List what must fit
Start with a list: tractors, mowers, trailers, vehicles, boats, hay, tools, a workbench, animals. Measure each item, including its height with loaders or antennas, and add working room around it.
People rarely say they built too big. They often say they wish they had added another bay.
Pick a width that spans well
Common widths are 24, 30, 36, 40 and 50 feet, and wider is possible with engineered trusses. A 30-foot width fits most equipment and a workshop layout, while 40 feet lets you park vehicles and still have a bench area.
Length is the cheaper dimension to change. Adding a bay usually costs less than adding width.
Choose the sidewall height
Fourteen feet is common for general use. Equipment and RVs may need 14 to 16 feet of door height, a lift needs 12 to 14 feet of ceiling, and a loft needs more.
Taller walls cost more but are very hard to add later, so decide carefully.
Plan the doors with the building
Doors should be sized from the biggest item that must pass through, with a foot or more of clearance. Put them where traffic flows, on the end wall for long buildings or on the side for wide ones.
Think about the future: a door that fits next year's tractor is better than one that barely fits today's.
Leave room to grow
A lean-to along one wall, a slab you can extend and a site that allows an extra bay are cheap insurance. We design for expansion from the start.
Make a list, measure everything, and then add a bay for the future.
