Farm Shed Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of a farm or machinery shed in Australia by size.
Your farm shed details
Your estimate sits within the typical range.
Your estimate sits within the typical range.
A farm shed over a certain size needs council approval and engineering for wind rating, factor approval and certification into the budget.
Ways to save
- An open-front or three-sided machinery shed costs around $115–$120 per square metre versus $150–$200 enclosed, so leaving a face open can cut 30–50% off the structure.
- On rural-zoned land, a farm building under the exempt-development size limit may need no council approval at all, so an open-front, rural-zoned shed can be both the cheapest to build and the cheapest to approve.
- Kit prices usually exclude the slab, erection and approval; managing the slab and trades yourself can save money, but budget for those extras, which can add 50–80% on top of the kit.
How we estimate this
Farm shed prices are usually quoted as a kit, with the slab, erection and approval excluded. A small shed around 12 by 7 metres runs roughly $14,000–$18,500, a medium 18 by 9 metre shed about $28,000–$45,000, and a large 30 by 12 metre machinery shed $55,000–$95,000. On a per-square-metre basis that's broadly $150–$280 depending on size and configuration.
Pricing reviewed: October 2026.
Farm shed prices by city
Costs vary by city. See the local breakdown for your capital.
Pricing reviewed October 2026. Indicative Australian costs, not a quote.
Understanding farm shed costs in Australia
Farm shed prices are usually quoted as a kit, with the slab, erection and approval excluded. A small shed around 12 by 7 metres runs roughly $14,000–$18,500, a medium 18 by 9 metre shed about $28,000–$45,000, and a large 30 by 12 metre machinery shed $55,000–$95,000. On a per-square-metre basis that's broadly $150–$280 depending on size and configuration.
Configuration drives a big part of the cost. An open-front or three-sided shed is the cheapest at about $115–$120 a square metre, fully enclosing it adds roughly 30–50%, and the slab is often the single biggest extra at $120–$180 a square metre (around $10,000–$15,000 on a small shed, far more on a large one). Power connection adds $1,500–$4,000, and professional erection typically runs 25–45% of the kit value.
Approval and engineering depend on location and zoning. In rural zones, generous exempt-development provisions often let modest farm buildings go up without a development application, while larger or non-rural sheds need a fast-track complying certificate or a full DA, costing roughly $600–$2,000. Wind rating also matters: standard inland sites are usually N2, exposed paddocks or hilltops N3, and cyclonic regions in northern Queensland, the NT and northern WA attract a 10–35% structural premium.
These are indicative ranges; the slab, erection, power and approval can lift the all-in cost well above the kit price, so confirm exactly what a quote includes. Get a site-specific quote that covers the full build, not just the steel.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a farm shed cost in Australia?
As a kit, roughly $14,000–$18,500 for a small shed, $28,000–$45,000 for a medium one and $55,000–$95,000 for a large machinery shed in 2026, before slab, erection and approval.
What adds the most to a shed cost?
The concrete slab (often $120–$180 a square metre), enclosing the structure (adding 30–50%), power connection and professional erection, none of which are usually in the kit price.
Do I need council approval for a farm shed?
It depends on size and zoning. Rural zones often allow modest exempt farm buildings without a DA, but larger or non-rural sheds need a complying certificate or full development application.
Are you a rural / agricultural contractor?
Everyone on this page is working out what farm shed costs because they are ready to hire. Put your business right beneath the calculator, in your state, so you are who they find. From $1,000/mo.