Price bands by intended use
| Intended use | Cost per m2 (structural-architectural package) |
|---|---|
| Simple solution (open structure) | EUR 150 - 250 |
| Agricultural building | EUR 200 - 350 |
| Industrial building in reinforced concrete | EUR 280 - 450 |
Market references for 2026 record a 12-18 per cent increase against 2022 for precast concrete buildings, driven by steel, cement and energy prices; after that phase, the bands stabilised on the values above. It is a useful reminder: every price per m2 has a date, and references from three years ago describe a different market.
Reinforced concrete or steel
The two technologies serve different needs and their prices overlap more than common perception suggests. The choice turns on the performance required, not on the list price.
Prestressed reinforced concrete dominates the Italian market: intrinsic fire resistance (which reduces passive protection costs), minimal maintenance, good acoustic mass, excellent production availability across the country. It is the standard choice for spans up to 25-30 metres.
Steel pays off on wide spans, lightweight structures, vertical extensions and projects where erection speed is decisive. It does require explicit fire protection, which must be counted in the comparison, and its economics depend on the material's quotation at the time of order.
The correct choice is made on the design (spans, loads, fire resistance required by the activity, prospects for extension), not on the price list: at equal performance specifications the price differential is often smaller than the negotiating margin. At equal performance specifications the gap between the two technologies narrows.
What a precast quotation includes, and what it does not
The bands cited refer to the finished lump-sum cost of the structural-architectural element only: load-bearing structure, roof, cladding. The typical exclusions, to be listed in writing before any comparison. Several items remain outside and must be added separately.
| Excluded item | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|
| Foundations and pads | EUR 50 - 90 per m2 |
| Industrial floor | EUR 35 - 70 per m2 depending on performance |
| Services (electrical, fire, heating) | EUR 100 - 300 per m2 depending on use |
| Electrical substation and connections | EUR 20,000 - 60,000 |
| Yards, roads, fencing | variable, often above EUR 50,000 |
| Professional fees and filings (including fire safety) | 12 - 15% of the works |
A quotation at EUR 380 per m2 for a 1,000 m2 building (EUR 380,000) therefore describes less than half the real investment, which the complete budget in the article on the cost of building a warehouse takes above EUR 900 per m2. The exclusions weigh as much as the supply itself.
The five factors that move the price
Size and height. Larger spans and high clear heights increase sections, foundations and cladding.
Structural material. Reinforced concrete or steel, with the fire protection implications already noted.
Foundations and ground type. The least predictable factor: poor soils can require piling or ground improvement worth as much as a portion of the structure.
Roofing and services. Insulation, rooflights, photovoltaic readiness, process systems: the part of the project whose share is growing fastest.
Site location. Transport of precast elements, accessibility for oversized vehicles and mobile cranes, territorial differences in labour costs.
Precast or traditional: the sensible comparison
At equal performance, precast wins on three measurable fronts: erection times (weeks instead of months), predictability (elements produced in the factory from detailed design, reduced site contingencies) and a locked price in the supply contract. Traditional masonry retains sense on contained spans, in contexts with access constraints that rule out a mobile crane, or for works on existing buildings. For new productive construction of current size, precast is today the reference standard and traditional the justified exception.
Note: the figures shown are 2026 orders of magnitude for the Italian market, for guidance only. Every supply must be compared on its specification and on the written list of exclusions.