How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage? [2024 Data]

Cost per Square Foot to Build a Garage

You'll pay about $50 per square foot on average between labor and materials when working with a professional. However, you'll find prices as low as $30 per square foot for simple, attached garages and up to $120 per square foot for detached, high-end garages with all the bells and whistles.

Garage Building Cost Factors

If you look at the big picture, garage building cost factors are split between labor and materials. You'll pay between 30% to 50% of the total cost toward materials, and 50% to 70% toward labor.

Size

The cost of your garage goes hand-in-hand with the style, but will vary depending on the design. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect for the standard garage layouts.

One-Car Garage

The average cost of a standard-size one-car garage is around $20,000, but the price can range from $10,500 to $27,000. The price can go up to about $32,000 if you add extra workstations or storage space.

Two-Car Garage

The cost to build a typical size two-car garage is anywhere from $14,500 to $40,300, with an average of around $30,000. Again, your price will depend on materials, placement, and add-ons.

Three-Car Garage

Due to their custom design and the number of extra materials and space required, a standard-size three-car garage will cost between $28,200 and $57,100 without any add-ons for a living or workspace. The average cost for a 3-car garage will be around $40,500.

RVs vs. Cars and Trucks

A garage large enough to accommodate an RV—typically at least 40 feet deep—will cost between $36,000 and $140,000 before any add-ons.

Attached vs. Detached Garage

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You'll pay as low as $30 per square foot for an attached garage and between $40 and $70 per square foot for a detached garage. Attached garages already have the benefits of being close to your home's electricity, plumbing, foundation, and insulation. Plus, construction requires one fewer wall, which helps keep costs down. As such, expanding the garage off of the existing structure will lower your costs compared to a detached structure. If you’re already taking on the cost to build a new house, you may want to consider building a garage at the same time.

Labor

The 50% to 70% addition of labor costs to building a garage is quite hefty, but for good reason. Building such a significant structure requires certification, licenses, and a good deal of experience to get it right. The cost of labor ranges from $20 to $50 per square foot on average but varies by company and local rates.

Location

Your location highly affects labor costs. The general cost of living and labor rates are the primary factors. Access and travel costs can also increase if you live in a remote area. Additionally, features that require additional specialists—such as bricklaying, plumbers, or electricians—will add to the total.

Remember to include the labor cost for pre-building fees such as drafting and architectural fees. These will make up 8% to 15% of the total cost.

Materials

Materials will account for between 30% and 50% of the final cost. You’ll see below how each category factors into the project's price. 

Exterior

The materials you choose to build the facade of the garage have a significant impact on the total cost. Detached garages will use more materials as you have to account for the fact that attached garages will use preexisting walls, while detached garages need four walls worth of materials. The benefit is that you have the most options in terms of materials. Brick, cinderblock, metal, and stick-built are all popular choices. 

Foundation

A concrete slab foundation costs $4 to $25 per square foot. The total cost of a foundation for a garage ranges from $2,000 to $7,000.

Roof

The roof of your garage will cost anywhere from $1,600 to $16,000 total, depending on its size, style, insulation, and materials. Additionally, gutters cost between $4 and $30 per linear foot, depending on the type of gutters and whether or not your garage is a regular shape. Gutters protect your structure from rain, snow, and debris and can go a long way in preventing foundation damage.

Permits

Just like any major construction project, you'll need to acquire local permits before the building begins. Permits can cost between $1,200 and $1,500 for the whole project.

Garage Maintenance Costs to Consider

Ongoing maintenance for your garage will not differ much from the exterior of your home. Consider the costs of siding repairs, ranging from $2 to $50 per square foot. 

If your garage door acts up, expect to pay between $150 and $2,400 in garage door repair costs. The repair cost depends on how extensive the problem is. For instance, fixing small dents in the panel will cost on the lower end of the spectrum, while full panel replacements will cost far more. You should call a local garage door contractor to handle any large repairs.

Outside of maintenance and repairs, the ongoing costs of a garage include its electricity use.

Cost of Common Garage Add-Ons

Let's say you're dreaming of a highly equipped, multi-purpose garage that stays warm in the winter, opens when you press a button or is cozy enough for a home office space. Here are the costs of popular garage features for which you may want to splurge.

Windows

Adding a window will cost anywhere from $300 to $2,100 per window, depending on the style and size of the window and its placement.

Automatic Door

Automatic doors are nearly standard in garages today, but you will pay between $220 and $520 between installation and parts on top of your garage building costs.

Insulation

Insulating your garage has plenty of perks, and not just if you plan to spend time working on your latest project. Garage insulation can boost the efficiency of the space and help keep heating and cooling costs to a minimum. Expect the cost to range from $1 to $5 per square foot. Also, note that insulating alongside the construction of your garage is wise, as retroactively installing insulation will likely be more expensive, as laborers will need to work around the existing structure and potentially remove sheetrock.

Storage and Organization

The cost of garage storage systems can range between $600 and $2,600 depending on the system's size, style, and weight capacity. It’s possible to DIY garage organization solutions to save some money if you’re handy and have construction experience.

Security

Adding security measures like alarm systems, exterior flood lights, and security cameras can cost between $200 and $2,500, depending on how much equipment you’re looking to add. Keep in mind that some security systems also necessitate ongoing professional monitoring, which can cost around $30 per month. Security systems can be expensive, but they add value to your home and help protect expensive belongings and vehicles, so they’re often a worthwhile addition.

Apartment or Living Space

Garages are excellent opportunities to expand your living space or rental opportunities. The cost to build a garage with an apartment costs between $60,000 to $270,000, depending on the size, fit, and finish. Your average cost per square foot to build a garage apartment will usually fall between $125 and $250. However, there are some budget-friendly tricks for garage apartments to keep the conversion costs low.

Building a Garage Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

With the cost of labor accounting for up to 70% of the price, you can save some serious money by building a garage yourself—an average of around $8,000. However, taking on each task yourself is not always ideal or possible. Garages have complex features that are not ideal for DIY work, so the likelihood is that you’ll need to hire a garage builder near you for certain aspects of the job.

Without prior contracting experience, building a garage yourself isn’t advisable. Some of the work is dangerous, and mistakes when pouring the foundation or framing can lead to structural damage and serious repair costs.

Instead, consider taking on small tasks during the garage-building process to keep costs down and flex your DIY muscles. Some things that would be appropriate for you to do yourself include the following:

• Collaborate with the architect to discuss your needs and vision.

• Paint the interior and exterior of the garage yourself.

• Build DIY shelving and workstations.

• Install insulation and drywall.

• Install light fixtures.

• Install flooring, trim, and other finishing touches.

Ways to Save Money When Building a Garage

The best way to save money when building a garage is to work with an experienced local contractor. You might pay more for high-quality work upfront, but it’s almost always worth it in the long run, as it can help you avoid structural damage, expensive repairs, and the headache and costs of having to redo work. This is especially important when it comes to foundation and framing work and tying in utilities.

You can also save some money by using the following tips:

• Take on small details yourself

• Choose a metal or prefabricated frame if your design allows

• Opt for an attached garage when possible

• Cut out extras like insulation, wiring, and plumbing if your design allows

• Book your project outside of the busy season (aim for the fall over the spring and summer)

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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