How Much Does It Cost To Build A Garage?

Cost To Build A Garage

The average cost to build a garage is $35 to $60 per square foot. The cost to build a 1-car garage is between $7,500 to $14,200, a 2-car garage costs $19,600 and $28,200, and a 3-car garage ranges from $28,200 to $42,700. Depending on many factors, homeowners can expect to see about an 80% return on their investment in relation to home value.

Table Of Contents

1. Cost To Build A Garage
• Per Square Foot
• By Size & Cars
• Attached vs. Detached
• Site Built vs. Prefab
2. Cost to Build a Garage Calculator
3. Garage Materials Cost Breakdown
4. Garage Door Installation Cost
5. Garage Accessories & Options
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. Hiring Your Garage Building Contractor
8. Garage Builders Near Me

Cost to Build a Garage Per Square Foot

On average, the cost to build a garage is about $35 to $60 per square foot depending on the dimensions, finishing, and if it's attached or detached. The most common 2-car garage dimensions fall in the 400–576 SF range which costs between $19,600 and $28,200, while a 3-car garage will measure 576 to 864 SF and cost about $28,200 to $42,300.

Cost to Build a Garage By Size & Cars

Here are the costs for standard garage sizes and how many cars each hold based on an average of $49 per square foot:

When calculating the cost to build a garage, the number of cars you have as well as their length are important factors. A passenger car will measure about 14’ long while a full-size pickup truck, SUV, or minivan will measure 18’–22’ long.

Remember to allow for any aftermarket modifications like bull bars, a wheelchair lift, or a rear-mounted bike carrier. For the sake of comfort, allowing 4 to 5 feet around the vehicle should provide adequate clearance.

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Cost to Build Attached or Detached Garage

There are some differences between an attached or detached garage, and ideally speaking, an attached garage should be cheaper. However, the final cost depends on the interior finishing, driveway paving, and if you need a living space above the garage. Also, will local building laws allow you to build a detached garage on your property?

Attached Garage Cost

The average cost for a one-car attached garage is between $7,500 and $12,500, 2-car garages start at $14,100, and 4-car garages go up to $42,700. You can opt for a fully enclosed and finished garage, or an open garage with no walls and just a roof.

Detached Garage Cost

The average cost for a detached garage starts at $14,250 with the average homeowner spending $19,600 to $28,200. Since the construction begins from the ground up, it's much more expensive than an attached garage. Your total price depends on the size of the garage, and if you choose to add an apartment or living space above which will require plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. Also, you may need to add a door into the house from the garage.

Garage With Apartment Cost

For an average 400 square foot garage, an apartment costs between $60,000 and $70,000 to add fully finished. Your return of investment could improve if you build a detached garage with a loft above it and use it as a rental unit. Naturally, your initial investment will be a lot higher too, because it will need plumbing and an HVAC system, along with a new roof.

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Site Built vs. Prefab Garage Cost

The cheapest and quickest solution to get a protective home for your vehicles is to buy a prefab garage or steel garage kit rather than build a custom garage. A steel garage kit costs $4,000–$6,500 while prefab garages will generally start in the $5,000 price range for a two-car space.

You can custom build a 1-car garage for the same price, but because of the difference in visual appeal and impact on property values, most subdivisions and homeowners’ associations will have clauses in the regulations regarding the addition of a garage to the home that will eliminate the possibility of having a manufactured garage.

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Average Cost to Build a Garage Calculator

Every component in your garage project adds to the bottom line, and there is flexibility regarding how high end the project can be. Alternatively, you can save money by cutting out or reducing nonessentials like windows or textured and painted walls, which could be added at a later date, instead of having unfinished concrete and drywall. Following is a breakdown calculation of the prices you can expect for the construction of a 12’ by 24’ one-car basic garage.

*These prices do not include upgrades like workshop finish out, adding running water, heating/cooling, or storage cabinets.

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Garage Materials Cost Breakdown

Garage Foundation Cost

A garage foundation costs between $2,000 and $7,000 depending on the size. A standard 16’ x 24’ (1-car) garage foundation costs $2,500, a 24’ x 24’ (2-car) costs about $3,500, and a 36’ x 24’ (3-car) garage foundation runs $5,500 on average.

The first step in building the garage foundation is pouring the concrete, which costs $140 per cubic yard. A 12’ by 24’ by 6” slab equals 7.41 cubic yards and will cost about $740 for concrete poured directly by a chute from a mixer truck. You will need to add between $5 and $35 extra per cubic yard if a boom arm pump delivery method is required because of access restrictions.

Garage Framing Cost

When considering the garage structure itself, unless working with the assembly of a metal barndominium style structure, the two options for the garage walls are timber frame and concrete blocks. Garage framing costs $10 to $35 per square foot, depending on which option you select.

• Timber Frame – Timber frame is definitely the typical choice, thanks to its lightweight for delivery, eco-friendliness/sustainability, low cost, insulation properties, ease of use, and quick build time.
• Concrete block walls cost $15 to $30 per square foot. Concrete block, or CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit), structures are gaining popularity because of the advantages structures built with blocks possess: being airtight, energy efficient, structurally sound, and not susceptible to termites or mold.

Once the concrete walls are up, you will still need to have the contractor install a timber frame to run the electrical work and any plumbing through it, on top of which the drywall will be installed.

CMU is going to cost a lot more for materials and labor. Finding contractors with CMU experience is not as easy as finding contractors who excel at timber frame. A CMU frame structure will also take longer to build than timber frame, and the thickness of concrete blocks adds inches to the entire structure, which results in an extra cost—from foundation to roofing.

Garage Walls

Depending on your budget and the final look you want for the inside of your garage, there is a wide range of wall options to suit all design considerations that will cost $12 to $30 per square foot. You can either leave the inside of the garage as unfinished drywall or create something unique. Check out our drywall installation cost guide to learn more.

Install garage wall panels on top of the drywall, or create a wall storage solution with slat-boards. No matter what final finish you elect, most building codes dictate that you, at the minimum, have drywall installed because of its fire resistance.

Garage Roof

An asphalt shingle roof starts at around $3.60/SF for your garage. For the construction of the garage roof, a support framework is placed on top of the frame for the rest of your structure. For the most common type of installation used in a simple roof, trusses are placed on each end of this support structure, and they are joined by a support or ridge beam; and from there the rafters are added. Installed trusses and supports cost $4.90/SF. Once the rafters are in place, it is common to secure sheets of plywood followed by underlayment, and finally, the shingles are added.

Install Gutters on a Garage

The average cost to install new aluminum gutters is between $4 and $8 per linear foot. On the cheaper end, you could go with vinyl gutters at an average cost of $3 to $6 per linear foot. A rain gutter system will direct the flow of water down the corners of the garage in pipes to spots about two feet away from the foundation. Without gutters, the pooling water affects the quality of your home’s foundation and can result in wood rot of the siding and soffits.

Garage Siding

At $4 to $6.70/SF, vinyl siding is the cheapest of the options available to finish out the exterior of your garage, but that only works if it fits the style for the rest of your home. Here are the price ranges for the most common siding options.

Garage Ceilings

For finishing out the garage ceiling, material options include cork, wood (veneer), drywall, gypsum, plastic tile, or Styrofoam tiles at the cost of $1.80 to $10/SF. To maintain any energy efficiency garnered by your choice of materials for the walls, you will have to finish out the ceiling to help insulate the garage. If you only plan on parking the car in the garage and don’t plan on spending any time in there, or you live somewhere that has a perfect temperature year round, then this might not be a consideration for your project.

Cost To Insulate Garage

The more time you spend in the garage, the more critical insulation becomes to you. When installing insulation only, most companies have a minimum call out fee of $350 to $400 with average prices ranging from $268 to $864 depending on the insulation type.

Garage Windows

The average cost to add windows to a garage is $100 to $600 per window. Not all garages have windows, but if you plan on spending time in the garage, it is nice to have natural light. Despite the additional cost, most detached garages have at least one window, and a larger 2-car garage with a workshop area or storage features could have as many as three windows.

Windows for your garage are typical residential windows available in steel, composite, vinyl, or wood frames. Additional options available include single-, double-, or triple-panel windows; and a UV protection film on the glass or exterior additions like shutters and whatever paint you may choose to add.

Garage Skylights

Skylight installation costs $1,600 to $4,200 on average. Skylights come in three main categories: fixed, ventilating, and tubular. Ventilating skylights can be manual or powered with a remote or switch.

Cost To Finish Garage

If the side of your home you are attaching the garage to has either siding or a brick wall, then you can either leave as is—which would typically look out of the ordinary inside the finished garage. Or you can frame over the preexisting wall and hang drywall over that for $11.50/SF if you want to have it look like the rest of your finished garage. In general, doing the latter will vastly reduce your savings from not having to build a third wall with siding.

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Garage Door Installation Cost

Garage door installation costs $550 to $1,800, with most homeowners spending between $1,000, depending on the style, size, and quality you choose. Installing a single car garage door could cost as little as $550. This price includes the doors, labor, tracks, and materials.

Garage Doors Prices

Garage door prices are $400 to $1,200 on average, depending on the size, style, material, design options, and customizations. Aluminum doors are the least expensive, but they are also more likely to exhibit dents and physical damage than the next cheapest option of a steel door. Fiberglass and wood doors generally offer a more diverse range of designs.

Each material type for your door will also come with energy efficient ratings, making some more suitable for your area. The more secure you want the door to be to protect the contents of your garage, and the more insulated you want it to be, the closer you will get to the upper end of the price range.

Garage Door Opener Installation Cost

The average cost to install a garage door opener ranges from $127 to $199, while the garage door opener itself costs around $120 to $288. This brings us to a total cost of between $247 and $487 to install your garage door opener. Prices vary depending on the brand, model, power, and type of garage door you have.

Garage Entry Doors

Doors can also be a design and safety feature for your garage. They’ll cost around $100 each or up to $2,500 for high-end security options. In a home where the garage is attached, the door between the garage and the house can be quite plain; but with a detached garage, depending on the budget and your priorities, it will generally be a door with a bit more flair to it.      

Garage Lighting and Electrical Work

Electrical and lighting work can add about $1,000 to $2,500 to your garage build. You’ll need electrical outlets if you plan on using power tools in the garage space—a 100-amp subpanel and between 10–12 outlets in the garage. Along with this, either adding traditional bulb fixtures or ceiling–mounted, cost-effective LED workshop lights (at around $80 each) will be enough for the most demanding garage requirements. Four to 6 sockets with a 60-amp subpanel may work if you are just going to park your car and not work in there. If you are planning on having your clothes dryer or some other appliance that needs a 240v outlet, you can expect to pay an additional $220 to wire for that.

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Garage Accessories & Options

Adding to the features and useable space in your garage, here are some costs associated with some common additions.

• Garage Workshop Area – Carpenters average $75 per hour. Counterspace or a garage workbench can be added to your garage to give you more of a workshop facility. Typically, a simple working area where you can mount a vice and power tools could be installed in 5 to 8 hours at a labor cost of $375–$600, with something more elaborate taking twice as long.
• Heating and Cooling Your Garage – For those looking to spend time working in the garage, you can add an all-in-one heating and cooling unit for between $700 and $1,500, depending on the size of the space and the temperature you need to address inside your garage.
• Running Water – Depending on how far the garage is from the water supply, what kind of fixtures you want, and whether you just want a functioning sink or a sink and a shower, a plumber should be able to tap into your water supply and connect a faucet and handbasin and/or a shower for $1,100 to $3,000.
• Fridge and Freezer – If you plan on adding a freezer to the garage to supplement the freezer in the house, or adding a refrigerator for drinks and snacks, your $300 to $2,500 options mimic what you would see for the interior of the home—from a plain white freezer to a stainless steel over/under fridge freezer, or a side-by-side version.
• Storage Space & Cabinets – On the lower end of the spectrum, you could get lower-end kitchen cabinets at one of the big box hardware stores for around $55 and install them yourself, or pay a contractor to put them in for up to $3,400. On the higher end, you can get a complete kit creating a 9-piece cabinet system designed for garages with tall cabinets, tool drawers, lighted work area and worktop, and overhead cabinets.
• A Door into the House - It also depends on if you want a door into the house to be cut into the pre-existing wall of the home—be that made of brick, stone, or siding. Depending on the interior configuration of your home, this may not be possible, as there may only be bedrooms or bathrooms on that side of the house rather than a kitchen. If it is possible to cut an entryway, that is another extra expense of $2–$3/SF to break down the wall.
• An Additional Driveway – a concrete driveway costs between $2,900–$5,500 depending on the length and width of the driveway and whether you use concrete or asphalt.
• Local Building Laws - Some building codes dictate how far away from the home the detached structure must be. In some cases, the front of the garage must be 30 feet farther back from the rear wall of the house, so if you have a pool or a deck back there, you may have to go with an attached garage.
• Permits - Either way, permits will need to be applied for, and you must verify that your new planned structure, along with the addition of a new driveway, will not reduce your properties impervious surface beyond what is allowed for your lot size. Building permits cost $150 to $500.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost To Pour A 24x24 Slab Of Concrete?

The average cost to pour a 24x24 slab of concrete is $1,483. A 24’ by 24’ by 6” is approx. 10.67 cubic yards at an average cost of $140 per cubic yard. Add an extra $20 extra per cubic yard if a boom arm pump is required.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A 1-Car Garage?

A 1-car garage will cost between $7,500 and $14,250 to build. The most common sizes for a one-car garage are 12’ x 24’ and 14’ x 28’. One car garages are becoming less and less popular with only 6% of Americans choosing this size. On the other hand, 63% of homes in the US have a 2-car garage.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A 2-Car Garage?

The average 2-car garage costs between $19,600 and $28,200 to build with most homeowners spending about $20,000. The final price depends on the size, and if it's attached or detached. The most common 2-car garage size is 20’ x 20’ which is 400 square feet.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A 3-Car Garage?

The average cost to build a 3-car garage is between $28,200 and $42,300. The most common 3-car garage sizes are 24’ x 24’ and 36’ x 24’. Overall, you can expect to pay around $49 per square foot, with the average 3-car garage ranging from 576 to 864 square feet.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A 30 by 30 Garage?

At an average cost of $49 per square foot to build a garage, a 30 by 30 garage is priced at around $29,400. Your final price will depend on the finishes, and if you decide to add plumbing, lighting, or HVAC.

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Hiring Your Garage Building Contractor

To hire a professional builder to build your garage, browse the contractors that we list here on HomeGuide to get the work done, and use the following criteria to help create your shortlist:

• Can show examples of similar work they have done
• Been in business for at least five years
• Have the necessary certifications or licenses
• Are insured and bonded
• Offer warranties on materials and labor
• Are A/A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau
• Have good reviews on HomeGuide and Google

Return on Investment

Because of the expense of adding a garage to your home, it is essential to keep in mind not just the additional convenience of having a place to protect your vehicle and store belongings, but also the increase in your property value. Depending on many factors, homeowners can expect to see about an 80% return on their investment in relation to home value.

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