True Cost Guide Additions & Remodels Build a Horse Riding Arena

How Much Does a Riding Indoor Arena Cost in 2025?

Typical Range:

$40,000 - $500,000

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated December 2, 2024

Written by HomeAdvisor.

Highlights

Building an indoor riding arena costs an average of $150,000, ranging from $40,000 to $500,000.
Prefab kits for indoor arenas cost as little as $5 per square foot.
Custom wood construction riding arenas can get as high as $50 per square foot.
Cost considerations include choice of materials, type of activity, and footing costs.
Add site preparation, building permits, and general contractor labor costs to your budget.

Building an average indoor arena costs $150,000, with a typical range of $40,000 to $500,000. Prefab kits can start as low as $5 per square foot, while custom wood construction for an indoor riding arena costs up to $50 per square foot.

A riding arena offers a place to exercise and train horses. Indoor arena options allow you to keep up with activities in any weather, all year round. Prices vary significantly, so it’s important to consider your options before making a final decision.

Average Indoor Riding Arena Cost

Average Cost	High Cost	Low Cost
$150,000	$500,000	$40,000

Find Local Indoor Arena Building Pros

Indoor Riding Arena Cost Factors

The two biggest indoor arena cost factors are the arena size and building material. Smaller arenas made with fabric are considerably less expensive than large arenas made using wood or steel.

Size

The cost to build a riding arena ranges from $40,000 to $500,000 for smaller sizes appropriate for dressage, compared to $100,000 to $1,000,000 for larger spaces up to 20,000 square feet. The larger the riding arena, the more you can expect to pay.

Square Feet	Cost Range	Average Cost
10,000	$50,000–$500,000	$275,000
15,000	$75,000–$750,000	$410,000
20,000	$100,000–$1,000,000	$550,000

Material

Indoor riding arena costs range from $5 to $50 per square foot or $40,000 to $500,000 for the most common sizes. The cost of building your indoor arena depends heavily on your choice of materials.

Material	Cost Range per Sq. Ft.	Average Cost per Sq. Ft.
Wood	$20–$50	$35
Steel	$5–$30	$18
Fabric	$5–$15	$10

Wood

A wood indoor arena costs $20 to $50 per square foot, with an average cost of $35 per square foot. This material only works for smaller sizes, so the typical total cost range is $200,000 to $500,000. Wood provides the most classic look for an arena but tends to cost more. If your horses tend to chew on wood posts, a different option may be more suitable.

Steel

Steel indoor riding arenas cost $5 to $30 per square foot, translating to a total cost of $40,000 to $600,000. On average, you can expect to pay around $18 per square foot. Steel offers the best weather protection and allows you to build a structure up to 200 feet wide without installing additional supports in the center.

Fabric

Fabric indoor riding arenas cost the least, from $5 to $15 per square foot, or an average of $10 per square foot. An indoor arena made with fabric costs $40,000 to $300,000. This material is very easy to assemble, but it’s the hardest to insulate.

Covered Arenas

Covered arena prices range from $5 to $20 per square foot, assuming a roof and beams for support but little else. If you only use it during mild weather seasons, it may be an affordable alternative to a fully enclosed building.

Prefab vs. Custom

Prefab riding arena kit prices range from $5 to $20 per square foot for most options. The kits come in various common sizes, usually twice as long as their width. You can hire a professional to install a fabric or steel prefab kit. General contractor rates range from $50 to $150 per hour.

Custom indoor arenas can cost $50 per square foot or more, depending on specifications, choice of materials, and features. A custom-designed, 10,000-square-foot indoor riding arena costs as much as $500,000 or more.

Footing

Arena footing costs $0.50 to $7 per square foot. You may need multiple types to provide a durable, safe surface for horses to run and jump. Footing prices may not include everything. On top of mulch installation costs, expect to pay an extra $0.50 to $2 per square foot for base materials, such as gravel or road base. If your existing land contains usable materials, you may spend less on topsoil and sand costs.

Material	Cost Range per Sq. Ft.	Average Cost per Sq. Ft.
Sand	$1–$2	$1.50
Synthetic mats	$0.50–$2	$1.25
Wood mulch	$0.50–$0.75	$0.65
Rubber mats/mulch	$1.50–$4	$2.75

Type of Activity

Depending on the type of horse riding, you may need to make adjustments or purchase different equipment. For example, a dressage rider needs properly placed arena letters, an otherwise empty arena, and a solid footing. You'll also need enough space for both you and your horse to get the right fitness training.

For a rodeo arena, the space you'll need depends on the type of rodeo events—reigning, pole bending, barrel racing, calf roping, and steer wrestling require different training aids. An area to house livestock requires ample storage with high, secure panels that the animals can't escape while waiting their turn in the arena.

If jumping is your favorite equestrian event, you'll need to build or buy standard jumps, fillers like gates for the jumps to make them look fuller to your horse, and adequate storage for the jumps for when you're doing floor work instead of jumping.

Features and Add-Ons

You may want to add extra features in addition to the basic structure and footing. Some, like lighting, are essential. Others, like the cost to build a barn, stables, skylights, and a viewing area, are nice to have. Barn door installation costs $600 to $3,000.

Some of the most common additions include the following:

Attached stables: Offer direct access to the arena
Skylights: Let natural light into the arena
Extra ventilation: Placed strategically, ventilation allows improved airflow and temperature regulation
Viewing areas: These areas provide spectators with a safe place to watch activities
LED lights: Provide ample but safe illumination
Side lights: Let in natural light and are easier to install than skylights
Doors: Doors at least 12 feet high and 16 feet wide allow mounted riders to pass through safely
Vapor barriers: Prevent moisture damage
Gutters: Collect and direct rainwater away from the arena's foundation
Tack rooms: Store your horse's tack, gear, grooming essentials, and accessories

Other Indoor Riding Arena Cost Factors

When planning an indoor riding arena, there's more than just the external structure and the footing to think about. You'll also have to account for the cost of permits, land clearance, excavation, grading, and more.

Construction and Site Prep

You’ll need to budget for several jobs to prepare the construction site:

Land clearing costs $1.30–$2 per sq. ft.
Yard leveling costs $1,000–$3,000
Removing a tree costs $400–$1,200
Excavating land costs $50–$200 per cubic yd.

Labor

Labor to build the indoor arena can cost up to 50% of your total budget. You’ll pay the most for custom construction. Collect estimates from several contractors to compare pricing and options.

Permits

Local building codes and regulations vary greatly, but you will likely need to apply for a permit to build and install an indoor riding arena on your property. A building permit costs $500 to $3,000. Your general contractor or construction manager can usually manage the permit application process on your behalf.

Does Installing an Indoor Riding Arena Increase Home Value?

Building an indoor riding arena can significantly boost property value, particularly in areas with high interest in equestrian activities. While the exact return on investment (ROI) can vary greatly by location and construction quality, well-built indoor arenas can recoup 50% to 70% of their construction costs in added property value.

Properties with indoor arenas appeal to serious equestrians, riding instructors, and boarding facility operators by transforming a residential property into a potential income-generating business opportunity. Homes with indoor arenas can sell more quickly than comparable properties without them. The arena's size, quality of footing, and additional amenities like viewing areas or attached stabling further influence the property's desirability and ultimate resale value.

Budgeting for an Indoor Riding Arena

Building an indoor riding arena is a significant investment, but several strategic decisions and careful planning can help reduce your overall costs:

Start with an accurate site assessment: Choosing level ground with good drainage can save thousands in site preparation costs and prevent expensive problems later.
Phase your construction: Focus on building the basic structure, adding features like viewing areas and wash stalls over time as your budget allows.
Compare quotes: Get at least three detailed estimates from different contractors, focusing on local barn builders with specific experience in arena construction.
Consider a prefab kit: Pre-engineered metal arenas cost less than custom builds and offer excellent durability and quick assembly.
Implement efficient drainage systems: Invest in proper drainage to prevent expensive repairs and maintenance issues over the long term.
Plan for easy access: Design wide doors and proper clearance for horses, riders, and maintenance equipment to avoid costly modifications.
Explore energy-efficient options: Install LED lighting and natural light panels to reduce long-term operating costs and potentially qualify for energy incentives.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.

Still Have Questions About Building an Indoor Riding Arena?

FAQs

How much land do I need to build a riding arena?

The minimum amount of land you need to build a riding arena is typically 60-by-120 feet or about 7,200 square feet. A dressage arena should be at least 70-by-130 feet, 70-by-200 feet, or 100-by-200 feet. A 100-by-200-foot covered arena costs about $400,000, depending on materials and other factors. Driving arenas start at 130-by-260 feet, and larger examples span up to 130-by-330 feet. Standard competition arenas are even bigger at 660-by-660 feet in size.

How can I build a horse arena on a budget?

You can buy a prefabricated kit to build an indoor riding arena on a budget. Alternatively, consider building an outdoor arena instead. You can also save money by excavating, grading, and compacting the area yourself before your hired contractors begin professional construction of the arena.

Is it worth building a riding arena?

Building a riding arena may be worth it if you love to ride or train at a particular equestrian activity. With an arena on your property, you don't have to load up your horse and travel whenever you want to train on a decent surface. With an indoor arena, you can ride year-round in any weather. If your arena has lights, you can ride after dark. The superior footing of an arena provides better stability and reduces the risk of injury.

What type of footing is best for a riding arena?

Many consider angular sand the best arena footing for most people, as it provides good traction and is affordable. Fiber footing is also popular for horse riding arenas because it provides good stability and a soft landing in case of falls. However, fiber footing is a more expensive option.

How much does an outdoor riding arena cost?

An outdoor riding arena costs $1 to $10 per square foot. It ranges from $10,000 to $200,000, depending on the land’s size and condition. The total includes $0.50 to $7 per square foot for footing and the price to install a horse fence, which ranges from $2 to $20 per linear foot.