Steel structure pricing
The price of a steel structure depends on many variables and that's why no serious industrial supplier publishes real fixed rates. On this page we explain what factors drive cost, what indicative ranges typical projects come in at, and how to ask us for a realistic quote you can use to make an informed decision.
Why we don't publish fixed prices
A steel structure is not sold like a catalogue product. Two warehouses of the same size can cost very differently: if one is in a heavy-snow zone and the other on the coast, if one has a 12-metre clear span and the other 30, if one is erected with an 80-tonne crane and the other with a 200-tonne crane, or if one needs intumescent paint and the other only primer. Publishing a fixed €/m² figure forces you to inflate the price so as not to lose money or, worse still, to lure the client in with a price that is later not honoured.
That is why we prefer to explain the factors that drive the price and deliver a realistic quote in 24 to 48 hours based on the basic data of your project. You will receive prices broken down by chapter so you can compare line items against other offers and make your decision with clear information.
Factors that drive the price
The quote for a steel structure is built on multiple variables. Knowing them helps you understand why two offers can differ by 30 % without either being wrong: they are measuring different things. These are the main variables:
- Type (warehouse, mezzanine, roofing, trusses, reinforcement, canopy…)
- Floor area in m² and clear height
- Span between columns (the wider the span, the more kg of steel per m²)
- Loads: snow, wind, imposed loads, suspended equipment
- Steel grade (S275 vs S355) and section profiles used
- Type of roofing and cladding
- Surface treatment (primer, galvanising, intumescent)
- Transport: distance, special clearances, number of trips
- Installation: crane type and hours, number of operatives, accessibility
- Foundations: client's responsibility or included
- Need for a technical project, planning approval and site supervision
- Timeline: an urgent delivery puts pressure on workshop scheduling
- Location: marine-corrosion or seismic zones require extra thickness
Per m², per kg or per project?
In steelwork there are three ways of measuring the price. Each one suits a different stage of the project and it is worth understanding them so you do not compare offers that are measuring different things:
Price per m²: useful for a first estimate. It is obtained by dividing the total cost by the square metres built. It is the easiest figure to compare but also the most misleading, because it depends heavily on what each offer includes.
Price per kg of steel: this is what industrial suppliers use to quote internally. It is calculated on the actual kilos of steel plus fabrication, transport and installation. It is precise but requires the calculation to be done.
Price per project: a closed offer that includes everything defined within the scope. It is the definitive format and the one you sign when you award the contract.
Upload drawings or describe your idea. We reply with a realistic quote in 48h.
Indicative ranges by type
As a general reference (not an offer), these are the ranges we see in typical projects. Take these figures only as a starting point: your project may fall inside or outside the range depending on the factors covered above.
- Turnkey industrial warehouse: 100–220 €/m² (structure + roofing + cladding)
- Warehouse steel structure only: 55–95 €/m²
- Metal roofing with sandwich panel: 28–55 €/m²
- Steel mezzanine with flooring and railings: 110–180 €/m²
- Steel trusses: bespoke quote (depends on span and loads)
- Residential metal canopy or pergola: 180–350 €/m²
- Structural reinforcement in premises: bespoke quote (typically 600–4,000 € per job)
What data we need to prepare a quote
To prepare a realistic quote we need some minimum information about the project. The more complete it is, the better we can refine the figure:
- Type of structure (warehouse, mezzanine, roofing, reinforcement, canopy…)
- Approximate floor area in m² and clear height
- Exact location of the plot or building (province and municipality)
- Intended use and special loads (overhead crane, racking, suspended equipment)
- Whether you have a technical project, drawings or a structural calculation report
- Approximate execution timeline
- Whether the foundations are already in place or must be quoted separately
How a professional quote is broken down
A serious offer is not delivered as a single price. You should receive separate chapters so you can compare and understand exactly what you are contracting. These are the chapters we provide:
- Structural calculation and fabrication drawings (if you do not supply them)
- Steel supply and machining
- Workshop welding and dimensional control
- Surface treatment (primer, galvanising or intumescent)
- Transport to site
- On-site installation (includes crane hours and operatives)
- Final documentation and CE marking certificate
- Timeline per chapter and payment terms