How Much Do Steel Structures Cost: Price per Tonne and What Drives It

A guide per tonne

At the POLYGONAL company the lower bound is UAH 100,000 per tonne of product, VAT included, as of September 2026. “From” is meant literally: the total appears once we see the drawings, the steel grade, the quantity and the coating requirements.

Hot-dip galvanizing is included in this amount, so you do not add it separately. When you compare quotes, check whether the price includes a coating: our guide cannot be compared with prices for structures without one.

Delivery is not included, and we do not do installation: a licensed partner construction company does it, and installation is priced separately.

A price per tonne is handy for a first budget estimate. It does not work for an order without drawings, because two structures of the same mass can cost different amounts.

What the cost depends on

• steel grade: St3, S245, S345 or 09G2S, chosen by load, temperature conditions and project requirements;
• mass of the structure: metal is counted from it, and mass is also the basis for galvanizing;
• complexity: how many parts, their shape, and how much cutting, bending and welding is needed;
• dimensions: a galvanized product has to fit the 13,000 × 1,600 × 3,200 mm bath, and very long or bulky parts make preparation harder;
• coating: the guide is calculated with hot-dip galvanizing, a different coating or none changes the amount;
• the scope of inspection and the documents required with the products;
• quantity: a single structure or a batch;
• whether KM or KMD drawings exist;
• delivery to your site.

Each item moves the amount in its own way, and they can only be priced together.

Why structures of equal mass cost differently

A tonne of thick plate bent into one pole and a tonne of angle sections assembled into a lattice tower call for different work. In the first case the main operations are bending on the 2000 t press and the longitudinal weld. In the second they are cutting angles to length, bolt holes, assembling the joints and welding each of them.

Galvanizing is already built into the guide, but it also depends on the product. On its own, hot-dip galvanizing costs roughly UAH 20–38 per kg including VAT, depending on the mass, dimensions and complexity of the batch. How to work that out is covered in the article Hot-Dip Galvanizing Cost, and the galvanizing cost calculator gives a quick estimate.

The chemistry of the steel matters as well: silicon and phosphorus affect the appearance and thickness of the zinc coating.

What to include in the request

The fuller the request, the fewer questions we ask. Send KM or KMD drawings or a sketch with dimensions. Add the steel grade, the number of items and the coating requirements. If you do not know something, skip it and we will ask.

If you need ultrasonic testing of welds or particular documents with the products, say so right away. We do not carry out X-ray inspection, so if the project calls for it, tell us in advance. How the checks are organized is described in the article Quality Control of Steel Structures.

The typical lead time, if the item is not in stock, is 3–4 weeks; for a custom order we give the exact time after the calculation.

There is no minimum order. All amounts are indicative and are confirmed after the drawings are reviewed.

If you have no drawings

Send at least a sketch with dimensions. KM and KMD drawings can be ordered from us: see Steel Structure Design.

The ordering process and the shop capacity (500 t a month) are described on the page Steel Fabrication. For plate bending on the press, see Plate Bending.