Short answer
The cost to build a greenhouse typically ranges from about $1–5 per sq ft for a DIY film hoop house to $3–10 per sq ft for a steel high tunnel kit, $10–50 for a hobby polycarbonate kit and $15–100+ for equipped commercial greenhouses. Size, covering, foundation, climate equipment and labor drive the total; installation often adds roughly 20–50% to kit prices.
How much does it cost to build a greenhouse?
The cost to build a greenhouse ranges from a few hundred dollars for a small DIY hoop house to several hundred thousand dollars or more for an equipped commercial range. Per unit of area, typical ranges run from about $10–50 per m² ($1–5 per sq ft) for DIY film hoops to $400–1,000+ per m² ($40–100+ per sq ft) for high-tech glass houses, with size, covering, foundation, climate equipment and labor as the main drivers.
The figures in this guide are typical ranges compiled from published kit prices and university extension cost studies. They vary widely by region, year, steel and resin prices, freight and site conditions, so use them for budgeting and comparison, then confirm with real quotations. For the purchase decision itself, see our greenhouse kit buying guide.
What is the price of a greenhouse by type?
The price of a greenhouse depends first on its type and covering. The table shows typical structure-and-covering ranges before heating, irrigation and growing systems are added.
| Greenhouse type | Typical cost per m² | Typical cost per sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY PVC or cattle panel hoop (materials) | About $10–50 | About $1–5 | Cheapest greenhouse build; short life, low snow rating |
| High tunnel or hoop house kit (steel, film) | About $30–110 | About $3–10 | Unheated, roll-up sides; installation extra |
| Hobby polycarbonate kit (aluminum or steel) | About $110–540 | About $10–50 | Small kits cost the most per area |
| Commercial multi-span film, equipped | About $160–430 | About $15–40 | Vents, fans, screens, basic controls |
| Commercial multi-span polycarbonate, equipped | About $270–540 | About $25–50 | Better insulation and hail resistance |
| High-tech glass (Venlo style), fully equipped | About $430–1,100+ | About $40–100+ | Heating, screens, lighting, hydroponics, automation |
Small greenhouses cost more per square foot than large ones because doors, end walls, vents and freight are spread over less area. Our guide to types of greenhouses explains the structures in the table.
What are common greenhouse sizes and their costs?
Common greenhouse sizes are named in feet in the US, from 6 × 8 ft hobby houses to 30 × 96 ft high tunnels. The table pairs popular sizes with typical uses and indicative budgets for a kit or DIY build.
| Size (ft) | Floor area | Typical use | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 | 80 sq ft (7.4 m²) | Seed starting, herbs, a few tomatoes | About $400 DIY to $4,000+ for a polycarbonate kit |
| 10 × 10 | 100 sq ft (9.3 m²) | Small family greenhouse | About $500 to $5,000+ |
| 10 × 12 | 120 sq ft (11 m²) | Popular hobby size with a center path and two benches | About $600 to $6,000+ |
| 12 × 12 / 12 × 16 | 144–192 sq ft (13–18 m²) | Serious home growing, small nursery | About $800 to $8,000+ |
| 10 × 20 / 12 × 20 | 200–240 sq ft (19–22 m²) | Year-round home food, market garden starts | About $1,000 to $10,000+ |
| 20 × 30 | 600 sq ft (56 m²) | Small farm, CSA seedlings | About $2,500 to $20,000+ |
| 1,000 sq ft (e.g. 20 × 50 or 25 × 40) | About 93 m² | Market garden production | About $3,000 to $30,000+ |
| 30 × 96 high tunnel | 2,880 sq ft (268 m²) | Commercial season extension | Kits commonly in the low to mid five figures |
Free and paid greenhouse plans are widely available for most of these sizes, from 8x10 to 12x20 ft; when using any plan, check that the design suits your snow and wind loads, and that standard material lengths (for example 4 × 8 ft polycarbonate sheets or 6 m steel tubes) fit the dimensions without waste. A 20 × 12 or 10 × 20 ft greenhouse is a common upgrade size once a hobby house fills up.
How do you choose a greenhouse size?
Most growers outgrow their first greenhouse within a few seasons, so size for where you expect to be in three to five years. A practical way to decide:
- List the crops and benches you need, then add a path of about 0.9 m (3 ft) down the middle and space for a potting area.
- Check headroom: tall tomatoes and cucumbers need side walls of at least 1.5–1.8 m (5–6 ft).
- Check the site: leave room for access, drainage and snow sliding off the roof.
- Compare cost per square foot between two sizes; going from a 10 x 10 greenhouse to 10 x 12 or 10 x 20 ft often adds area at a lower cost per square foot.
An 8 × 10 ft polycarbonate greenhouse suits a small yard and seed starting, while a 1000 square foot greenhouse or larger suits market gardeners who sell transplants or produce.
What greenhouse size does a family of 4 need?
For a family of four, a greenhouse of roughly 10 × 12 to 12 × 20 ft (11–22 m²) is a common choice for year-round salads and herbs, spring seedlings and summer tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Producing most of a family's vegetables year-round takes considerably more space, often several hundred square feet under cover plus outdoor beds, and depends heavily on climate and crop choice.
What drives the cost of building a greenhouse?
The cost of building a greenhouse is driven by more than the frame. These factors explain most of the difference between quotes:
- Covering: film is cheapest, twin-wall polycarbonate mid-range, glass highest.
- Structural loads: heavy snow or hurricane-rated frames need thicker steel and closer spacing.
- Height and span: taller gutters and wider spans cost more but give a more stable climate.
- Foundation: ground posts and anchors are cheap; concrete piers, perimeter footings or a slab add substantially.
- Climate equipment: heaters, fans, cooling pads, shade and energy screens and controllers.
- Water and power: trenching for water and electricity can rival the kit price on a small project.
- Growing systems: benches, hydroponics and irrigation.
- Permits, freight and import duties.
For commercial projects, the structure and covering are often less than half of the total budget once climate control, irrigation and installation are included; our commercial greenhouse guide breaks this down.
What is the labor cost to build a greenhouse?
Labor cost to build a greenhouse commonly adds roughly 20–50% on top of the kit price for hobby houses and high tunnels, and more where concrete foundations, utilities or permits are involved. Greenhouse installation cost depends on local wage rates, site access and the crew's experience with the system. Ways to control it:
- Prepare the site yourself: clearing, leveling and drainage are simple but time-consuming.
- Choose a kit with clear drawings and pre-drilled, pre-cut parts.
- Use supervised installation: one experienced supervisor with a local crew is often cheaper than a full contractor.
- Schedule utilities early so electricians and plumbers are not called back.
- Cover in calm weather to avoid wasted film and repeat visits.
Our step-by-step guide to how to build a greenhouse covers foundations and framing.
What is the cheapest way to build a greenhouse?
The cheapest greenhouse build is usually a hoop house made from cattle panels, PVC pipe or bent steel tube, covered with 6 mil UV-stabilized greenhouse film. A low budget DIY mini greenhouse can be as simple as hoops over a raised bed. These low-cost DIY options work, but they have trade-offs:
- Film needs replacing about every four years, so budget for it.
- PVC and light hoops are not rated for heavy snow or strong wind.
- Cheap covers without UV protection fail in one season, which makes them more expensive over time.
For cattle panel greenhouse dimensions, a typical arch uses 16 ft (4.9 m) panels to make a house about 8 ft (2.4 m) wide and 6–7 ft (1.8–2.1 m) tall. The best budget greenhouse for a farm is usually a galvanized steel high tunnel kit: it costs more than DIY at the start but lasts far longer. Film choice is covered in our greenhouse plastic film guide. Eligible US farmers may also be able to offset part of a high tunnel's cost through USDA NRCS; see our high tunnel grant guide.
How do you plan a greenhouse budget?
A realistic greenhouse budget includes the full project, not just the kit. Use this checklist when you compare the cheapest quotes against higher ones:
- Structure and covering, with the design snow and wind loads stated.
- Doors, vents, end walls, gutters and fasteners: are they included?
- Foundation and anchoring materials.
- Heating, cooling, shading and controls.
- Irrigation, benches or growing systems.
- Freight, import duties and local delivery.
- Installation labor, permits and utility connections.
- A contingency of about 10–15% for site surprises.
The cost per square meter of a large greenhouse falls as area grows, so it can pay to build a larger structure in one phase than to add small houses one at a time. Buyers importing a structure should read our guide to importing farm equipment from China for freight and customs costs.
Getting a quote
The cost to build a greenhouse comes down to size, type, covering, site work and equipment, so the most reliable number is a quotation based on your own dimensions and loads. Mars Vertical Farm supplies greenhouses factory-direct from Shanghai, from film tunnels to the large multi-span steel frame greenhouse and the agricultural polycarbonate gear greenhouse, quoted EXW, FOB Shanghai or CIF. Send us your size, location and crop plan for a custom-sized quotation.
