Cost of Building a Shop Per Square Foot The cost of constructing a shop ranges from $30 to $200 per square foot. A metal prefab kit with minimum finishing will cost between $30 and $50 per square foot. Custom choices range in price from $50 to $200 per square foot. The total cost of building a metal shop depends on the size of the shop, number of rooms, type of construction, etc. The cost of building a wood shop varies depending on the size of the shop, but it usually costs less than $100,000. The cost includes such items as labor, tools, materials, and fixtures. A large shop may cost more because of additional features such as a second story or a garage. CNC Routing Machines Cost about $10,000 to $20,000 to buy and up to $100,000 to build. CNC Routers Edit Computer-controlled routers are used for cutting intricate shapes out of thick panels. They can also be used for cross-cutting sheets of stock to make them thinner. Hand-held routers are cheaper but lack the power of their larger counterparts. Benchtop models are even cheaper but have limited uses. CNC Routers Cut deeply into the surface of a panel and can create very delicate shapes that hand-sanding and finishing would destroy. Because of this, they are usually used for decorative purposes only. However, they can also be used to produce functional objects if you add some optional attachments.