According to a 2016 report by Home Advisor, the average reported cost for building a garage is about $25,000 with the lowest budgets coming around $17,000 and the highest at around $34,000. In general, building an attached garage is not only more common, but more affordable as well.
This is because it is easier, faster, and cheaper to build three walls instead of four. In general, you can expect to pay roughly $40 per square foot for an attached garage for just the materials alone. When it comes to building a detached garage, costs escalate to roughly $100 per square foot for the materials.
Another important factor to consider working into the cost of building your garage is the labor. Unless you have plenty of experience doing so, it is recommended that you hire a licensed and insured contractor to oversee the construction of your garage.
A contractor will be able to bring in a construction crew, architect, electrician, plumber, and any other professionals that are needed to complete your garage. Make sure that you get quotes for the total cost of the project from at least two or three different contractors to ensure that you’re getting a great price.
There are multiple factors that play a role in calculating the cost of building a one car garage. These factors include but are not limited to the cost such as size, types of materials, and whether or not you use a contractor.
As you can imagine, it is fairly simple to calculate what you can anticipate spending on a two car garage based on the numbers we used for building a one car garage. If you are only building a one story garage, just double the numbers to estimate what your budget should be.
Here is a break down of the average costs to build a garage based on several variables:
Garage National Average $7,500 – $27,040
Attached Garage – Build $58,430 – $86,400
Detached Garage – Build $400 – $3,500
Garage Door – Build $200 – $425
Door Opener – Install $1,320 – $2,100
Overhead Garage Door – Install $2,610
Garage Organizer System – Install $6,500
Garage Remodeling $1,100 – $1,200
A detached garage is a wonderful addition to any home. Not only does it increase the value of the property but it can serve a variety of purposes. From a place to store your vehicles safely, to a place to store your gardening equipment, or a workshop for your home projects, garages are very handy to have around.
If you are ready to build, and want to better understand the cost to build a new detached garage, this guide will highlight everything you need to know from start to finish to make sure that you get it done right!
The very first thing you need to do in the process of your garage build is to establish your goals and make plans to achieve them. Decide about the size and purposes that your garage will serve. Also ask yourself whether you intend for the garage to always remain as a garage, or will you perhaps want to convert it to a living space down the line?
Will it be one story or two? Will it only be a vehicle storage zone, or will it need to be more? Keep in mind that if you decide to include things like a workshop in your garage, you will likely also need to add insulation, heating and air so that you will be comfortable while in your garage.
Decide what your needs are and take them to an architect to have plans drawn up so that you will be better equipped to estimate the costs of your garage construction project.
Related: check out the garage building plans (Kits) page.
Request Free Cost Estimates from Garage Building Contractors.
When deciding on the dimensions of your garage build, take these dimensions into consideration:
While you can build a garage of any size to meet your specific needs, the standard and most common sizes are as follows:
Standard Garage Building Sizes
Don’t forget to allow extra space for additional storage, appliances, work benches, sporting and gardening equipment like lawnmowers, etc.. Leave yourself enough room to be able to navigate around your vehicles as well and open all of the doors of your vehicles completely with ease. See our 2 car garage build page.
Garage Building PRO's Provide free cost evaluations and project bids.
Cheaper to build
More common and desirable to buyers
Allows for convenient storage of additional fridge and freezer space
Helps to avoid inclement weather like snow and rain
Allows for better security
Zoning issues and permit costs
Restrictions on size and height
Potential safety hazards such as carbon monoxide poisoning are increased when a garage is attached
Helps to avoid inclement weather like snow and rain
Allows for better security
Better for smaller lots or areas that are more urban
Easier to expand
Better option for building a living space above like an apartment
No protection from weather like rain and snow
Higher operating expenses for working like heating and air conditioning
They’re less desirable to homebuyers
They provide less equity in terms of resale
More expensive to build
Unless you have a significant line of experience in construction, it is highly recommended that you hire a garage building contractor for the construction of your garage. However, it is very important that you hire the right contractor to get the job done correctly, on time, and within budget.
They will also have prior understanding of any and all permits and code regulations that will need to be minded throughout the entire construction process. The last thing you want is a citation from a building inspector.
In order to make sure that you hire the best contractor for your garage construction project you will first need to compile a short list of front runners. It is a good idea to make a list of roughly three to five general contractors in your area.
Once you have assembled your list, take the time to call each of them for a short impromptu interview consisting of the following questions:
Will they take on a garage project of your size?
How much experience do they have with garage projects of your size?
Are they willing to provide verifiable financial references, from their financial suppliers and/or banks?
Are they willing to provide you with a list of previous clients for references?
How many other projects will they have in progress at the time of your garage construction?
How long have they been working with the subcontractors that they plan to use for your project?
What will the costs for the project be and why?
What is their payment schedule like?
Take notes on how each of them answers your questions so that you will easily be able to compare them all against one another later. Also be sure to take notes from any references that you pursue; a very important step.
Contractors are notorious for being difficult to work with so if their previous clients provide a winning reference and review of their experience, you should definitely apply some weight to it in your comparison.
Ultimately your budget for building a garage will depend on how large of a garage you decide to build and the materials and finishes that you select. Once you know the size of the garage and the finishes that you desire, it should be fairly easy to come up with a realistic estimate of what your costs will be.
Use the following checklist of costs to help you estimate what your costs for building a great garage will be:
Trench fill foundations to a standard depth of 1m – $2,600-$3,000
Pour a simple ground floor slab, lightly reinforce and back fill – $2,600-$3,000
Construction of the four external walls, including/adding steel work, and supports $3,800-$4,500
Construction of the roof structure including the felt, tiles, and battens – $2,600-$3,000
Include fascias, gable claddings, soffits and a barge board $1,200-$1,500
Provide drainage with gutters and other draining apparatuses $1,000-$1,500
Electrical work for operating the garage door and any additional lighting and outlets as needed – $1,000-$1,500
Integrate two garage doors, windows as needed and an access door for both the interior and exterior $2,500-$3,000
Cover additional extras and finishes like the flooring, paint work, cabinetry, shelving and any security that you may want to add $1,500-$2,000
In the design of your overall garage plans, as well as, the development of your budget, it is very important to take your property’s equity into consideration. If you have no plans to move at any time in the foreseeable future, building equity may not be a top priority. However, as most people move on an average of every five years, it is usually a wise idea to apply caution to prevent overspending on your garage.
In general, building a garage will always result in an increase in your property’s equity. The question is how much. That will vary by where you live. To get a better idea of the value of a garage in your neighborhood, reach out to a local realtor and request that they provide you with a comparative market analysis for your property.
Ask them how much difference a garage makes and what their local buyers are looking for out of a garage. This will help guide you in selecting finishes and amenities for your garage.
Keeping all of the planning and budgets in mind, here are a few final tips rounding out your ultimate guide to building a great garage:
Make sure the doors are at least eight to ten feet to allow for tall vehicles, basketball hoops, ladders, and storage on top of your cars (kayaks, luggage, bikes)
In-floor heating makes a great solution for keeping your garage warm
Turn your garage into a drive-through by adding a second set of doors on the other side
Plan for ample lighting inside and outside of your garage
Select light and bright paint colors for walls and ceilings to help spread the light
Put lighting and smaller outlets on a separate breakers from your major appliances and tools
Use a clear sealer or multi-part epoxy to finish your garage floors in order to spread reflective light and make spills easy to clean
Building a new garage can be an exciting and stressful project. Remember, this is essentially a full addition on to your home, similar to if you were adding an extra bedroom or sun room. It requires extensive planning, professional work, and attention to detail.
Establishing your goals and budget in the beginning will help you to stay on track throughout the timeline. It can be very easy to get carried away when selecting finishes and adding amenities which is fine if you can afford it but always remember your budgetary goals and the advice your received from your realtor.
Cost To Remodel Existing GarageRead Home Fixology’s in depth guide on transforming your existing garage into a living space.
Garage Door Installation & RepairRead our cost guide and request free project estimates from garage door contractors.
Adding Garage CabinetsRead what you need to know about installing garage cabinets.
Adding new Flooring or Coatings?Garage flooring and coatings can make a big impact on appearance and durability.
1 -3 Car Garage BuildsSee what you need to know before you decide on dimension and auto sizes.
Attached vs. Attached BuildsBuilding an attached or detached garage? Read our guides.
Adding a Loft Above the Garage?You have so many options, what is right for you?
Compare up to 3 highly qualified licensed garage contractors in your local area. Get free written cost estimates from the best pros in minutes!
COST TO BUILD DETACHED GARAGE