Chicken Coop Building Cost Calculator
Estimate the materials cost of building a DIY chicken coop and run. Adjust size, quality, and materials to find a build that fits your budget.
How much does it actually cost to build a chicken coop?
For a build using new materials at 2026 US prices, a 24 sq ft coop with a 60 sq ft run lands in one of three bands depending on quality:
- Basic (OSB, chicken wire, plastic roof): about $1,000
- Standard (plywood, hardware cloth, shingles): about $1,800
- Premium (cedar, heavy hardware cloth, metal roof): about $2,800
Drop the run and the coop alone runs roughly $745, $1,195, or $1,975 across the same three tiers. These are materials only. Labor adds $400-$1,200 if you hire a carpenter. Builder surveys in 2026 put the median new-materials coop-and-run build near $2,000, so the sub-$500 figures common in older guides usually assume salvaged or pallet materials.
Materials cost by build quality
These totals come straight from the calculator at its default settings: a 24 sq ft coop, new materials at 2026 prices, plastic-panel roof, two nest boxes, roost bars, and paint. Switch to metal roofing or cedar framing and the numbers climb.
| Build quality | Coop only (24 sq ft) | Coop + 60 sq ft run |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (OSB, chicken wire, plastic roof) | $744 | $998 |
| Standard (plywood, hardware cloth, shingles) | $1,193 | $1,786 |
| Premium (cedar, heavy cloth, metal roof) | $1,974 | $2,769 |
The run adds a few hundred dollars in every tier, which lines up with what real builders report. Set your own size, quality, and roof in the calculator above to get a figure for your exact plan.
What drives coop build costs
A few line items account for most of the budget. The calculator itemizes the exact figures, but the pattern is consistent:
- Structural lumber for the floor, walls, and roof framing is usually the single largest line, often 35-45% of a basic build.
- Run fencing and run framing together often rival the coop itself. A 60 sq ft run in hardware cloth needs roughly 180 sq ft of mesh, plus posts and a covered top.
- Sheathing (OSB at about $25/sheet, plywood at about $55-$70/sheet) for the walls and floor.
- Roofing, from about $1 per sq ft for plastic panels to about $3.50 for metal.
- Hardware: hinges, screws, and predator-proof latches. Budget at least $75-$100, because cheap latches get opened by raccoons.
Chicken wire vs hardware cloth
Chicken wire is cheap, but raccoons pull it apart and rats chew through it within weeks. Most keepers who start with chicken wire end up rebuilding with hardware cloth after their first predator loss. Use 1/2-inch 19-gauge hardware cloth from the start. The extra $100-$200 on a full build is far less than rebuilding after an attack.
A note from building: I have put up two coops, and both times the run quietly ate more of the budget than the coop did. The first time I used chicken wire to save money, and a raccoon had it open inside a month. The real lesson was to spend on half-inch hardware cloth from the start and stop pretending chicken wire counts as fencing.
DIY vs prefab
Prefab is faster and needs no carpentry skills. The downsides are real, though: capacity labels are commonly inflated by 30-50%, hardware quality tends to be lower, and the sizes rarely match what the Coop Size Calculator says your flock actually needs.
- DIY makes sense for: 6+ birds, specific size requirements, a 10+ year lifespan goal.
- Prefab makes sense for: 2-4 birds, renting, no tools, wanting chickens this weekend.
Common mistakes that inflate costs
- No plan before buying. This leads to wrongly-cut lumber and repeat trips to the store.
- Underestimating run fencing. Most builders forget the run needs a roof too.
- Untreated lumber touching soil. It rots in 2-5 years. Use pressure-treated for all ground contact.
- Cheap latches. Raccoons open hook-and-eye latches. Use locking barrel bolts.
- No ventilation budget. High wall vents need hardware-cloth covers and weather lips.
Where to go next
- Work out your square footage before buying anything with the Coop Size Calculator.
- Roll this build into your full setup budget using the First-Year Cost Estimator.
- Plan the ongoing monthly spend with the Feed Consumption Calculator.
- Size the daily water your flock needs with the Water Consumption Calculator.
- Estimate winter de-icing costs with the Winter Water Heating Cost Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a chicken coop?
Using new materials at 2026 prices, a basic 24 sq ft coop with a 60 sq ft run runs about $1,000. Standard quality is around $1,800 and premium cedar around $2,800. Without the run, the coop alone is roughly $745, $1,195, or $1,975 across those three tiers. Salvaged or pallet materials can cut a basic build to $150-$300. Labor adds $400-$1,200 if you hire out.
What is the cheapest way to build a chicken coop?
Use reclaimed lumber, OSB sheathing, plastic roofing. One place not to cut costs: run fencing. Cheap chicken wire gets replaced after the first predator attack.
Is it cheaper to build or buy a chicken coop?
For 2-4 birds, a prefab may cost similar to DIY. For 6+ birds, DIY is usually 20-40% cheaper than a comparable-quality prefab, and it lets you build to the size your birds actually need.
How long does it take to build a chicken coop?
A 24 sq ft coop takes an experienced DIYer a weekend (12-16 hrs). First-timers should budget 20-30 hrs. Walk-in coops add 8-12 hrs.
Do I need a permit to build a chicken coop?
Depends on your municipality. Coops under 100-120 sq ft rarely need permits, but setback rules almost always apply. Check local zoning before building.
What wood is best for a chicken coop?
Pressure-treated for ground contact. Cedar or redwood for exterior siding if budget allows. Standard 2x4s for framing. 3/4-inch exterior plywood for sheathing. Never leave OSB exposed to weather without paint or cladding.
How much should the run cost compared to the coop?
Often about the same. In 2026 builder surveys the enclosed run frequently matched or exceeded the cost of the coop itself, mostly because hardware cloth and run framing add up quickly. For a 60 sq ft run in hardware cloth, budget a few hundred dollars on top of the coop, and remember to cover the top of the run against climbing predators.
Can I build a chicken coop cheaply from pallets?
Yes, and it is the main way people get a build under $300. Free pallets, marketplace lumber, and a salvaged door can bring a basic coop down to $150-$300 in materials. The trade-off is time and consistency: pallet wood varies in size and condition, some pallets are chemically treated (look for the HT heat-treated stamp and avoid the MB stamp), and you still want new hardware cloth rather than salvaged wire.