Cost breakdown example

40x80 metal building cost and material list

A full framing, sheeting, and trim takeoff for a 40' × 80' weld-up building: 12' eave, 4:12 pitch, one walk door, one 10'×10' roll-up door. Generated by Gable Takeoff; every number below is a real output, not a rounded guess.

Width 40 ft
Depth 80 ft
Eave 12 ft
Pitch 4:12
Ridge 18' 8"
Bays 3 (26' 8" spacing)
$35,512
Estimated total (building + doors + trim)
$11.10
Per square foot
4,205 lb
Main frame steel weight

Prices as of September 2026.

Where the money goes

Each category includes 8.25% sales tax and a 15% markup, matching the app's defaults. Both are adjustable to your own numbers.

CategoryWhat's in itCost
Steel, sheet & trimI-beams, purlins, girts, eave struts, end wall columns, roof & wall sheets, one walk door, and all trim$33,022
Doors & WindowsOne 10'×10' roll-up door$2,490
Grand total$35,512

Main frame members

Columns and rafters are cut as separate pieces and nested onto stock lengths with the least waste; each row is the stock to buy and how it's cut. Weight is quantity × stock length × pounds per foot (the second number in the size: W12x19 is 19 lb/ft), which adds up to the 4,205 lb above.

Stock & cutsQtySizeLengthWeight
1 cut 1 × 21' 1" rafter, 3 × 12' 0" column · 2' 10 5/8" drop; 1 cut 2 × 21' 1" rafter, 1 × 12' 0" column · 5' 9 3/4" drop2W12x1960'2,280 lb
Cut into 1 × 21' 1" rafter · 3' 11" drop1W12x1925'475 lb
1 cut 1 × 21' 1" rafter, 3 × 12' 0" column · 2' 10 5/8" drop; 1 cut 2 × 21' 1" rafter, 1 × 12' 0" column · 5' 9 3/4" drop2W8x1060'1,200 lb
Cut into 1 × 21' 1" rafter · 3' 11" drop1W8x1025'250 lb
Total frame steel4,205 lb

Span charts behind these sizes

The highlighted rows set this building's sizes: a 40' clear span calls for W12x19 frames, and 26' 8" bays call for 10" roof purlins. These are the app's default charts.

Main frame · gable

Clear span up toBeam
30'W12x14
40'W12x19
50'W16x26
60'W18x35

Purlins & wall girts

Bay span up toC-section
20'6"
25'8"
30'10" (roof only)

Adjust them for your climate. Snow and wind loads vary by region, so every row is editable on the app's Settings tab. Change a size or a span break to match what your engineer or local code requires, and every new estimate uses your charts. More about span charts

Full material list

Wall, roof, and trim color: Charcoal Gray.

ItemQtySizeLengthNotes
1. I-Beams
I-beam stock2W12x1960'1 cut 1 × 21' 1" rafter, 3 × 12' 0" column · 2' 10 5/8" drop; 1 cut 2 × 21' 1" rafter, 1 × 12' 0" column · 5' 9 3/4" drop
I-beam stock1W12x1925'cut each 1 × 21' 1" rafter · 3' 11" drop
I-beam stock2W8x1060'1 cut 1 × 21' 1" rafter, 3 × 12' 0" column · 2' 10 5/8" drop; 1 cut 2 × 21' 1" rafter, 1 × 12' 0" column · 5' 9 3/4" drop
I-beam stock1W8x1025'cut each 1 × 21' 1" rafter · 3' 11" drop
Tube stock1TS4x4x.18840'cut each 2 × 18' 8" center column · 2' 7 7/8" drop
Weld plates26" × 6"—one per column · 2 end wall center columns (TS4x4x.188)
Weld plates86" × 12"—one per column · 4 interior frame columns (W12x19), 4 end wall frame columns (W8x10)
2. Purlins, Girts & Eave Struts
Roof purlins3610"30'
Eave struts610"30'4:12 pitch
Sidewall girts188"30'
Gable end girts128"20'
Jamb purlins28"20'nested — 2 jambs cut from these
Header purlins18"20'nested — 1 header cut from these
3. Roof & Wall Sheets
Roof panels54—21' 1"
Sidewall panels54—12' 0"
Gable end panels28—12' 8" – 18' 8"4 @ 18' 8", 4 @ 17' 8", 4 @ 16' 8", 4 @ 15' 8", 4 @ 14' 8", 4 @ 13' 8", 4 @ 12' 8" (24" wide) · 36" wide
4. Trim
Ridge cap8—12'12" overlap · 4:12 pitch
Rake trim8—mixed4 @ 22' 0" full-length, 4 @ 1' 1" seam piece · roof length + 1', seamed w/ 12" overlap
Eave trim16—12'12" overlap · 4:12 pitch
Outside corners4—13' 0"sidewall height + 1', seamed w/ 12" overlap
Base angle10—25'full slab perimeter, 12" overlap
Rake angle4—25'end wall beams, full roof length, 12" overlap
Head trim (walk doors)1—3' 6"top
Head trim (roll-up doors)1—11' 0"top
Jamb trim (walk doors)2—7' 6"both sides
Jamb trim (roll-up doors)2—11' 0"both sides
Jamb wrap (roll-up doors)1—11' 0"top
Jamb wrap (roll-up doors)2—11' 0"both sides
5. Accessories
Peak boxes2——one per gable end
Rake end caps4—pairleft/right pair per rake run
Purlin clips150——2 per piece · 75 pieces to clip
Walk doors1—3' 0" × 7' 0"Right sidewall · bay 1 · centered · White
6. Doors & Windows
Roll-up door1—10' 0" × 10' 0"Front gable end · bay 1 · centered · Polar White
Steel, sheet & trim$33,022
Doors & Windows$2,490
Grand total$35,512

Rough budgeting estimate, not a mill quote. Doesn't include permits, engineering, delivery, concrete, labor, or insulation (the Pro plans price those on top of the same takeoff). Prices use the app's default rates; your supplier pricing will differ.

Why a 40x80 costs less per square foot than a 40x60

A 40x80 needs a third bay: 80' split into three 26' 8" bays keeps every purlin under a 30' span. That adds one W12x19 interior frame, but the two end walls, the doors and most of the gable trim stay the same size as on a 40x60. Those fixed costs are spread over 800 more square feet, so the price per square foot drops even though the total goes up.

See it before you order it

This same 40x80 draws itself in the app. Pick your wall, roof, trim, door, and wainscot colors and the building repaints in 3D; switch to the wireframe to check where the purlins, girts, eave struts, and jamb purlins land. Eight views — four isometric corners and four straight-on elevations — so you can look at a door from outside or the framing from the corner you'll erect from.

Change any dimension and get your own real takeoff.

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