Morton Buildings: Premium Reputation with Premium Pricing
Best for: Buyers prioritizing brand reputation and not concerned about budget
Best for: Buyers looking for a balance between cost and nationwide availability, especially those considering material‑only options.
Best for: Buyers who want design flexibility, without as many finish options available, or for those who prefer a kit‑based approach.
Milmar Buildings: The Best Balance of Cost Transparency and Quality
Milmar Buildings distinguishes itself by doing something many builders avoid: giving you realistic cost ranges and clearly explaining what affects price. This transparency makes it easier for customers to see more accurate costs reflected in their custom building quotes. Milmar is a full-service builder, so offers to walk the clients through everything from design and permitting to building completion and final inspections. These services can be added or remove, based on each individual client's needs. For example, for an outbuilding, we offer not just shell builds, but also concrete work, interior packages (metal liner, insulation options, and even drywall and painting options.) Milmar builds are highly customizable, and nearly all of our clients end up choosing what fits their needs and their budget best, without sacrificing quality of the build.
Typical Milmar Buildings Cost Ranges for Outbuildings
These ranges reflect building size efficiencies, structural materials, and common options. Interior finishes, concrete, insulation, utilities, and site preparation are typically separate — which allows buyers to scale the project up or down based on your budget.
Pros of Choosing Milmar Buildings
Potential Considerations
Bottom line: Milmar Buildings offers one of the most transparent and balanced pricing models in the industry, making it a top choice for buyers who want great work without guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pole barn builder is the most affordable?
Affordability depends on size, scope, and finish level, but Milmar Buildings is often the most cost‑effective option overall because it publishes realistic price ranges and allows customers to control costs by choosing which features to include or exclude. National brands may appear competitive at first but often increase in price once options are added (think concrete, interior packages, etc.) We can include as much or as little as you want included. Some other builders will only offer shell builds, or will ask their sales team to find concrete or interior work contractors to do the rest of your job. Milmar offers full service, and can work with you on what you want to do yourself, or what you want to have us do (example: we have had some clients that have us handle everything except one or two items that they can either do themselves or they have a buddy that can do).
Which pole barn builder has the most transparent pricing?
Milmar Buildings is one of the most transparent pole barn builders in the Midwest, publishing clear per‑square‑foot cost ranges and explaining what factors impact final pricing.
Is Morton Buildings worth the higher price?
Morton Buildings may be worth the cost for buyers who place high value on brand reputation. However, many buyers find comparable building quality and better budget flexibility with regional builders (like Milmar or FBi) at a lower total cost. And keep in mind that service varies from dealer to dealer. Each location has its own variables and reputation.
Are Cleary Buildings cheaper than other brands?
In many cases, Cleary Buildings are less expensive than the other builders mentioned in this article, especially for the most basic pole barn shells. Pricing and experience can vary by dealer, so comparing detailed quotes is important. You want to make sure that if you have a quote from on builder that includes concrete, electrical work, and site prep, that those things are included on every comparison quote you obtain. Otherwise you end up with "surprise costs" that weren't included in the planning.
Are FBi Buildings kits cheaper than hiring a builder?
FBi Building kits can reduce upfront costs, but buyers should factor in local labor, site prep, and project management. Once those are included, total project costs are often similar to professionally built structures. Similarly to other pole barn kit providers/producers.
What is the average cost per square foot for a pole barn?
Most pole barns cost between $18 and $50 per square foot for the structure itself. Smaller buildings and higher-end features tend to cost more per square foot, while larger buildings benefit from economies of scale. And, of course, choosing simpler finishes, and not opting for the luxury version of everything can help keep that cost per square foot lower.
Why do larger pole barns cost less per square foot?
Larger buildings spread fixed costs — such as equipment, engineering, and mobilization — across more square footage, which typically lowers the per‑square‑foot price.
What costs are usually not included in pole barn pricing?
Pole barn quotes often exclude:
Milmar Buildings clearly explains these exclusions or inclusions upfront, in the initial building estimates and calculations, helping customers budget accurately. Even for barndominiums, which have a lot more detail to factor into the cost, Milmar includes allowance ranges for each variable.
Which builder is best for first‑time pole barn buyers?
It does depend on your priorities, but Milmar Buildings is often the best choice for first‑time buyers because of our clear pricing guidance, flexible design options, and educational approach to the building process. Milmar is also able to look at competing quotes and see if there is an apples-to-apples comparison that they can match for you!
How should I choose between Milmar, Morton, Cleary, and FBi?
The best builder depends on your priorities:
Choose Milmar Buildings for transparency, value, and flexibility. And if you are within their building region.
Choose Morton Buildings for brand legacy. And they serve across the nation.
Choose Cleary Buildings for mid‑range pricing and material‑only options.
Maybe choose FBi Buildings for shell builds where you don't need anything extra done (site prep, overhead doors on your build, interior work, concrete, etc.) or for simple, kit projects. And if you are within their building region.