ideal for semi-permanent carports etc. Due to their semi-permanent nature, these buildings won't add value to your property, whereas a solid steel structure will stand the test of time and add equity to your property.

Construction times for metal framed buildings are shorter than other construction options since all the framing is pre-cut and drilled at the factory. A team of four (4) people can erect a small structure (under 2,000 sq ft) in just a few days. For larger structures, the time frame is slightly longer, but a crew of five to seven (5-7) people can generally erect a building up to 5,000 sq ft in about a week.

Whatever size you choose, metal frame buildings go up much faster than wood, brick, or concrete buildings!

As with any major project, careful planning is key to ensuring you get the right building at the right price that is best suited to your intended application.

Choose a building size and style. In the initial phase, you’ll determine the size of the building you need (Length x Width x Height). Don’t underestimate how much space you will need! (But also recognize that if you need to add to your building, it’s easy to add more modular sections to your existing building.) NOTE. If this is possible, specify ‘expandable end walls’ when ordering your building from our suppliers.

Decide on a building height. This largely depends on what you intend to use your structure for. Start by identifying the largest door clearance you will require, add two (2) feet to this as a safety measure, and then add a further two (2) feet to give you your required height. For example, if you have a truck that is 8 feet in height, you will need a 10’ door opening with a resulting eave height requirement of 12 feet.

Make initial building permit enquiries. At this stage, it is a good idea to have an initial conversation with your local building department to verify if a building permit will be required. If a permit is required, you can verify with the building department what information they will require for the permit application. You are responsible for ensuring all city, state, and regional codes (wind, snow, seismic) will be met before you order your building and begin construction. Read more about building codes, permitting, and zoning.

Decide on construction options. Will you go the do-it-yourself route and construct your own building, hire sub-contractors and self-build (be your own GC), or hire a general contractor (GC) to oversee the project? If your building is over 2,000 square feet, you may want to hire an experienced contractor to erect the building. For more details, see our construction options article.

For more, see our article on planning a building project.

One of the benefits of working with our suppliers is that they will assist you in the design of your building and advise you on the most suitable options. Alternatively, you can also engage an architect if you require a highly stylized building.

Select your roof profile. You’ll want to consider the roof style you want and the pitch. Here's our guide to the available building roof styles.

Decide on building design options. All buildings start as a basic building shell. You then decide how you need to customize this to best suit your needs. Color, number, type, and size of doors, windows, porches, awnings, siding, etc. - the base building is the canvas for your dream structure! Or it can be just a basic garage with a couple of additions. You do you. Here’s our guide for choosing building customizations.

Choose interior finishing options (if required). At this point, you can choose or design your own custom floor plan and decide on the level of finish your need. For more, see our article on planning and designing a building interior.

Now that you have a good idea of the overall size, style, and design of your building, it’s time to find the most suitable building supplier. This is where we can help….

Get at least four written quotes. Not all buildings are priced the same, so it is advisable to shop around. BuildingsGuide is here to help you find the most suitable local supplier for your project.

After telling us a little about your requirements, we will then match you with up to four suppliers who deliver to your job site. Start by getting up to four competing quotes for your new building.

Comparing quotes is crucial to finding the best building for your purposes at the best price. Read about BuildingsGuide’s cost comparison service and how it works.

Choose a building supplier. Compare cost, quality, specifications, supplier reputation, and customizations before choosing a building supplier.

Place a building deposit. Your initial deposit is usually 10-30% of the total cost of the building. Once you place a deposit, your supplier will then provide you with a set of engineering drawings (blueprints) for your building. You will also need a set of engineering drawings for the foundation. Please note – not all suppliers provide these. You will need to hire a local structural engineer to have these drawn up if they don't.

Once you are in possession of the engineering drawings for the building, you can finalize the following:

1. Arrange Financing (if required). Financing a prefabricated building can be tricky. Most U.S. banks don’t provide homeowner financing for steel structures. Don’t worry, though, there are options: here’s our guide to financing.
2. Apply for building permits. As part of the permit process, you will be required to submit plans for the building along with a site plan illustrating where you intend to build.
3. Contracting. If you elect not to construct the building, you will need to sign contracts with sub-contractors or a general contractor for the construction and finishing of your building.

Site preparation. Much like planning for a baby’s due date, you’ll want to consider how you handle the delivery of your building package. Here’s our guide to building site prep.

Run services. Arrange for power, cable, water, and sewer lines to be run to the project site.

Pour the foundation. Before receiving your building, you need a level and compacted building site and a concrete foundation with anchor bolts. Here’s our guide to building foundations. We STRONGLY advise that you have a professional concrete company take care of this stage, as the foundation is a critical stage of the process.

Prep for delivery. Have a forklift or other lifting equipment ready to offload the delivery truck. For a detailed look at this step, see our article on prepping for delivery.

Pay balance on the building. At this point, you will pay the outstanding balance on the building. This will either be just before the building arrives or at the delivery time. Be sure to discuss this with your supplier.

Store the building components. Have a dry, level area ready to store the building components in preparation for construction.

Schedule contractors. If you are subbing out your construction, confirm time schedule with your contractors.

Construction. The day you’ve been waiting for!

Hookup Services. Get utilities connected and operational.

Install Insulation. Add insulation to your building (if required). For more, see our article on insulating a steel building.

Interior Build-out & Finishing (if required). Frame out your interior rooms and finish your building’s interior. Your building kit has everything to construct your building, but you’re in charge of the interior. Here’s our guide to working with the peculiarities of a metal frame building interior.

Walkthrough & Inspection. Like any newly constructed building, you’ll need to schedule and complete a building inspection with your local building inspector.

Move in, throw a party, and enjoy!