How long does it take to build a steel building? Most Toro steel building kits shown in our project videos were assembled in 4 to 10 days, from a 60x80x20 frame in 4 days to a 35x70 building in 10 winter days. Add 2 to 8 weeks for delivery, plus time to get your drawings approved and your foundation poured.
Key takeaways
- Assembly is fast. Real Toro projects went up in 4 to 10 days, and a 50x60x16 auto shop took about a week and a half.
- The prep takes longer than the build. Plan for engineer-stamped drawings, your permit, a foundation built to spec and 2 to 8 weeks for delivery.
- Crew and equipment matter most. A 40x60 went up in 5 days with three local contractors and a scissor lift.
- Need it sooner? Clearance buildings are already made, so they can cut the wait for production.
Real build times from Toro projects
Every number below comes from a Toro project video, so you can watch each building go up for yourself.
| Building | Location | Framing | Crew and equipment | Build time | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60x80x20 steel building frame | Ontario | Straight-wall steel frame | Crew with a telehandler, lifts and a scissor lift | 4 days to stand the full frame | Watch |
| 30x50x18 A-Model | Ontario | Arch (Quonset-style) | Crew with a lift and scaffolding | 4 days for the arches and front end wall | Watch |
| 35x31x14 X-Model | Ontario | Arch (Quonset-style) | Crew with scaffolding | 4 days for the arches and back end wall | Watch |
| 40x60 farm building | Ontario | Red iron | 3 local contractors and a scissor lift | 5 days, start to finish | Watch |
| 35x70 steel building | Not stated | Straight-wall steel | Crew with a lift and a telehandler, in winter | 10 days, per the video description | Watch |
| 50x60x16 auto shop | Not stated | Red iron | Not stated | About a week and a half | Watch |
Build times are the assembly times shown or stated in each project video, not counting foundation work or delivery.
Watch each build
60x80x20 frame4 days · Ontario · Watch the video
30x50x18 A-Model4 days · Ontario · Watch the video
35x31x14 X-Model4 days · Ontario · Watch the video
40x60 red iron farm building5 days · Ontario · Watch the video
35x70 steel building10 days · winter build · Watch the video
50x60x16 auto shopAbout a week and a half · Watch the videoTwo of our customer stories show what a smaller DIY build, like a steel garage, looks like. David Webb assembled his 20x24 M-Model garage in Mississippi himself, calling Toro's engineering team when questions came up. And Neil put up the first four columns of his 30x50x16 M-Model barndominium with one helper, then brought in a bigger crew and a scissor lift to set the rest by day three.
Get your building's timeline
Tell us your size, location and use, and a building specialist will confirm delivery timing and what your site needs.
From order to finished building
Assembly is the shortest part of the process. Here's everything that happens before and during the build.
- Design and quoteChoose your size, framing system and options, or design it in the free 3D designer. A building specialist confirms the exact specs before production.
- Engineering and drawingsEvery Toro building is engineered in-house for your site's snow, wind and seismic loads and comes with engineer-stamped drawings you can submit for your building permit.
- FoundationToro provides the structural reactions so a local contractor can build your foundation to spec. Have it ready before the kit arrives.
- DeliveryDelivery usually takes 2 to 8 weeks. Your building specialist and our operations team keep you updated, and you arrange unloading on site.
- AssemblyBolt-together assembly by you or a local contractor. In our project videos, that took 4 to 10 days.
Want the full planning checklist? Read our steel building planning guide, and check the building code requirements for your state.
What affects how long it takes to build a steel building
Building size
More square footage means more columns, rafters, girts and panels to bolt together. A 30x50 arch building went up in 4 days, while a 35x70 took 10, though that build also happened in winter. A 50x60x16 red iron auto shop, the kind of building many customers use as a workshop, took about a week and a half. Compare common footprints on our steel building sizes page.
Framing system
Toro builds three main framing systems. Red iron buildings use heavy I-beam frames, clear-span up to about 300 ft and usually need a lift to set the frames. Cold-formed buildings, including the M-Model, use lighter C-channel framing that small crews can handle. Arch-style buildings, including Quonset huts, are assembled on the ground in sections and raised into place.
Crew and equipment
The single biggest factor is who's on site and what they're working with. The 40x60 red iron farm building, built to store machinery, went up in 5 days with three local contractors, and Neil found a scissor lift made raising his columns much easier and safer.
Site and foundation
Your foundation needs to be built to the structural reactions on your drawings and ready before delivery. A level slab with properly placed anchor bolts makes the first day of assembly go smoothly.
Weather and season
Rain, wind and snow slow everything down. A 200x525 precast facility fell behind schedule after a wet summer, but still had all its steel erected before cladding and roofing began.
Permits
Permit timing depends on your local building department, not the building itself. Most local codes are based on the International Building Code in the U.S. and the National Building Code of Canada. Every Toro building comes with engineer-stamped drawings for your location to support the application.
How to keep your build on schedule
- Get your foundation built to spec firstUse the structural reactions on your drawings, and confirm anchor bolt placement before the kit arrives.
- Plan for unloading and storageYou handle unloading on delivery day, so line up the equipment and helpers before the truck arrives, and have a dry spot to keep parts until they go up.
- Line up your crew and lift earlyA small, experienced crew with a scissor lift or telehandler makes the biggest difference to your build time.
- Read your drawings before you startToro's drawings break down each component, so walking through them before day one saves time on site.
- Call engineering when questions come upCustomers like David Webb called Toro's engineering team during their builds instead of guessing.
Need a building sooner?
Toro makes 500+ buildings a month, and about 10% are never delivered because a customer's plans change. These clearance buildings are offered at a discount, re-engineered for your site if needed and come with stamped drawings. Inventory changes daily, so the fastest way to see what's available is to call. See current U.S. and Canadian clearance inventory.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions about your timeline? Price your building and a building specialist will walk you through it.
How long does it take to put up a steel building?
For the Toro projects in our videos, assembly took 4 to 10 days: 4 days for a 60x80x20 frame and for 30x50 and 35x31 arch buildings, 5 days for a 40x60 red iron building with three local contractors, and 10 days for a 35x70 building in winter. A 50x60x16 red iron auto shop took about a week and a half. Your time depends on size, framing system, crew, equipment and weather.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery usually takes 2 to 8 weeks. Your building specialist confirms the timing for your order, and you'll need to arrange unloading when the kit arrives.
Do I need the foundation ready before delivery?
Yes, plan for it. Toro doesn't supply foundations, but it provides the structural reactions for every building so a local contractor can build the foundation to spec. Anchor bolts are included with cold-formed buildings and are an add-on for arch and red iron buildings.
Can I put up a steel building myself?
Yes. Toro doesn't install buildings: every kit is engineered for bolt-together assembly by the customer or a local contractor. In our videos, one customer assembled a 20x24 garage himself, and another put up the first four columns of his 30x50x16 with one helper.
What equipment do I need?
It depends on the building. The projects in our videos used scissor lifts, telehandlers and other lifts, and the 40x60 went up with three local contractors and little more than a scissor lift. Your assembly drawings set out what your building needs.
Is there a faster way to get a building?
Clearance buildings can shorten the wait. Toro makes 500+ buildings a month, and about 10% are never delivered because a customer's plans change. Those buildings are offered at a discount, re-engineered for your site if needed, and come with stamped drawings. Inventory changes daily, so call 1-888-291-5197 to see what's available.
Related building types
Steel garages | Workshops | Agricultural buildings | Storage buildings | Quonset huts
Get a steel building quote for your project
Tell us what you're building and where, and Toro Steel Buildings will send an engineered quote, with delivery timing for your site.