50×50 Metal Building
2,500 sq ft 12 to 16 ft eave
A 50×50 metal building gives you 2,500 square feet of column-free floor space under one engineered steel roof, a square footprint that works equally well as a working shop, a multi-bay garage, or a small commercial unit. Universal Steel of America engineers, fabricates, and ships every frame as a pre-engineered metal building, certified to your local snow, wind, and seismic codes before it leaves the plant.
Because the 50 ft span is held clear with no interior posts, you decide how the 2,500 sq ft gets used: a deep service floor, two or three drive-through bays, or an open production area with room left for a mezzanine office. We deliver to your site from the closest of our plants across the United States, and professional erection is available as an optional service if you would rather not assemble it yourself.
- Dimensions
- 50 ft wide x 50 ft long
- Floor area
- 2500 sq ft
- Clear span
- 50 ft column-free
- Typical eave height
- 12 to 16 ft
- Frame
- pre-engineered red-iron steel (I-beam primary frame)
- Panels
- 24 or 26 gauge PBR steel roof and wall panels
- Loads
- engineered to local snow, wind, and seismic code
- Finish warranty
- 25 to 40 year paint and coating warranty
- Delivery
- shipped from the closest plant to your site
- Erection
- optional professional service
Popular uses for a 50×50 Metal Building
Auto repair and fabrication shop
The 50 ft clear span gives an auto or fabrication shop room for multiple lifts, drive-through bays, and a parts area with no interior posts to work around. A 12 to 16 ft eave clears a two-post lift comfortably. It is one of the most common uses at this size.
Steel shop buildingsMulti-bay garage and workshop
2,500 square feet is enough for a three to four vehicle garage plus a dedicated workbench and storage zone, popular as a home hobby shop or HQ-style personal shop. Tall roll-up doors handle trucks, trailers, and toys. The square footprint keeps every bay easy to reach.
Metal garagesSmall warehouse and inventory storage
For a small business, a 50x50 works as a compact inventory warehouse or distribution point with full-height racking against every wall. The column-free interior maximizes pallet positions and forklift lanes. Add insulation and dock or roll-up doors to suit the operation.
Metal warehouse buildingsLight commercial or retail unit
At 2,500 square feet this size suits a small showroom, service counter, or trade unit where a clear, open floor matters. The frame can be finished out with an office, restroom, and storefront entry. It presents as a clean, code-engineered commercial building.
Commercial steel buildingsAgricultural and equipment building
On a farm or ranch the 50x50 stores tractors, implements, and hay under a single clear span, or doubles as a workshop for repairs. The wide span lets large equipment turn and park without hitting posts. Open or partially enclosed gable ends are both options.
Agricultural steel buildingsRV and boat storage
Order a taller eave and the 50x50 becomes secure, enclosed storage for an RV, boat, or several vehicles at once. The clear span means no posts between parking positions, so larger rigs fit and maneuver easily. Add tall roll-up doors sized to your largest vehicle.
RV and boat storage buildingsWhat a 50×50 steel building is built for
At 2,500 square feet square, this size sits right at the line where a large garage becomes a genuine commercial workspace. It is a common choice for an auto repair or fabrication shop, a contractor’s equipment and tool base, a three to four bay garage for trucks and toys, or a small inventory warehouse. The full 50 ft clear span means racking, lifts, and vehicles lay out however the work demands, with no posts to route around.
Height, doors, and the open span
Most 50×50 buildings are ordered with a 12 to 16 ft eave, enough to fit a car lift, stack two levels of storage, or clear an RV through a tall roll-up door. Wider eave heights suit boat and RV storage or an auto shop running a two-post lift. Every opening, frame line, and panel is detailed by our engineers so the doors you need are placed without compromising the structure.
Adding living quarters or an office
The square 50×50 footprint divides cleanly when you want finished space alongside the working area, for example a front office, a break room, or an apartment-style shop-with-quarters layout. If your project is primarily a home with living space, that is a barndominium, and our team can route you to our barndominium buildings page for the right approach.
50×50 Metal Building questions
How many square feet is a 50x50 metal building?
A 50x50 metal building is 2,500 square feet of clear-span floor area. Because the 50 ft span is held with no interior columns, all 2,500 sq ft is usable. At this size it is commonly used as a home hobby shop, auto shop, small inventory warehouse, or multi-bay garage.
How much does a 50x50 metal building cost?
As an industry estimate, a turnkey 50x50 metal building usually runs about 35,000 to 55,000 US dollars delivered and installed, or roughly 14 to 22 dollars per square foot before the concrete slab. The engineered shell alone costs less. Final pricing depends on eave height, doors, insulation, finish, and your local snow and wind loads, so request a quote for an exact figure.
What is cheaper, a pole barn or a metal building?
A pole barn often has a lower upfront shell price, but an engineered steel building usually wins on lifetime value at the 50x50 size. Steel gives a true 50 ft clear span with no interior posts, non-combustible framing, lower maintenance, and a frame certified to local code. Many owners find the long-term durability and open floor of steel outweigh the initial saving of a pole barn.
What eave height should I choose for a 50x50 metal building?
Most 50x50 buildings use a 12 to 16 ft eave. Choose 12 to 14 ft for a standard shop or garage, and 14 to 16 ft or taller if you need to clear a car lift, RV, or two levels of storage. Universal Steel engineers the frame to the height you select so doors and clearances work for your equipment.
Does a 50x50 metal building need a concrete foundation?
Most 50x50 buildings are set on a reinforced concrete slab, typically a 4 to 6 inch pad. Industry pricing runs about 7.50 to 10 dollars per square foot, so a 50x50 slab is roughly 19,000 to 25,000 dollars depending on site conditions and thickness. We provide engineered anchor and reaction details so your concrete contractor can pour to spec.
Can a 50x50 metal building have living quarters?
Yes. The square 50x50 footprint divides well between a working area and finished space such as an office, break room, or apartment-style quarters. When living space is the main purpose, the project becomes a barndominium. See our barndominium buildings page to plan a shop-with-quarters or living layout.
Get your 50x50 estimate
We engineer and ship from the closest plant, across the US and internationally. Tell us your site and use.