Upgrading your barn in Stardew Valley is the key to raising a wider variety of animals — from the basic cow and cheese route all the way to goats, sheep, and eventually pigs that dig up truffles. The process is straightforward: gather the right resources, visit Robin at the Carpenter's Shop, commission the upgrade, and sleep through two in-game days of construction. This guide walks you through every step with exact materials and costs.
What you need before you start
Your farm must already have a Barn (the starter building Robin can construct). You need resources in your inventory — wood and stone you collect from your farm and the mines — plus enough gold. There are two upgrades: Barn to Big Barn, and Big Barn to Deluxe Barn. You cannot skip a tier, so plan accordingly.
How to upgrade your barn in Stardew Valley
-
Step 1: Gather the Required Resources
Before you make the trip to Robin, make sure you have the materials in your inventory. The Big Barn upgrade (first upgrade) costs 350 Wood, 150 Stone, and 12,000g. The Deluxe Barn upgrade (second upgrade) costs 500 Wood, 200 Stone, and 25,000g. Chop trees on your farm for wood and use your pickaxe in the Mines for stone. Selling crops — especially high-value ones like strawberries or blueberries — is the fastest way to build up gold. Check your inventory count carefully before heading out, since Robin will only show the upgrade option when you have the materials.
Keep these numbers handy: 350 Wood / 150 Stone / 12,000g for the Big Barn; 500 Wood / 200 Stone / 25,000g for the Deluxe. -
Step 2: Visit Robin at the Carpenter's Shop
Robin's Carpenter's Shop is located in the Mountain area, northeast of Pelican Town and northeast of your farm. Head there between 9am and 5pm any day except Tuesday (the shop is closed on Tuesdays). Walk inside and talk to Robin directly — not the shop counter — to trigger the building menu. If you arrive in the evening and the shop is closed, just sleep and try the next morning.
Robin's shop is north of Pelican Town in the Mountain area. Allow a full morning for the trip if you also plan to mine. -
Step 3: Choose "Upgrade Farm Buildings" and Select Your Barn
After talking to Robin, her menu appears. Select Upgrade Farm Buildings (not "Construct Farm Buildings" — that is for building new structures). On the next screen Robin will show a top-down view of your farm; click on your existing Barn to target it for the upgrade. A confirmation panel will show the cost. If you have the required materials and gold the option will be highlighted and selectable. Confirm to place the order; the materials and gold are deducted immediately.
Choose "Upgrade Farm Buildings" in Robin's menu, then click your barn on the farm map to confirm the order. -
Step 4: Wait Two Days for Construction to Finish
Once the order is placed, Robin spends two in-game days on construction. During this time your barn remains usable — animals inside are safe and you can still collect their products. The quickest way to get through the wait is to go to bed at the end of each day, which advances time. On the morning of the third day you will receive a notice that construction is complete. The barn's capacity and animal roster are now expanded.
Sleep through each evening to fast-forward the two-day construction period. Your animals remain safe inside during building. -
Step 5: Buy New Animals to Fill Your Upgraded Barn
With your upgraded barn ready, head to Marnie's Ranch (south of your farm, open 9am–4pm, closed Monday and Tuesday) to purchase the animals now available to you. After the Big Barn upgrade you can buy Goats (4,000g) and Sheep (8,000g). After the Deluxe Barn upgrade, Pigs (16,000g) and Ostriches (via a Perfection-tied egg incubation) become available. Goats produce Goat Milk, sheep produce Wool (great for Cloth), and pigs forage Truffles worth a premium on the market.
Each barn tier unlocks new animals at Marnie's Ranch. Goats and Sheep require a Big Barn; Pigs need the Deluxe Barn.
Tips for upgrading faster
- Stack wood from day one. Chop any tree you do not need for paths or aesthetics. You will want well over 850 total wood across both upgrades, so start banking early.
- Buy wood and stone from Robin. If you are short, Robin also sells wood (10g each) and stone (20g each) directly. This costs more but can bridge the gap without mining trips.
- Prioritize the Big Barn. Goat Milk turns into Goat Cheese in a Cheese Press, and selling Artisan Goat Cheese is one of the best early-to-mid-game income streams. Aim for the Big Barn by Year 1 Fall at the latest.
- Use the Auto-Petter. Once you have the Deluxe Barn, the Auto-Petter (dropped in Skull Cavern or bought from JojaMart after their upgrade path) keeps animal friendship high without daily petting, freeing your schedule for the mines.
- Keep your barn full. Each extra animal means more products per day. Place a Hay Hopper in the barn and keep your silo stocked so animals eat automatically overnight.
Troubleshooting
Robin's upgrade option is greyed out
This means you do not yet have the required wood, stone, or gold in your inventory. Double-check the exact counts — partially meeting the requirements is not enough. Also confirm you already own a Barn (for the first upgrade) or a Big Barn (for the second). You cannot upgrade a building you haven't built yet.
I don't see my barn on Robin's farm map
Make sure you selected "Upgrade Farm Buildings" and not "Construct Farm Buildings." On the farm map, scroll or look for the barn icon — it should be clickable. If your farm is crowded, the barn might be partially hidden; look for the roof shape.
Construction seems to be taking more than two days
Robin will not work on construction days when a festival overlaps. If a festival falls during the two construction days, it will shift completion by one day. Check the calendar and plan your upgrade order to avoid festival days.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to upgrade a barn in Stardew Valley?
The first upgrade (Barn to Big Barn) costs 350 Wood, 150 Stone, and 12,000g. The second upgrade (Big Barn to Deluxe Barn) costs 500 Wood, 200 Stone, and 25,000g. Both are handled by Robin at the Carpenter's Shop.
How long does Robin take to upgrade the barn?
Robin completes any barn upgrade in two in-game days. Going to sleep at the end of each day advances construction. On the morning of day three you will find the upgrade finished.
What animals does the Big Barn unlock?
The Big Barn unlocks Goats and Sheep, which can be purchased from Marnie's Ranch. Goats produce Goat Milk and Sheep produce Wool, both of which can be further processed into Artisan goods for higher sale prices.
What animals does the Deluxe Barn unlock?
The Deluxe Barn unlocks Pigs (which forage Truffles on the farm during sunny days) and allows you to incubate a Dinosaur Egg or Ostrich Egg in the barn's built-in incubator slot.
Can I upgrade the barn without having all the materials in my backpack?
No. All wood, stone, and gold must be in your inventory at the time you talk to Robin and confirm the upgrade. They are consumed immediately when you place the order, so clearing enough bag space is important.
Final thoughts
Upgrading your barn in Stardew Valley is a worthwhile investment at every stage of the game. The jump from the starter Barn to the Big Barn pays for itself quickly through Goat Cheese sales, and the Deluxe Barn's Truffle-hunting pigs are among the most passive and profitable income sources in the late game. Focus on building your wood and stone stockpile early, keep an eye on your gold from selling crops, and set aside a non-Tuesday to visit Robin — you'll have a fully upgraded Deluxe Barn well before the second year is out. For more details on all buildings, see the official Stardew Valley website.
