How Much Does a Greenhouse Cost to Build?

Greenhouse Cost per Square Foot

The cost of a greenhouse ranges between $5 and $35 per square foot, with most people paying around $20 per square foot. The size of the greenhouse, the materials you choose, and any extras, such as ventilation, heat, irrigation, and automation, influence how much you'll pay for your greenhouse per square foot.

Materials 

You need many different materials for a complete greenhouse, including framing material and glazing material. You'll also likely need flooring and, depending on size and style, you'll need siding, too. Take a look at common greenhouse material prices to see how they'll impact the final cost.

Greenhouse Prices by Type

There are many types of greenhouses, and the style you choose will impact price, along with functionality, longevity, and space requirements. Take a look at the most popular greenhouse options and their per-square-foot costs.

Hoop House 

Hoop houses cost $5 to $10 per square foot. They consist of a series of half-hoops anchored into the ground, with the hoops covered in a thick, clear plastic sheet, with entryways at one or both ends also covered in thick plastic, either with a zipper, or with a wooden door frame built into the end frame. Hoop greenhouses are a budget-friendly way of quickly building and covering a substantial growing area. 

Geodesic

Geodesic greenhouses cost $10 to $25 per square foot. Also known as dome greenhouses, these are round structures with domed tops. Geodesign greenhouses can be glazed, but to keep costs low, builders opt for a thick, stretched plastic sheet to cover them. Their round nature provides a lot of floor space and makes them able to withstand harsh winter storms, and they capture a lot of heat and light, too.

Rooftop Greenhouse

Rooftop greenhouses cost $10 to $25 per square foot and, as the name implies, they go on a flat roof. Rooftop greenhouses attach firmly to the walls or roof for extra safety, and they obviously need to be built on a flat roof. While not too common, they're an increasingly popular option in urban areas where residents can access their rooftops. 

A-Frame

A-frame greenhouses cost $25 to $35 per square foot. A-frames are fairly simple, permanent structures. Their glass-glazed design makes them costlier than other types of greenhouses, but their shape makes them a popular option in areas with heavy snowfall. A-frame models have a steeply pitched roof, so snow and ice slide off rather than build up and cause damage.

Heated Greenhouse Cost

Heated greenhouses cost $35 to $35 per square foot, on average. Plus, you'll need to pay running costs to keep the unit heated throughout the colder months. However, year-round plant growth offsets some of the increased cost. 

Additionally, if you live in a cold climate, an unheated greenhouse may not be warm enough to get your seeds off to a good start—or to grow warm-climate plants, such as peppers and tomatoes. 

The increased build cost comes from the need to insulate the greenhouse and install the highest efficiency glazing that you can afford. This helps reduce energy costs by more efficiently maintaining internal temperature. 

Geothermal Greenhouse 

Geothermal, or pit greenhouses, cost $20 to $25 per square foot. These models use the earth's constant temperature to stay warm year-round. Basically, the homeowner digs a pit in a suitably sunny location, then places a greenhouse roof over the top. This keeps the greenhouse around 10 degrees warmer than the above-ground temperature during winter. In summer, the earth acts as a heat sink, helping to keep the greenhouse temperature low enough that ventilation is often unnecessary.  

Commercial Greenhouse Costs

Commercial greenhouses typically cost $25 to $35 per square foot. Size is the main difference between a commercial and residential greenhouse, with some units covering an acre or more in one greenhouse. Commercial greenhouses also usually have more ventilation, heating, and insulation than their residential counterparts. 

Greenhouse Costs Per Acre

Expect to pay anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 or more for a 1-acre greenhouse. There are 43,560 square feet in an acre. If building on multiple acres, you will likely pay less than $2 per square foot, but the final costs depend on many factors.

Retractable Roof Greenhouse

Greenhouses with retractable roofs are usually a custom project, typically designed for large or commercial areas. If you’re interested in this style, get an estimate from a greenhouse builder near you.

Hydroponic Greenhouse

A 1,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse costs around $35,000 to build. This includes the cost to put in a water line, as well as any electrical work. Hydroponic systems have a high yield and don’t use soil for growing, instead relying mostly on air and water.

Greenhouse Setup Costs

You could pay anywhere from $150 to $14,450 on average to set up an area for a greenhouse. This price does not include installing or building the greenhouse itself.

Here are some average costs you could encounter:

• The price to grade the ground under the greenhouse is between $980 and $2,950.

• The cost to put in a drip irrigation system runs from $1,800 to $2,500.

• Installing light fixtures costs between $150 and $820, but could cost more if you supplement with grow lights.

• Plumbing Installation prices range from $350 to $1,840.

• Depending on the heating system, the cost to install a heater ranges from $170 to $9,200.

Making a DIY Greenhouse vs. Hiring a Professional

Buying a greenhouse kit is an option, and plenty of DIY projects exist. A hobbyist might relish in creating their own glasshouse or hoop house, but for serious growers and medium-to-large spaces, we recommend hiring a local greenhouse builder for a consultation to a full turnkey installation.

Greenhouse building costs are expensive, no matter what. Hiring a greenhouse builder lightens your load in terms of planning and labor, which is a massive convenience and timesaver. The last thing you’d want to happen is to spend lots of time and money crafting a growing space, only to make a mistake that negatively affects your plants.

Greenhouse Kit Prices

The price range for a greenhouse kit varies, but usually costs between $580 and $3,000. You could find a kit for as low as $300 and as high as $19,450 or more.

Kits usually don’t come with benches and other amenities. These will have to be bought or built separately, and the cost can vary widely depending on what type you get. In general, potting benches cost about $100 each.

FAQs

How much does a greenhouse home addition cost?

Attached greenhouses range from $13,000 and $35,000. Freestanding units are typically much less to install than the cost to build a home addition, which is between $21,110 and $69,050.

How do you start a greenhouse?

There are many steps to take before building a greenhouse. You need to come up with a general idea and might need to grade or de-slope the ground even before a greenhouse builder can start working.

You can begin planting as soon as your greenhouse construction wraps up. Every plant has different needs, so you’ll have to do a lot of research to determine what your plants need to succeed.

How long does it take to build a greenhouse?

A small greenhouse might take a weekend or less to build, but larger ones can take several weeks or longer. A professional team might finish building in a few days to a week, depending on the size of the project.

Which type of greenhouse should I build?

There are tons of greenhouse options out there. Researching each type, weighing the pros and cons, and consulting with a professional builder will help you narrow down the right structure for your property.

How warm does a greenhouse get?

Greenhouses can heat up really well, but you don’t want temperatures above 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher than that will hurt your plants. Ventilation is very important in autumn and winter, as greenhouses can get overheated even on the coldest days. Many greenhouse owners install automatic roof or window vent systems that open if the temperature inside the greenhouse exceeds a pre-set level (and then close when the temperature drops).

Without even adding a heater, a well-insulated greenhouse will stay 30 degrees warmer than the outside.

How much does a greenhouse cost to maintain?

Some greenhouses (such as pit or geothermal versions) only cost $1 a day to maintain. Hydroponic systems might cost $500 a year, not counting the cost of seeds.

If you have to heat or cool this area, you’ll pay substantially more. Even just heating overnight adds an average of at least $10 to your bill.