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TCG's AI estimator reads your architectural plans, floor plans, elevations, or panel layouts, or just your plain-English project description, and returns a Good / Better / Best insulated metal panel installed cost estimate in under 60 seconds. Built by the contractor that self-performs IMP installation, with more than 1,000,000 square feet installed across 38 states and licensure in all 50.
Insulated Metal Panel Cost Estimator
Upload plans, describe your project in plain English, or both. The estimator returns Good / Better / Best installed pricing for every panel zone it identifies.
Your Preliminary IMP Estimate
Preliminary AI estimate. A TCG estimator will verify quantities and follow up with a formal supply and install proposal within 24 hours. Request a formal proposal or book 30 minutes.
The Only IMP Estimator Built by the Installer
Most online IMP calculators are published by manufacturers selling panels. They price the panel and skip the labor, freight, joints, sealants, trim, doors, and integration scope that is two thirds of real installed cost. That is why a manufacturer calculator and a real bid are usually 40% apart.
This estimator is built by the installer. The pricing reflects what TCG actually charges to hand over a finished envelope, not what a panel costs FOB factory. If you want the reasoning behind the numbers, start with the IMP installation service page or the 2026 IMP installation guide.
Upload or Describe
A PDF plan set, a single elevation, a phone photo of a marked-up sketch, or two sentences of description. All of it works.
AI Reads the Zones
The model identifies panel zones by temperature and function, derives square footage where dimensions exist, and selects thickness and R-value per zone.
Get Three Tiers
Good, Better, and Best installed pricing per zone, so you can see what a spec upgrade actually costs before you commit to it.
2026 Installed IMP Cost by Application
| Cost driver | Typical impact | Why it moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| Core chemistry | +15% to +30% | Polyiso delivers roughly R-7.2 to R-8 per inch against about R-4.2 for EPS. More cost per inch, fewer inches needed. See the panel cost-benefit analysis. |
| Panel thickness | +$1.10 to $1.80 / SF per inch | Material volume, heavier lift equipment, longer fasteners, slower set rate |
| FM Approval requirement | +8% to +18% | Restricted assembly list and tested joint details. See what FM ratings actually mean. |
| Facing material | +10% to +40% | Stainless or FRP facing for cGMP and washdown environments against standard coated steel |
| Lift height above 30 ft. | +10% to +25% on labor | Crane time, boom lifts, fewer panels set per crew day, wind delays |
| Joint and penetration detail | +5% to +20% | Sanitary coving, thermal break at slab, dock and door openings, refrigeration penetrations |
| Region and labor market | ±18% | Prevailing wage, crew travel and per diem, freight distance from the nearest plant |
| Steel tariff exposure | 5% to 12% of installed cost | Section 232 flows straight through to panel skins. Lock pricing at PO release. See 2026 lead times and supply. |
Ranges reflect supply and install pricing on TCG-delivered projects in 2026. They exclude structural steel, secondary framing, foundations, refrigeration equipment, and flooring. Final pricing depends on access, schedule, fire rating, accessory packages such as doors, vapor barriers, and integrated lighting, and tariff status at PO release. For category detail, see the IMP labor cost guide and IMP for cold storage and CEA.
What Good, Better, and Best Actually Buy You
Every estimate comes back in three tiers. The gap between them is not marketing. It is a specific set of assembly decisions with specific consequences at inspection.
Fit for Purpose
Standard polyurethane or EPS core, factory finish, standard joint detail. Meets code and performs for most cooler and dry warehouse envelopes. This is the right answer more often than spec writers admit.Regulated Envelopes
Higher R-value cores, upgraded exterior finishes, enhanced air-tightness gaskets, tighter joint tolerances. The default for freezer and food processing work where sanitation detailing is contractual.No Room for Error
FM Approved assemblies, stainless or FRP facings, FDA, USDA, and cGMP compliance, third-party-tested fire performance. Required for pharmaceutical, cleanroom, and high-spec cold storage.| Application | Design temp | Thickness | Approx. R-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry warehouse, architectural cladding | Ambient | 2 in. to 3 in. | R-14 to R-24 |
| Conditioned production, cannabis flower room, CEA | 60°F to 78°F | 3 in. to 4 in. | R-22 to R-32 |
| Cooler, produce, dairy, food processing | +34°F to +38°F | 4 in. | R-32 |
| Freezer | 0°F to -10°F | 5 in. to 6 in. | R-40 to R-48 |
| Blast freezer, deep freeze | Below -20°F | 6 in. and up | R-48 and up |
| Cleanroom, cGMP, pharma | Controlled ambient | 4 in., flush both faces | R-32, spec driven by hygiene and fire rating |
Under-specifying thickness is the most expensive IMP mistake we get called in to correct, because refrigeration then runs hot for the life of the building, condensation forms inside the assembly, and the fix is demolition. Confirm long-term thermal resistance against the specific manufacturer's tested data and against IECC 2024 envelope requirements for your climate zone.
Eight Building Types We Estimate and Install
IMP delivers thermal performance, moisture control, and hygienic surfaces in one component. TCG self-performs the panel scope, which is rare among general contractors and is the reason these numbers hold up.
Cold Storage & Warehouses
Multi-temp zones, freezers, coolers, distribution centers. See the 2026 cold storage cost guide.
Food Processing & Manufacturing
USDA and FDA compliant production environments with FM-rated assemblies. See the food processing flooring guide.
Pharmaceutical & Cleanrooms
cGMP and ISO-classified spaces with FRP or stainless facing and certified flush joints. See cleanroom cost by ISO class.
Cannabis & CEA Facilities
Cultivation rooms, processing, climate-controlled grows. See our emerging cannabis markets analysis.
Data Centers
Thermal enclosures and hot and cold aisle containment. See the IMP for data centers guide.
Commercial Kitchens & Breweries
Walk-in coolers, prep areas, and fermentation rooms with hygienic finish requirements.
Climate-Controlled Self Storage
IMP over a PEMB envelope. See the self-storage cost guide.
Controlled Environment Agriculture
Indoor farms, vertical agriculture, and greenhouse partitions requiring sealed, climate-stable enclosures.
Installer-Tier Procurement Across Ten Manufacturers
TCG holds direct procurement and installation relationships with the manufacturers below. We buy at installer tiers rather than first-time-buyer rates, and warranties route through our position as installer of record instead of through a fragmented sub network.
Direct access means competitive pricing tiers, priority allocation when supply tightens, and a single warranty path. For a side-by-side comparison of core chemistry, fire rating, and best-fit application, see Best IMP Manufacturers in the USA (2026).
Self-Performed Panel Scope, Nationwide
Self-Performing Crews
TCG panel crews report to TCG project managers. One accountable party for layout, sealant, thermal break, and warranty. No finger-pointing between a supplier and an erector when something needs fixing.
Direct Manufacturer Procurement
Installer-tier pricing and priority allocation across ten manufacturers. In a tight supply window, allocation matters more than unit price. See equipment and material procurement.
Integrated Design-Build
On design-build delivery, our architects and structural engineers design the envelope around the panel system rather than forcing panels into a frame that was never dimensioned for them.
Nationwide Mobilization
Licensed in all 50 states, with regional crew density that keeps travel and per diem out of your number. Headquartered in Denver, with teams working Houston, Albany, and Sheridan.
Turnkey Supply and Install
Procurement, freight, on-site layout, panel cutting, installation, trim and flashing, sealant, and door and window integration in one scope and one contract.
We Will Read Someone Else's Bid
Already holding an IMP proposal? Our bid review service checks it for scope gaps, thin panel specs, and missing sealant and trim before you sign it.
IMP Estimator FAQ
Browse below, or see the general TCG FAQ. Ready for a formal proposal? Schedule 30 minutes.
How does the IMP cost estimator work?
How much do insulated metal panels cost installed in 2026?
What is the difference between Good, Better, and Best?
What panel thickness do I need for cold storage?
What IMP manufacturers does TCG work with?
What types of buildings use insulated metal panels?
Does TCG self-perform IMP installation?
Do I need completed construction documents to use the estimator?
What is the lead time on insulated metal panels in 2026?
How long does IMP installation take?
Can TCG handle both supply and installation as one scope?
Is the AI estimate accurate enough to budget against?
Are uploaded plans stored or shared with anyone?
The IMP Library
Everything worth reading before you buy panels.
Ready for a Formal IMP Proposal?
Upload your plans above for an instant Good / Better / Best estimate, or talk to the team directly. We verify quantities and return a formal supply and install proposal within 24 hours.
Terrapin Construction Group, LLC · Denver, CO · Licensed in all 50 states · Procore Certified Contractor