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The best barndominium floor plans for Oklahoma are simple rectangles between 1,800 and 2,400 square feet, with an open great room, a split bedroom layout and an attached shop or garage. Among barndominium floor plans, a 40×60 is the most popular size. Most families also add a deep porch and a tornado safe room. Talk to experienced barndominium builders in Oklahoma before you buy any plan.
Key Takeaways
- 40×60 is the sweet spot: 2,400 square feet fits 3 to 4 bedrooms with room to spare.
- Simple shapes save money: a plain rectangle under one roof line is the cheapest barndo to build.
- Shop space is the big draw: many Oklahoma owners split the building into living space and a work shop.
- Plan for storms: almost all of Oklahoma sits in the highest tornado risk zone, so a safe room belongs in every set of barndominium floor plans.
- Stock barndominium floor plans need local review: footings, wind loads and septic layout change by county and soil.
What Makes a Barndominium Floor Plan Different?
A barndominium is a home built inside a metal or post frame building. The frame carries the roof on the outside walls. That means most barndominium floor plans have no load bearing walls inside.
This clear span gives you freedom. You can put the kitchen, living room and dining room in one big open space. You can also move interior walls later without touching the structure.
Ceilings are often 12 to 16 feet tall. Many barndominium floor plans use that height for a loft, a mezzanine or tall shop doors. The trade off is that big open rooms need good heating, cooling and insulation to stay comfortable in an Oklahoma summer.
Popular Barndominium Floor Plan Sizes
Barndominiums are sized by the building footprint, width first. The table shows what each common size usually fits as living space only.
| Building Size | Square Feet | Typical Bedrooms | Typical Baths | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30×40 | 1,200 | 2 | 1 to 2 | Couples, guest house, lake cabin |
| 30×50 | 1,500 | 2 to 3 | 2 | Small families, retirees |
| 40×50 | 2,000 | 3 | 2 | Growing families |
| 40×60 | 2,400 | 3 to 4 | 2 to 2.5 | Most popular all around size |
| 50×60 | 3,000 | 4 | 3 | Large families, home office |
| 50×80 | 4,000 | 4 to 5 | 3 to 3.5 | Living space plus attached shop |
If you want a shop under the same roof, add its size on top of the living space. For example, a 40×80 building can hold a 2,400 square foot home and an 800 square foot shop.
The 5 Most Common Barndominium Layouts
1. The Open Concept Single Story
This is the classic barndo. A great room runs down the middle with the kitchen, dining and living areas in one space. Bedrooms sit at each end. It is the easiest plan to build and the easiest to live in as you age, because there are no stairs.
2. The Split Bedroom Plan
The main suite sits on one side of the great room. The other bedrooms sit on the far side. Parents get privacy and kids or guests get their own wing. This is the most requested layout we see from families in Mayes and Rogers County.
3. The Shouse (Shop Plus House)
A shouse puts a workshop or garage under the same roof as the home. The shop often has 12 to 14 foot doors for trucks, tractors, boats or campers. A mudroom with a laundry and half bath usually connects the shop to the house so dirt stays out of the living space.
4. The Loft or Two Story Plan
Tall sidewalls let you add a second floor over part of the home. Lofts often hold an office, a game room or extra bedrooms. You get more living space without a bigger slab, which can lower the cost per square foot.
5. The In-Law Suite Plan
A multigenerational plan adds a private suite with its own bedroom, bath and small kitchenette. Some families put it at the far end of the building. Others put it over the shop. It works well for aging parents or adult kids who want some independence.
Features Every Oklahoma Barndominium Plan Should Have
A plan drawn for Texas or Tennessee does not always fit Oklahoma weather and land. These are the features we add to almost every plan.
A Tornado Safe Room
Oklahoma State University Extension notes that all of Oklahoma except the two western Panhandle counties sits in the highest tornado wind zone. It points homeowners to FEMA P-320 plans when they build a residential safe room. In a barndominium, the easiest spot is a reinforced concrete pantry, closet or main bath. FEMA has documented a Moore safe room that held while the house around it was destroyed.
Deep Porches
Wide porches on the south and west sides shade the walls and windows. That cuts heat gain in July and August. A wrap around porch is also one of the most loved features of the barndo look.
Good Insulation and HVAC Zones
Metal walls move heat fast. Spray foam or a high R value insulation package matters more in a barndo than in a stick built house. Tall great rooms often need a ceiling fan plan and a second HVAC zone for the bedroom wing.
A Mudroom Entry
Red dirt, mud and farm work are real. A mudroom with a bench, hooks, a utility sink and laundry keeps the main house clean.
Smart Site Placement
Drainage, septic location, well location and the driveway all shape where the building can sit. A good plan is drawn around your land, not the other way around.
How to Pick the Right Barndominium Floor Plan
Use these steps to narrow down your options before you commit:
- Set your budget first. Size drives cost more than anything. Our guide to the cost to build a barndominium shows what each finish level runs in Oklahoma.
- List how you live. Count bedrooms, offices and guest needs for the next 10 years, not just today.
- Decide on shop space. Measure the trucks, trailers or equipment you need to park. Door height matters as much as floor space.
- Walk your land. Note slope, the view, the sun path and where water runs during a heavy rain.
- Choose one roof line. Every jog and added gable raises cost. Keep the shape simple where you can.
- Have a local builder review the plan. Stock plans rarely include Oklahoma footings, wind loads or septic layout.
- Lock the plan before you order the steel. Changes after the building package is ordered cost the most.
Have a plan but not sure it will work on your land? Call Matthew at (918) 944-1263. Shea Construction offers 3D design support, so you can see the layout before anything is built.
Floor Plan Mistakes to Avoid
We see the same problems again and again on plans bought online. Watch out for these:
- No storage: big open rooms look great but leave nowhere to put things.
- Bedrooms off the kitchen: noise and cooking smells carry in an open plan.
- Too many windows on the west wall: they bake the great room every afternoon.
- A shop with no buffer: going straight from the shop into the kitchen brings in noise, fumes and dirt.
- Plumbing spread across the building: keeping kitchen, baths and laundry close together saves real money.
- No safe room: it costs far less to build one in now than to add it later.
Barndominium Floor Plan FAQs
How big of a barndominium can I build for $100,000?
For about $100,000, most Oklahoma buyers can get a small shell or a dried in building around 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. A fully finished home at that budget is rare today. Land, site work, utilities and finishes usually push the total higher.
How much does it cost to build a 2,000 square foot barndominium?
The cost of a 2,000 square foot barndominium depends on whether you want a shell or a turnkey home, plus your land and finishes. See our barndominium cost guide for current Oklahoma price ranges per square foot.
What are the negatives of barndominiums?
The main downsides are heat and cold moving through metal walls, condensation if insulation is done wrong, and appraisals or loans that can be harder to get in some areas. A good insulation package and a builder with barndo experience solve most of these.
Do barndominiums last as long as a house?
Yes, when they are built right. A steel or post frame structure with a good roof and proper insulation can last 50 years or more. Our barndominium vs house comparison covers upkeep and life span in more detail.
How can I draw my own floor plan for free?
You can sketch a plan on graph paper or use a free online floor plan tool. Draw the outside walls first, then place the kitchen and baths close together. Bring your sketch to a builder, who can turn it into real construction drawings.
Turn Your Barndominium Floor Plan Into a Real Build
A plan only works if it fits your land, your budget and Oklahoma weather. Call Shea Construction at (918) 944-1263 and ask for a free plan review and build estimate. You will talk to Matthew Mullin, the owner, not a call center. We will look at your plan, suggest changes that save money, and show it to you in 3D.
We build barndominiums and metal buildings in Oklahoma from Salina to Tulsa and around Grand Lake. Hours are Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5:30 PM. You can also plan your barndominium build online.
Shea Construction LLC
Shea Construction
Salina, OK 74365
Phone: (918) 944-1263
Email: mattm@sheaconstructionllc.com
Website: sheaconstructionllc.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5:30 PM
Serving Salina, Pryor, Claremore, Locust Grove, Grove, Chouteau, Vinita, Tulsa and Northeast
