Sizing your carport properly means adequate room for vehicles plus storage
The standard size for a 1-car carport is 12 feet wide by 20 feet deep.
The minimum width per car for a carport is 10 feet.
Your vehicle type can dictate your ideal carport size.
Building department restrictions can limit your carport size
If you’re planning on building a carport on your property, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is the carport size you need. Getting the right size is crucial for maximizing the utility and convenience provided by the structure while also keeping installation costs down. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about installing the right size carport for your needs and property.
If you’re building your own carport or plan on hiring a professional carport builder near you to install one for you, you can choose custom sizes to suit your preferences. However, it’s important to maintain at least the minimum size carport for your intended use. Doing so will ensure you have ample space to park your vehicle, open the doors, and maneuver around it comfortably.
The standard size of a 1-car carport is 12 feet wide by 20 feet deep. If you want to use your carport for storage as well, we recommend going with a carport sized for one-and-a-half cars. The dimensions would then be 18 feet wide by 20 feet deep.
The standard carport size for two cars next to one another is 24 feet wide by 20 feet deep. You can upsize the width to 30 feet for some additional room for storage. If you plan on parking your cars front to back instead, the standard carport size would be 12 feet wide by 40 feet deep, with the width bumped up to 18 feet for additional storage being an option.
A carport for three cars parked side to side is usually 36 feet wide and 20 feet deep. You can increase the width to 42 feet, making it a three-and-a-half-car carport to include additional room for storage or a workspace.
A carport for four cars parked side by side typically has a footprint that is 48 feet wide—or 54 feet wide to include room for storage—and 20 feet deep. A less common layout that allows for two rows of two cars each would be 24 feet wide by 40 feet deep.
If you have limited space on your property to build a carport or you just want to minimize the footprint, you can choose to downsize based on the number of cars you want to be able to park underneath.
Minimum size for 1-car carport: The minimum size carport recommended for a single car is 10 feet wide by 18 feet deep.
Minimum size for 2-car carport: The smallest carport size to park two cars side by side is 20 feet wide by 18 feet deep. A carport made for parking two cars end to end could be as small as 36 feet deep and 10 feet wide.
Minimum size for 3-car carport: The smallest footprint that would work for a 3-car carport would be 30 feet wide and 18 feet deep.
Minimum size for 4-car carport: A 4-car carport could be as small as 40 feet wide and 18 feet deep if you plan to park side to side or 20 feet wide and 36 feet deep if you plan to park in two rows.
You should plan to optimize the size of your carport for your specific needs. To that end, there are a few things we recommend you consider when deciding on the size carport you want on your property.
First, think about the specific vehicles you plan to store. If you drive a car or SUV, you’ll likely find that the standard carport sizes work just fine. If you own larger vehicles, like pickup trucks or RVs, you might want to upsize a little to ensure they fit. Plus, RVs could demand a higher ceiling in your carport for adequate clearance.
If you just want to use your carport for storing a vehicle, then the minimum or standard sizes should work. We recommend upsizing to the next half-car size if you also want storage or room to set up a workspace. This delivers additional utility you more often find from a garage bump-out addition.
Most building departments have requirements that dictate not only the size of a carport but also how close to your property lines they can extend. The building code and property size will limit your carport size.
Larger carports built with equivalent materials will always cost more. The materials contributing to your carport costs will be higher the larger you build, as will your labor costs if you hire a professional. If you’re on a tight budget, you might be limited to smaller carport sizes.
If you ever decide you prefer a garage over a carport in the future, you can always enclose your carport. However, minimum carport dimensions may not be possible if you plan to enclose it, as they could prevent you from opening your car door or maneuvering around your vehicle once you close the sides off. Keep your future carport ideas and alterations in mind when deciding on dimensions.
On average, a carport costs about $3,600, though most homeowners will pay between $2,100 and $5,100. However, the smallest, most basic type of carport—enough to cover a single car— can cost as little as $400. On the other hand, a larger carport for two midsize sedans can cost $9,000 or more, depending on any special features like vertical roofs, gabling, walls, or a new concrete foundation.
For most homeowners, carport installation is a job best left to a professional. But for particularly handy DIYers who have the necessary skills and tools, you can do the project yourself and save between $300 to $900 in labor fees or about $10 per square foot in materials.
Most municipalities require that you pull a building permit before installing any kind of structure, including carports. A professional carport installer will likely handle this part of the project for you, but if you DIY you should go to your local government to ask what kind of permit you'll need.
In most cases, you can build a carport between 5 and 10 feet from your side property lines and within 10 to 20 feet from your front and rear property lines, at a maximum. However, the specific regulations depend on where you live. You can call your local building department to find out how close to your property lines you’re legally allowed to build.
The minimum recommended height for a carport is 7 feet tall, but you might need a significantly taller carport to provide clearance for RVs, commercial trucks, or other tall vehicles. You can choose your carport height based on the clearance you need and how the carport looks in comparison to the height of your home. Just keep in mind that building regulations usually dictate a maximum carport height.
