If you want to live and work on projects under the same roof, a shop house or “shouse” may be ideal for your needs. Barndominiums make excellent shop houses since they can accommodate the spacious, open floor plans that work so well for shop houses.
In this guide, we are going to introduce you to some of our favorite shop house floor plans. Before we do, let’s go over some shop house basics in case you are not familiar with this type of barndominium.
What is a Shop House?
A shop house is a home that combines a residence and a workshop or garage under one roof. The garage in a shop house is generally much larger than that in a traditional house. It is not uncommon for it to account for around half of the square footage on the ground floor.
One distinction worth drawing before you go further: a shop house is built around the shop, with the living quarters fitted into the same structure. A barndominium with a shop is the reverse — a complete house with work space added alongside it. If you want the full house first and the shop second, start with our barndominium floor plans with shop, where every plan lists its shop square footage separately from the living space.
Benefits of Shouse Designs
Here are a few reasons to think about building a shop house barndominium:
- You have the convenience of being able to work on your projects any time without driving to a workshop or garage. You also do not have to pay rental fees or share the workshop with other people.
- Opting for climate control features like radiant flooring and HVAC can make your shouse workshop much more comfortable than typical workshops you would rent.
- Shop house workshops usually can accommodate quite a lot of equipment, vehicles, and other items, making them excellent for those with intensive storage needs.
Shouse Floor Plans
Now that we’ve introduced you to shop houses, let’s check out some exciting shop house plans.
Brashear Shouse House Plan BP-2001 $849.99 USD
This single story barndominium shop house features 2,567 square feet of heated space, along with a 1,230 square foot garage, a 400 square foot pavilion, and 1,169 square feet of porches. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
The main structure features spacious porches in the front and back. A combined dining area, kitchen and living room are central to the house. The master bedroom is on one side of the house, and the other bedrooms are on the opposite side of the house.
A covered walkway connects the main house with the 2-bay garage. This garage also features a concrete slab, a covered patio, a storage area, a half-bath and a kitchenette, making the home an ideal choice for those who enjoy a lot of outdoor living. The separation between the garage and main house is also great for keeping noise levels down.
Best For: This home is a suitable choice if you want some separation between the residence and the garage, less noise leaking from the garage to the living spaces, and a beautiful covered walkway.
Wolfe Shop House Plan PL-62304 $1,349.99 USD
If you want to live in a two-story shop house, this plan is worth considering. There are 1,880 heated square feet on the first floor, and 1,346 heated square feet on the second floor (3,226 square feet in total). The garage measures 757 square feet, the shop measures 163 square feet, and the porch measures 544 square feet. There are 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.
The layout of this house features the kitchen, vaulted great room, and family room on one side of the house, and the garage and shop on the opposite side of the house. Between them are the master bedroom and bathroom, along with the laundry room. The shop is a smaller room inside the garage. So, this is a good floor plan for those who want more division between different work zones in the garage.
Located above the loft on the second floor is a storage room, while the rest is open to the garage below. The additional bedrooms and bathrooms are also upstairs, along with a loft.
Best For: Consider this floor plan if you want a spacious barndo with a classic house profile.
Chaston Shop House Plan CDD-1005 $849.99
If you want a shop house where the emphasis is mostly on the shop, you will love the CDD-1005. This single story barndominium shop house features 1,493 square feet of heated space, plus 3,205 square feet of unheated space, which includes the shop and the porch. There is 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom.
The shop, of course, dominates the house, taking up most of the floor space. It has its own bathroom for your convenience. You enter the house directly from the shop via the laundry room. Between the kitchen and the laundry room is a short hall and a bathroom. The kitchen adjoins the dining room, which in turn is connected to the living room. A door from the living room leads to the owner’s suite and bathroom.
One of the exciting features of this barndominium is a huge wraparound porch that surrounds the residential part of the home. There is plenty of space to set up some chairs and tables to relax or entertain. So, it is another of our top recommendations for those looking for indoor-outdoor living.
Chaston sits at the far end of the range — a 2,705 square foot shop against 1,493 square feet of living space. For layouts that weight it the other way, with the house full size and a smaller attached shop, see our barndominium with shop plans.
Best For: Since this home only has one bedroom and a huge shop, we’d recommend it for one or two people who need extra space for their projects.
Cameron Shouse Plan PL-62504 $1,349.99 USD
This two-story shop house barndominium plan features two stories, with 2,000 square feet of heated space on the first floor, along with a 2,000 square foot garage and 500 square foot front porch. Combined with the second floor, there are 3,242 total square feet of heated space. The home features 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.
The garage is large enough for four vehicles. A mudroom leads from the garage to the kitchen, which is combined with the living room and dining room. On the other side of these main living spaces are the master bedroom and bathroom, along with the other bedrooms and bathroom.
The majority of the second floor is open to the spaces below, making for airy, open living spaces. But there is a large loft located above the bedrooms which you can use as a flex space or storage area.
Best For: This is a great layout if you are looking for an even division of space between the residence portion of your home and the garage.
The Milford Plan PL-62324 $1,349.99 USD
The PL-62324 is a two-story barndominium house that features 2,048 square feet of heated space on the first floor, and 1,665 square feet of heated face on the second floor. 1,700 square feet of wraparound porch space ensure that there is plenty of room for outdoor living. The 1,337 square foot garage has room for up to 3 vehicles. There are 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms.
In some respects, this barndo plan is similar to the CDD-1005 that we shared above, just with two floors instead of one, and with a larger residential section.
The garage is located on one side of the house, and includes a smaller shop room with stairs leading up to the second floor. One exciting feature included in this floor plan that you will not find in most is a safe room, also located inside the garage.
A door leads from the garage into the laundry room. A second door leads from the shop room into the master bedroom, perfect for those looking for extra convenience. The master bedroom includes a walk-in closet, and a bathroom suite.
The central area of the first floor residential section is dominated by the great room, which features a vaulted ceiling. On the opposite side of the great room from the master bedroom is the kitchen, butler’s pantry, powder room, and family room.
Upstairs, there is a storage room located above the shop room in the garage. The rest of the second floor of the garage is left open to below, ensuring plenty of overhead clearance.
The second floor above the great room is also open to below, as mentioned a moment ago. Above the kitchen, pantry, and family room are a loft, bedroom and bathroom. The loft can be used for storage or flex space. The bedroom has its own bathroom. On the opposite side of the house are two more upstairs bedrooms, which share a dressing room and a bathroom.
Best For: If you want a home with two stories, room for a family, and a wraparound porch, this floor plan will be perfect for you.
Shop House Plans By Size
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Dover GJ-4405
$849.99 -
Sparks LS-42001
$849.99 -
Legacy BG-20003
$1,250.00
Most people arrive at a shop house with a footprint already in mind, usually because of what fits on the lot or what the builder quotes by the square foot. These collections group the plans by building size, and each one includes layouts with a working shop.
40×60 Shop House Plans
2,400 square feet under roof, the most common starting point for a shop house. Enough width for a two-bay shop with living space alongside it. See our 40×60 barndominium house plans.
30×60 Shop House Plans
1,800 square feet on a narrower footprint, which suits a long, tight lot. The shop usually takes one end and the living space the other. See our 30×60 barndominium house plans.
40×50 Shop House Plans
2,000 square feet, the smallest footprint that comfortably carries both a shop and three bedrooms. See our 40×50 barndominium house plans.
50×100 Shop House Plans
5,000 square feet, where the shop stops being a garage and becomes a workspace — RV bays, lifts and equipment storage. See our 50×100 barndominium house plans.
Shop House Plans — Frequently Asked Questions
What Does It Cost To Build A Shop House?
Budget $65 to $160 per square foot for finished living space, which puts a 2,000 square foot shop house somewhere between $130,000 and $320,000 before land. Unheated shop space costs less per square foot than finished space, so a plan that weights its square footage toward the shop lands lower. Ranges vary by region and finish level — get local bids before you commit.
What Is The Difference Between A Shop House And A Barndominium With A Shop?
A shop house is built around the shop, with the living quarters fitted into the same structure — the shop drives the footprint. A barndominium with a shop is the reverse: a full-size house with work space added alongside it. If you want the house first and the shop second, our barndominium with shop plans weight it that way.
How Big Should The Shop Be On A Shop House Plan?
The shops on this page run from roughly 1,200 to 2,700 square feet. Two bays and a workbench fit in about 1,200. Add an RV bay, a vehicle lift or a boat and you are into 2,000 and up. Measure what you actually park and work on before choosing, because shop square footage is the hardest thing to add later.
What Do You Get When You Buy A Shop House Plan?
Most plans come as a PDF you can print, with printed sets, a reversed or flipped layout, a material list and CAD files available as add-ons. Printed sets go to your builder or permit office, and a material list goes to the lumberyard for bidding. Check the individual plan page — what is offered, and what it costs, varies by designer.
Can You Get Financing For A Shop House?
It is usually harder than financing a conventional home. Appraisers need comparable sales nearby, and shop houses are uncommon enough in many markets that comps are thin. Most buyers use a construction loan that converts to a mortgage at completion. Talk to a local lender early — before you buy plans — because the answer varies by market and by lender.
What Are The Downsides Of A Shop House?
Resale is narrower, because you are selling to someone who wants a shop rather than to every buyer in the market. Insurance and financing can both be harder to arrange. And a shop attached to living space needs real attention to sound, fumes and fire separation. None of it is a dealbreaker, but plan for all four before you build.
Ready To Build Your Dream Shop House Design?
Barndominiums make ideal shop houses, offering the wide open spaces you need to work on your projects and live comfortably under the same roof. Click on any of the links in this post to get your barndominium plans to build the shop house of your dreams.