The Most Popular Barn Types

When you’re planning for a new barn, choosing the right type is the single most important decision you’ll make. There are numerous barn types to choose from – each with distinct characteristics that make them right for different homes, farms, and stables. The type of barn you select determines everything from the look, to the amount of storage space, and even the price.

At J&N Structures, we build a wide variety of different horse barns for farmers, ranchers, and stable owners across the country. In today’s blog, we’re showcasing the most common types of barns with pictures to help make your decision-making process just a little easier. Keep reading to see the common barn types profiled – or reach out right now to get started building your own!

Types of Barns with Pictures

Since we have a long track record of building a wide range of different style barns, we can provide firsthand information on the pros and cons of each style. These are the main types of barns with pictures to help you make your decision:

Shed Row Barn

This simple style of horse barn features all the horse stall sheds lined in a row, which is where the name comes from. Unlike the other barn types on this list, shed row barns don’t have a full barn structure enclosing the stalls. While this can make it harder to work with your horses in all types of weather, it also makes this the most affordable type of barn. Shed row barns are often the first type of barn that hobby farmers invest in.

• 1-Story
• Most Budget-Friendly Barn
• Easy to Customize the Size
• Limited Protection from the Elements

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Trailside Barn

This single-story barn is a large step up from our shed row barns in terms of price and professionalism. This style barn has a full interior space, which means you can comfortably work with your horses in all weather conditions. The center aisle barn construction maximizes your space by allowing you to have stalls on either side of the aisle. Trailside barns are easy to customize depending on the size of your herd.

• 1-Story
• Center Aisle with Stalls on Either Side
• Easy to Customize the Size
• Full Protection from the Elements

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Monitor Barn

In many ways, the monitor style is the trailside barn with the addition of a large center loft. This center loft is responsible for the distinctive monitor style as well as a host of practical benefits. Many farmers use the second-story loft for hay storage and a tack room or other equipment storage. Once again, the length of this barn is easy to adjust to match the size of your horse team, and you can count on full protection from the elements.

• 1 Main Story with a Center Loft
• Center Aisle with Stalls on Either Side
• Full Protection from the Elements
• Easy to Customize the Size
• Classic Rustic Look

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High Country Barn

Showing you this type of barn with pictures is key to highlighting how different it is from many of our other leading barn styles. While the other barns on our list tend to be long and rectangular in shape, the High Country barn has a square profile that can make it a better fit for smaller lots. The other key advantage of this barn type is that it comes with a full loft that can be used for everything from storage, to office space, or even living quarters. However, since the inside space for stalls is more limited, this barn is better for small horse herds.

• 1 Main Story, 1 Full Loft
• Full Protection from the Elements
• Smaller Footprint is Possible
• Potential for a Luxury Look

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Gambrel Barn

Very similar to the monitor barn profiled above, a gambrel barn features a full center aisle first floor, capped with a long second-story loft. The defining trait of this barn type is the rounded gambrel shape of the second-story loft. Since the gambrel loft is more spacious, ranchers often use these barns as a mixture of equipment storage along with office space and even as finished living quarters.

• 1 Main Story, 1 Large Loft
• Center Aisle with Stalls on Either Side
• Full Protection from the Elements
• Easy to Customize the Size
• Unique Gambrel Look

View More Gambrel Barns

We hope that by showing you different types of horse barns with pictures, you were able to identify the barns you’ve seen around – and maybe even pick the right one for you!

Discuss Your Custom Needs with Us

While these common barn types serve the needs for the vast majority of stable owners and farmers, J&N Structures is always willing to discuss custom styles and additions. If you have a specific need, a unique style you like, or you want to combine traits from multiple barns, we can work to make that happen. We encourage you to reach out to discuss any custom builds or barn accessories you may want to include.

Get Prices on Different Barn Types

One of the other ways to select the right barn for your property is to compare pricing. At J&N Structures, we make our barns available through our exclusive network of dedicated barn installers. Getting a bottom-line price for installation is one of the most effective ways to compare the different barn types.

Find your nearest dealers right here – and get started designing your new barn!