What Size Pole Building Do Most Owners Regret Not Building?
“I wish we had built it bigger.”
Rarely do people regret building too large. Much more often, they realize, sometimes within a year,that their pole building is already tight.
Here’s why that happens, what people underestimate, and how to choose a size that works long-term in northern climates.
Why Pole Buildings Feel Smaller Than Expected
On paper, a 30x40 or 40x60 pole building sounds big. In reality, usable space disappears faster than most people expect.
Space gets eaten up by:
Equipment and vehicles
Storage along walls
Workbenches and tool areas
Interior framing or insulation
Clearance for doors and turning radius
Once you account for those, the “open” space shrinks quickly.
The Most Common Size Regrets
1. Not Building Wide Enough
Width is one of the hardest things to change later.
In Douglas County WI and St. Louis County MN, wider buildings are often needed for:
Snowblowers, tractors, and plows
Boats, trailers, and ATVs
Future equipment upgrades
Adding 6–10 feet of width during construction is far cheaper than trying to rework a building later.
2. Underestimating Height
Wall height is another frequent regret.
People often plan for what they own today, not what they might own in five or ten years.
Height affects:
Overhead door size
Lift or hoist clearance
RV or equipment storage
Interior lighting and airflow
In snowy regions, roof pitch and wall height also impact how snow sheds off the building.
3. Forgetting About Future Use
Many pole buildings start as “just storage” and slowly become:
A heated shop
A business workspace
A hobby or side hustle space
A multi-use building
Planning for future insulation, heat, or interior framing usually means leaving extra room from the start.
Bigger Doesn’t Always Mean Much More Expensive
One reason people go small is fear of cost.
But in many cases:
Increasing size slightly adds relatively little cost per square foot
Site prep and mobilization costs stay the same
Labor efficiency improves with larger layouts
That means the cost difference between “just enough” and “comfortable” is often smaller than expected.
Local Factors That Influence Size Decisions
In the Twin Ports region, a few regional factors matter:
Snow load can limit roof design flexibility
Zoning may cap building size or height
Setbacks can restrict placement
Driveway access affects door layout
Confirming zoning and setbacks early helps avoid designing a building that can’t be built as planned.
A Simple Way to Think About Size
Instead of asking, “What’s the smallest building I can get away with?”
Ask:
What do I need space for today?
What might I add in the future?
Do I want room to work, not just store?
Will this building still work in 10–20 years?
That mindset almost always leads to better decisions.
Final Thoughts
Most pole building regrets aren’t about materials or color, they’re about space.
Choosing the right size upfront is one of the best ways to protect your investment, especially in northern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota where buildings work hard year-round.
If you’re in Douglas County, WI or St. Louis County, MN and trying to dial in the right size for your property and budget, getting local insight before you finalize plans can save a lot of second-guessing later.