The cost of a greenhouse for commercial purposes varies widely because every operation has unique needs. Your production requirements, project specifics, labor costs, and other factors will all contribute to the cost of a greenhouse for your operation.

There is no one-size-fits-all greenhouse solution at a fixed price. A greenhouse built to have wide market appeal caters to the masses, not individual needs. Like ill-fitting shoes that hurt your feet, a greenhouse poorly matched to meet your operational requirements can harm your operation in the long run.

While we can’t give you an exact price this moment, we can give you a ballpark idea of what you might expect to spend for materials at different build levels.  

However, please remember that the prices we share are averages based on the cost of materials at the time of project execution.

Prices can and do change, depending on the factors discussed above along with economic conditions within a given market and the availability of materials. 

In the following examples, the cost for materials does not include labor costs, which can sometimes run much higher than material costs, which adds to the cost of a greenhouse.  

So, use these examples as a rough guide rather than a fixed rule to help you select and build your greenhouse. To get the most accurate pricing, it’s always smart to work directly with a salesperson at your chosen greenhouse supplier to determine your commercial greenhouse cost.  

Example 1: Vail Garden Center Retail Greenhouse

This retail project added two high-end greenhouses with plenty of curb appeal to an existing hardware store. The owner now enjoys increased revenue because he can keep his greenhouses open year-round. Once summer is over, he uses the garden center space for houseplants and seasonal items such as pumpkins, Christmas trees, snowblowers, etc.

Structure Purpose

Retail Garden Center

Structure Size

• 9,060 square feet
• Two Vail greenhouses: 41’ 6” wide × 120’ long × 12’ under-gutter height

Design Features

• Double-atrium roof vents
• Front-wall glass
• 8mm twin-wall polycarbonate roof covering
• Powder-coated exterior extrusions
• EDDG (Exterior Drop-Down Guillotine) side vent
• Gas unit heaters
• Automatic heat retention/shade system (slope-flat-slope, 50% heat retention/50% shade)
• Automatic environmental control and weather station
• Automatic sliding doors
• Decorative knee wall

Cost of the Greenhouse Breakdown

Approximately $41 per square foot (materials only). Keep in mind also that powder coating, depending on the amount you do, can add as much as 10% to 15% to the cost of a project.

Example 2: Gutter-Connected Vail Retail Garden Center Greenhouses

This garden retail project in rural Wisconsin included two gutter-connected greenhouses offset from one another. The square footage of this project is much smaller than that in example one, which resulted in a higher cost for the greenhouse. 

The smaller the project, the higher the square foot pricing because you spread the overall cost across less square footage (refer to Project Size above). 

Structure Size

• 6,600 square feet 
• Greenhouse one: 30’ wide X 120’ long X 14’ under-gutter height 
• Greenhouse two: 30’ wide X 100’ long X 14’ under-gutter height 

Design Features

• Polycarbonate roof covering 

• Powder-coated exterior extrusions 

• Natural ventilation 

• Dual Atrium roof vent 

• EDDG (Exterior Drop-Down Guillotine) side vents 

• 3-foot decorative insulated metal knee wall 

• Gas unit heaters  

• Automatic vent control 

• Slope-flat-slope curtain system (50% heat retention/50% shade) 

Cost of the Greenhouse Breakdown

Close to $45 per square foot. A similar cost for materials also applies to high school or small institutional greenhouses.  

Example 3: Zephyrs for Wholesale Flower Production 

The owner of this wholesale operation needed several acres of greenhouse space for large-scale flower production.  

The Zephyr proved an economical choice because of its low materials costs and the fact you can cover it with poly film for a production setting. It also works great for natural ventilation with its unique vertical ridge vent that allows heat to go up and out of the greenhouse.  

Structure Purpose

Wholesale production

Structure Size

• 37,800 square feet  
• (3)- 30’ wide X 420’ long X 12’ under-gutter height 

Design Features

• Drop-down curtain roof vents (shown opening) 

• Double-poly roof, polycarbonate sides 

• 8mm twin-wall polycarbonate sidewall and gable end covering 

• EDDG side vent (shown opening) 

• Gas heating 

• Natural ventilation 

Cost of the Greenhouse Breakdown

$14 per square foot for materials. With labor added, these greenhouses went up for less than $20 per square foot. Note that materials for a retail Zephyr would cost $15-$30 per square foot depending on what systems you put into it.

Example 4: Dual Atriums for Wholesale Flower Production  

This wholesale operation required several acres of glass greenhouse space for large-scale flower production.  

The Dual Atrium proved an ideal choice because of its 42-foot-wide span, floor-to-roof vent area, and high light transmission levels needed for multi-tiered production. It also works great as an open roof option that can ventilate with snow in the valleys. 

Structure Purpose

Wholesale production

Structure Size

• 181,440 square feet  
• (6) – 42’ wide X 720’ long X 16’ under-gutter height 

Design Features

• Flat shade curtains  
• Diffused glass roofs 
• 8mm twin-wall polycarbonate sidewall and gable end covering 
• EDDG vents on all sides 
• Mixing fans 
• Natural ventilation 

Cost of the Greenhouse Breakdown

Close to $18 per square foot. A similar cost for materials also applies to large glass Vail ranges engineered for snow and wind loads.  

Maximize Your Greenhouse Value Without the Guesswork 

Even though the cost of a greenhouse for commercial purposes changes with every project, figuring out the final price of your greenhouse doesn’t have to feel like you’re assembling a jigsaw puzzle without the full picture.   

Start by identifying what you need and what’s important to your operation. Connect with your salesperson early in the planning process. They can help you piece together all the factors that influence the final cost. 

Whatever your budget, Prospiant offers a wide range of greenhouse options and services to help you create a structure that meets your needs. Our goal is to ensure you end up with a greenhouse that gives you the best value for your investment. 

Don’t settle for something that just “works” when you can have something that truly fits. Let us help you design and build a greenhouse that’s perfect for your needs and budget.  

For more information on commercial greenhouse costs, check out “How Much Does It Cost to Build A Commercial Greenhouse? | Prospiant“