Building a grain shed?
Grain sheds for on-farm storage have been in high demand as growers look to increased efficiencies at harvest and take advantage of market opportunities throughout the year. On-farm storage pays off!
With the demand for new grain sheds increasing, so too have the questions.
What size grain shed do I need? What is the best grain shed design?
Building a grain shed can be a significant project and outlay, therefore it is important to get details like size and design right.
We have answered the top 10 questions we are asked about building a grain shed.
We hope you find the article helpful, and remember we are more than happy to answer any other questions you might have about your grain shed build.
First, let’s talk about shed size and capacity.
1
What Size Grain Shed Do I Need? How Much Grain Will I Be Able To Store In My Shed?
Capacity is one of the most important aspects of any storage shed, and a grain shed is no different. A lack of storage space can not only be stressful, it could also cost you money – so it is important to get grain shed sizes right!
So, what size grain shed do you need?
Use the grain storage calculator below to find out!
Simply enter the shed size you are considering, and the type of grain being stored, and the calculator will work out the rest
You can also find more information on grain shed sizes, here – What Size Grain Shed Do I Need?
Put in your shed size and grain type in the left side fields and the storage volume and total tonnage will be displayed on the right.
2
How Much Does It Cost To Build A Grain Shed?
Grain shed prices! Usually, the first question when considering building a grain shed is – how much will it cost?
To help you budget for a new grain shed build, below are some popular grain shed sizes and an approximate cost-per-tonne.
- A 30m x 18m grain shed stores 1,500 tonnes and costs approx. $150 – $190 / tonne
- A 36m x 24m grain shed stores 3,000 tonnes and costs approx. $130 – $160 / tonne
- A 56m x 27m grain shed stores 6,000 tonnes and costs approx. $100 – $135 / tonne
- An 80m x 30m grain sheds stores 10,000 tonnes and costs approx. $85 – $115 / tonne
Remember these are approximate price ranges only and the cost of your grain shed build will depend on factors like shed design and site location.
3
What Is The Best Way To Store Grain? Should I Store Grain In A Shed?
Should you be storing your grain in a shed? There are a variety of storage options for grain including sheds, silos and more temporary options such as grain tarps – but which is best?
Typically, the best way to store your grain depends on the type of grain you are storing and the quantity.
For example, shed storage is a great bulk storage option for cereals such as feed-grade wheat and barley, and pulses such as chickpeas, faba beans and lentils.
However, for smaller quantities on-farm such as 100-200 tonnes it may be more practical to use a silo.
The main disadvantage of a grain shed is that a shed has the highest initial cost of all your grain storage options. However, a grain shed stores larger volumes of grain at the lowest cost per tonne.
A grain shed also:
- Allows straightforward and efficient loading at harvest, preventing bottlenecks at receival sites
- Opens up market opportunities throughout the year such as storing grain on-farm until prices peak post-harvest
- Is a versatile asset. For example, it could be used to store machinery through out the year.
Next up we discuss grain shed design. Which is best?
4
What Is The Best Grain Shed Design?
There are three grain shed designs – inside-out grain sheds, fully-enclosed concrete panel grain sheds and open front grain sheds – and each design has both advantages and disadvantages.
So, which is best?
The short answer is – a fully enclosed concrete panel grain shed is the recommended option.
Below we discuss each design, explain the differences and when and why they are a good fit.
An ‘inside-out’ grain shed is a shed that is constructed with iron installed on the inside of the shed rather than the outside.
This provides a clean skin inside the shed for minimal dust collection. However, it does mean that this design is not suited for fertiliser storage in the off-season.
Another common challenge often raised with an inside-out grain shed design is the potential damage to the iron when using a loader.
To prevent this from happening, we recommend installing a concrete plinth around the edges of the shed in conjunction with the slab.
A fully enclosed concrete panel grain shed is considered best-practice.
This design typically includes:
- A steep roof pitch to accommodate the angle of repose and allow tipping inside the shed
- Pre-cast concrete panel walls fastened to the inside of the shed columns, most commonly at 3 or 3.5 metres high.
- Sliding doors at one or both gable ends
Movable L-walls can also be used to provide segregation between products. This provides greater flexiblity in how you use the shed and doesn’t reduce the overall capacity of the shed.
Finally, for short-term grain storage or where aeration or versatility is a priority, you could consider an open-front grain shed.
For example, some growers have used this design when storing faba beans. This configuration also provides plenty of versatility for hay or machinery storage
The best shed design for you will usually depend on the storage requirements for your grain.
5
Does My Grain Shed Project Require Council Permits?
In Victoria, nearly all farm shed projects will require council permits, and this includes grain sheds.
Large-scale grain sheds will also need to satisfy fire design requirements, such as water storage tanks and personal access doors.
As registered builders, our project team can coordinate the required documentation and manage these applications on your behalf.
You can watch the video below to learn about the council permit process.
6
How Do I Prepare The Site For My Grain Shed?
Site preparation for your grain shed project is incredibly important.
A well-prepared shed site ensures good drainage away from the shed and provides easy access to the shed, during and after the shed build.
In the video below, Ben, one of our project managers outline our top 10 tips for preparing the ideal shed pad.
You might also find this article helpful – Farm Shed Pads: Sizes, Ideas & Prices
7
How Much Do Council Permits Cost?
The cost for council permits varies from project to project depending on factors like shed size, project complexity and the local shire council.
To give you an indication of shed permit costs, the average cost of permits for a farm shed built by Action Steel is around $2,600.
For large scale grain sheds and complex projects, the permit process will be more involved and may require more paperwork such as fire design and access requirements, incurring additional administrative costs. This generally comes into effect for buildings over 2000m².
8
What Thickness Does The Concrete Slab In My Grain Shed Need To Be? How Much Does It Cost?
An 180mm – 200mm concrete slab is recommended for grain sheds with trucks tipping inside. An additional layer of reinforcing mesh may also be required.
The cost of concrete slabs varies between sizes and locations. As a general guide, an 180mm thick concrete slab usually costs between $120 and $180 per square metre.
Our projects team can arrange the concrete slab for your project – a one stop shop!
9
Can I Claim My Grain Shed As A Tax Deduction?
If you are using your grain for fodder storage, you may qualify for the 100% write-off for fodder storage assets.
You can learn more about this incentive and eligibility requirements here – Fodder Storage Write-Off & Funding Available In 2025
10
What Is The Lead Time For A Grain Shed Build?
One of the first questions we asked about grain sheds, is what is the lead time for a grain shed?
Our project schedule is regularly updated, and we determine time frames on a job-by-job basis so the lead time for a new grain shed build does vary from project to project. However, currently the average lead time for a new grain shed build is approximately 4 months.
The installation stage usually takes a few weeks, depending on the size of the project.
Time also needs to be allowed for the concrete slab to cure.
That’s a wrap! If you are considering building a grain shed, we hope you have found these answers to the top 10 questions useful!
What questions have we missed? What else do you want to know about building a grain shed?
You can find more answers to FAQ in our latest brochure: 2025 Grain Shed Guide (PDF Download)
Ready to get your grain shed project underway? Call us on 1800 687 888 – we would love to hear from you!
