Understanding the Different Types of Greenhouses and Their Costs
As we all know, there are various types of greenhouse structures.
Each type comes with different construction costs, primarily determined by your specific needs and intended use.
Now, let’s introduce the different types of greenhouses and the costs to build one acre of each.
Common Greenhouse Types
Greenhouses are generally categorized based on their covering material. The three main types are :
• plastic film greenhouses
• glass greenhouses
• polycarbonate greenhouses
1. Plastic Film Greenhouses
Key Features:
• Low cost
• Fast and easy installation
• Widely used
Various types of plastic film greenhouses
Plastic film greenhouses are the most common type in agriculture due to their low cost and ease of installation.
a. Single-Span Plastic Film Greenhouse
This is the simplest structure with the lowest cost.
It consists of an arch-shaped steel frame and plastic film covering.
Single-Span Plastic Film Greenhouse
Cost:
$25–50 /㎡
(approximately $10,000–20,000 per acre).
Larger spans result in higher average costs for the greenhouse frame.
Use Cases:
Low-cost farming, seedling production, etc.
Suitable Regions:
• Hot regions: Can be used year-round.
• Cold regions (below 0°C in winter): Primarily for early spring and late autumn planting.
b. Multi-Span Plastic Film Greenhouse
This type features a better structure with a connected span design.
Key Features:
• More interior space
• Low cost
• Easy installation and maintenance
• Allows for additional greenhouse equipment and automation
• Suitable for factory-scale, industrial production
• Widely applicable
Basic Multi-Span Plastic Film Greenhouse
Standard Multi-Span Plastic Film Greenhouse
Multi-Span Plastic Film Greenhouse
Use Cases:
Suitable for a wide range of crops, including vegetables, fruits, and flowers.
Especially in areas with unsuitable climates or poor soil. By controlling temperature, light, and humidity, you can achieve year-round production, increasing both yield and quality.
Popular in:
• Hydroponics, livestock farming, aquaculture, and mushroom cultivation, due to its flexibility and multifunctionality.
Suitable Regions:
• Tropical regions: Focus on cooling and dehumidification.
• Cold regions: Extra layers of film can improve insulation.
Cost:
• Basic multi-span greenhouse: $4–7 /㎡
(approximately $16,000–30,000 per acre).
• Standard multi-span greenhouse (with shading systems, wet wall fans for cooling, ventilation systems, etc.): $10.5–18 /㎡
(approximately $42,000–73,000 per acre).
Advanced options, including smart systems and seedbed systems, can be added, which will increase the overall cost.
c. Single-Slope Solar Greenhouse
A type of plastic film greenhouse with excellent insulation.
Key Features:
• Exceptional thermal insulation
• No need for additional heating in winter
• Ideal for vegetable production in winter, especially in cold climates.
Single-Slope Solar Greenhouse
The greenhouse has three walls, with the side facing the sun covered in transparent plastic film.
It functions similarly to a solar water heater, trapping heat during the day and releasing it at night.
Use Cases:
Off-season vegetable and fruit production, offering high profits in winter.
Suitable Regions:
Areas where the temperature is low but sunlight is sufficient in winter (usually above -20°C in winter).
Cost:
• Full steel frame wall: $14–20 /㎡
(approximately $55,000–70,000).
• Earth wall: $12.5–17 /㎡
(approximately $50,000–65,000).
2. Glass Greenhouses
Key Features:
• Modern high-end structure
• Excellent light transmittance
• Spacious and adaptable
• Longest lifespan
• Can integrate various systems, including IoT and automation systems.
Glass Greenhouses
Glass Greenhouses
Glass greenhouses offer precise control over light, temperature, humidity, and irrigation, allowing for the production of fresh, high-quality vegetables and fruits year-round.
They can also create a stable and clean environment for seedling cultivation.
Cost:
$32–51 /㎡
(approximately $130,000–210,000 per acre).
Use Cases:
• Suitable for growing a variety of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, flowers, and more
• Ideal for plant factories, industrial-scale cultivation, research, and tourism-related applications.
Suitable Regions:
• Can be used in various climates due to their full configuration.
3. Polycarbonate Greenhouses
Key Features:
• Multi-span structure
• Comparable to glass greenhouses in functionality, but more cost-effective
• Can accommodate additional equipment
• Spacious and widely applicable
Multi-Span Polycarbonate Greenhouses
Cost:
$32–46 /㎡
(approximately $130,000–180,000 per acre).
Shandong INNO Greenhouses is a professional greenhouse manufacturer from China. We specialize in greenhouse design, production, and installation. The above prices are based on our production experience.
For more information on greenhouses, please visit our website.
Our products are high quality and competitively priced, exported to most countries around the world. We also offer customized solutions.
Greenhouse construction site
If you need a greenhouse, contacting us is a great choice.
