How to Choose the Right Building Width for Your Application

Width is the defining dimension of a fabric storage building. It determines what you can store, how you can use the interior space, and ultimately how well the building serves your needs. With sizes available from 20 to 70 feet wide across 18 different options, there is a building for nearly every application — but choosing the right width requires thinking through your specific requirements.

Start with What Goes Inside

The most reliable way to choose a building width is to measure what you plan to store and add clearance. For vehicles and equipment, measure the widest piece plus at least three feet of clearance on each side for access and maneuvering. For bulk storage like hay or grain, calculate the volume you need and work backward to a width that provides the required floor area at a practical stacking height.

Common Width Ranges by Application

Buildings in the 20- to 30-foot range work well for single-vehicle storage, small equipment, ATV and snowmobile shelter, and general-purpose storage on smaller acreages. These narrower buildings are also popular for specific agricultural uses like calving shelters or sheep housing where the building serves a focused purpose.

The 30- to 40-foot range covers the majority of farm equipment storage needs. A 30-foot-wide building comfortably houses a tractor and a few implements side by side. A 40-foot building provides room for a combine header or larger equipment with working space around it.

Buildings in the 40- to 50-foot range serve multi-purpose needs — equipment storage on one side, hay storage on the other, or a combination of vehicle parking and workshop space. These mid-range widths are the most popular for mixed-use agricultural applications.

The 50- to 70-foot range addresses commercial and industrial needs: fleet storage, large equipment operations, indoor riding arenas, commercial warehousing, and operations that need maximum clear-span interior space.

Peak Height Matters Too

Width and peak height are related. Wider buildings have proportionally higher peaks, which affects what you can stack or store vertically. Peak heights range from 16 feet on narrower buildings to 28 feet on the widest models. If vertical clearance is important — for a combine with the unloading auger up, for instance, or for stacking hay six rounds high — check the peak height for your chosen width.

Length Is the Flexible Dimension

While width is fixed by the frame design, length can be adjusted more easily. Most fabric buildings can be extended in standard increments by adding additional truss bays. This means if your needs grow, you can extend the building lengthwise without replacing the entire structure. This flexibility makes it worthwhile to get the width right from the start, even if you start with a shorter length than you ultimately need.

Think About Access

How you get things in and out of the building affects the practical usable width. A building used for drive-through equipment access needs clear lanes wide enough for your largest machine plus comfortable clearance. A building used for bulk storage accessed by a front-end loader from one end can use the full width for storage.

End wall configuration also plays a role. Fully open ends maximize access but sacrifice weather protection. Partial end walls with large openings provide a good balance. Closed end walls with personnel doors work for storage that does not require frequent large-equipment access.

The Cost Consideration

Building cost increases with width, but not linearly. The per-square-foot cost of a wider building is typically lower than a narrower one because the base rails, end walls, and cover attachment hardware are similar regardless of width. Going one size wider than you think you need usually adds a modest amount to the total cost while significantly increasing the building’s versatility and utility.

The most common regret among fabric building owners is buying too small. It is far more cost-effective to buy the right size initially than to replace the building with a larger one later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size fabric building do I need?

The right size depends on what you're storing and how much access space you need around it. A common mistake is buying too small — measure your largest equipment, add 3–4 feet of clearance on each side, and account for future needs. MAX offers 18 sizes ranging from 800 to 14,000 square feet. Use our online cost calculator or contact us for a personalized sizing recommendation.

What's the most popular fabric building size in Canada?

The 40'×80' (3,200 sq ft) and 50'×100' (5,000 sq ft) models are consistently our top sellers. These sizes offer the best balance of capacity and value — large enough for serious storage needs while still practical for most properties. Farm operations typically choose 40'–50' widths, while commercial and industrial users often need 60'–70' widths.

Can I expand my fabric building later?

Fabric buildings can't be widened after installation, but they can often be extended in length by adding additional bays. This is why choosing the right width from the start is critical — width determines what fits through the doors and how you use the interior space. If you're unsure, going one size wider than you think you need is almost always the better decision.