How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage? [2025 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. Refer to the following table to see how much you could spend based on the garage size you choose.

Garage Installer Costs

Labor for building a garage takes up anywhere from 50% to 70% of the total cost of the project. While this price is quite hefty, it’s for a 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 your local garage building company rates. Your pro may also offer other common garage projects, including:

• Installing a garage heater: $2,100

• Insulating a garage: $4,700

• Drywalling a garage: $1,100

• Installing garage cabinets: $1,300

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

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 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.

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 $6 to $12 per square foot for a garage. The total cost of a foundation for a garage ranges from $2,000 to $7,000, depending on whether you have a one-, two-, or three-car garage.

Roof

Roof replacement costs range from $4 to $11 per square foot on average. Since the average two-car garage size is 18 by 20 feet, or 360 square feet total, you’ll spend anywhere from $1,400 to $4,000 to install a garage roof. The size, style, insulation, and materials all influence the final cost. 

Additionally, gutters cost between $4 and $40 per linear foot to install, depending on where you live, 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 $375 in garage door repair costs. The repair cost depends on how extensive the problem is and the type of garage door. Some garage door alternatives are less common and may require a more experienced pro. 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. A 400- or 500-watt garage door opener can use around 0.03 to 0.1 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day, depending on how often you operate it. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) states that the average home pays approximately $.17 per kWh for electricity, putting your usage somewhere between $1.90 and $6.20 annually. 

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, and is cozy enough for a home office space. Here are the costs of popular garage features for which you may want to splurge.

Windows

Window installations cost anywhere from $300 to $2,500 per window, depending on the style and size of the window and its placement. Installing a window is a great way to add natural light to your garage. Aluminum windows are the most budget-friendly but least energy-efficient, while fiberglass windows cost the most and last the longest.

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. If you want the door to lock automatically, this garage door opener feature costs an additional $100 to $300.

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 insulate a garage to range from $1,900 to $7,700, or $4,700 on average. 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

Garage cabinet costs range from $500 to $2,200 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 $300 and $1,200 on average but can increase substantially depending on how much equipment you purchase. For example, just by themselves, security cameras cost between $600 and $2,000, 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 $10 to $65 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 and $270,000, depending on the size, fit, and finish. Your average cost to build a garage apartment will usually fall between $125 and $250 per square foot. However, there are some budget-friendly tricks for garage apartments to keep the conversion costs low.

Other Factors That Impact the Cost of Building a Garage

Before you tally up your expenses, other sneaky purchases could surprise you come time to calculate your budget. Consider the following additional costs while you plan to build your garage:

• Climate zone: Where you live can impact the types of materials you choose to build your garage, which can, in turn, influence your total cost. For example, aluminum roofing is a budget-friendly

• Garage design: If you need a unique garage layout, you’ll need to spend more to have the best layout for your home. Steep slopes, awnings, winding turns, and atypical shapes can take longer to create, increasing labor costs.

• Entry-way door: The door types between a house and garage can also affect the cost of your project. It’s best to install a steel fire-rated door, which can cost between $400 and $1,300.

• Prefabricated vs. custom-build: A prefabricated garage kit is usually more affordable than a custom-built garage because it already comes with the necessary materials and doesn’t require working closely with a garage installation company to design a one-of-a-kind garage.

• Accessibility: If you plan on making your garage more accessible, you may need to hire a local ramp installation pro to install a ramp over the concrete foundation. This may require extra landscaping renovations. 

• Finish type: When it comes time to work on the finer details, you may want to add a coat of paint, wood paneling, a stain, or other finishing touches. 

Building a Garage Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

With the cost of labor accounting for anywhere between 50% to 70% of the price, you can save some serious money by building a garage yourself—between $8,400 and $29,500. 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 find out who to hire to build a garage the right way. Your best bet is 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—like sinking garage floors, cracks in the foundation, and water damage.

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)

Does Building a Garage Increase Home Value?

The average ROI for adding a garage is between 60% and 70%, or around $10,100 to $29,500. That number can go up to over 80%—or around $33,800—if you convert your garage to a living space. On average, a garage conversion costs between $6,000 and $27,700.

Building a garage adds storage, property protection, and other practical benefits—like more space for a workshop, cellar, tornado shelter, or future spare bedroom. These features mean most buyers will pay more for a home with a garage than one without a garage. 

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. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.