New Garage Cost Per Square Foot

A new garage costs $40 to $70 per square foot for most common builds without a workshop, plumbing or living spaces above it. For higher-end builds that include these upgrades, you might spend anywhere from $120 to $350 per square foot.

For a basic, single-car attached garage, you’ll pay between $10,500 and $27,000. Two-car units average between $15,000 and $40,000, depending on materials. You’ll also have to pay electricians, painters and carpenters depending on its complexity.

Our data shows that size is your largest price consideration. Half sizes (for example, a 2.5 car unit) have become popular in recent years for expanded storage or a small workshop area. Most of these run 20 to 24 feet deep and at least 11 to 12 feet wide per car to accommodate modern car sizes. Tandem setups, also known as a double deep, let one car park behind another which requires 36 to 40 feet deep minimum.

1-Car Garage Cost

A one-car garage costs $10,500 to $27,000 to build without any additions. Single-stall units run from 12 to 16 feet wide and 20 to 24 feet deep, although some older homes may still have 10-foot-wide doors. If you get a 1.5-car unit, which costs up to $32,000, you may end up with something closer to 20 feet wide or up to 30 feet deep.

Cost to Build a 2-Car Garage

Building a double garage costs $14,500 to $40,300. It’s 22 to 26 feet wide with a standard depth of 20 to 24 feet deep. Two-and-a-half-car units run up to $52,000 but are often wider and deeper, allowing room for a workshop or storage.

3-Car Garage Cost

A 3-car garage costs $28,200 to $57,100 or up to $67,200 for a 3.5-stall unit. They’re 31 to 34 feet wide with a standard depth of 20 to 24 feet deep. The extra half unit often adds a few more feet of width or depth for storage.

4-Car Garage

A 4-car garage costs $32,000 to $73,900 but with additions like HVAC, plumbing or a shop, you’ll easily exceed $100,000. You’ll often see these as either a row of four single stalls or two stalls double deep (tandem).

RV Garage Cost

An RV garage costs anywhere from $36,000 to $140,000 depending on the size and what type of materials you use to build it and whether you install RV hookups. For adequate sizing, you’ll need a door no less than 14 feet wide and 12 feet high with a bay 40 feet deep. Most owners go larger with 16 feet wide by 14 feet high doors and a bay of at least 50 feet.

Garage Sizes and Prices

Attached vs. Detached Garage

An attached garage is 10% to 15% less than the cost of a detached garage of the same size and materials, but it’ll still come within the general price range of $40 to $70 per square foot. For example, if you spend $45 per square foot on a detached unit, you’ll spend about $40.50 per square foot on the same thing attached to your home.

But the costs vary a bit depending on the materials you choose and upgrades you want. For example, if you want electricity and plumbing, it’s far more cost-effective to run it to an attached unit than installing lines underground to a detached structure.

Material Cost to Add a Garage

The cost of materials comes in a wide range, anywhere from $15 to $40 per square foot or $5,250 to $14,000 for an average 350 square foot garage. But this depends on the design from the bare-bones model to a finished and insulated interior with electricity and running water. This does not include the cost of hiring a contractor or paying for building permits. Consult with several professionals and your local municipality for the best price.

For bare-bones construction, materials cost:

• Framing costs $1-$5 per square foot. You’ll spend another $4-$8 per square foot in labor depending on your location and the complexity of the build.
• Roofing costs anywhere from $1,000-$10,000, depending on its size. Expect to spend an added $600-$6,000 in labor.
• Concrete slab costs $4-$8 per square foot. It’s tough to get this one done with materials alone, since you’ll need a concrete mixer and specialized tools to pour, level and set the slab perfectly.

The materials you choose will have a big impact on construction costs. Upgrading the flooring, adding a window or separate entrance, or specifying better roofing or designer doors all add to the average build cost.

• Drywall costs $1-$3 per square foot of wall space or about $8-$12 per 4 foot by 8 foot panel just for the materials. Attached units require fire rated drywall at least on the wall or ceiling shared with living spaces. Other wall covering ideas include wood sheathing, metal panels, plastic or vinyl paneling and cement board.
• Insulation prices: $0.50-$2 per square foot. With labor and materials:
  • Blown-in insulation costs $1,000-$2,000
  • Batt insulation installation costs $1,000-$2,000
  • Spray foam installation costs $1,300-$3,700
• Windows cost $100-$1,300 or more depending on the materials, size and style. You’ll pay another $100-$300 per window for installation.

Cinder Block Garage Cost

A cinder block garage costs anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000+ but varies based on your location and its size. If you live in an area that is prone to termites or hurricanes, a cinder block structure is a good choice because it is durable and costs about the same as a stick-built garage. Cinder blocks also make for an easy surface to cover with siding or stucco.

Brick Garage Cost

Brick garages might cost $100 per foot or more. Siding your garage in this material costs anywhere from $14 to $28 per square foot for a wythe, or single layer of brick.

It’s a specialty task that isn’t popular for a couple of reasons: Since full brick walls don’t have cavities for insulation and provide almost no insulative value themselves, they don’t meet modern code requirements. The material is also cost-prohibitive.

Brick Veneered Garages Cost

For a fraction of the cost of a solid brick wall, you can have a veneer that looks and functions exactly like it. Brick veneer costs $10 to $20 per square foot. It’s most often done to match your existing home and comes in on top of the $40 to $70 per square foot to build the basic structure.

Cost to Stick Build a Wood Garage

A stick-built garage, or one framed on site, costs $40 to $70 per square foot total. Stick framing is the most popular style of carpentry, usually mixed with prefabricated roof joists. For similar cost, consider pole barn style framing costing an average of $25,000. It uses larger posts spaced wide apart.

Metal Garages

Metal garages cost $3,000 to $11,000 for a DIY kit, with labor doubling that. Custom metal structures might run as much as $40,000 for a large building. Not only are they cost effective, they be built much quicker than wood or concrete. However, they often don’t fit with the aesthetic of many neighborhoods and are often prohibited by HOAs.

Building a Garage Cost

The average cost for this job is $50 per square foot. Building a garage usually takes up 50% of the total project price for labor. However, the amount of planning and quality of materials you invest in may change that ratio. In most cases, you’ll split up construction costs by contractor:

• General contractor rates: 10%-20% of project costs.
• Concrete rates: $3,600-$7,200 on average.
• Architect rates: 8%-15% of the project.

The rest goes to subcontractors to do the roof, walls, siding, painting and any electrical or plumbing work.

Garage Plan Prices

Premade garage plans cost $500 to $1,000. You can spend up to $2,000 (or more) to hire a draftsperson or architect to change existing documents or create custom blueprints.

Garage Construction Cost

Labor rates for construction cost about 50% to 70% of the finished building, or around $20 to $49 per square foot. However, if you choose expensive materials, like hardwood siding and spray foam insulation, you’ll end up paying more for materials than labor.

Garage Foundation or Footing Cost

A garage foundation costs $1,500 to $8,500. You’ll spend more depending on the size of the structure. For a two-car unit, or around 600 square feet, expect to pay $3,000 to $7,000.

Framing for a 2 Car Garage Price

Framing a 2 car garage costs $4 to $8 per square foot, usually on the lower end of the framing range. However, for complex installations when attaching to an existing structure, you may pay up to $12 per square foot. So, a typical two-stall unit of 600 square feet would run $2,400 to $4,800.

Garage Doors & Openers

Garage door installation costs $750 to $1,500 on average for each door. Since most have two, expect to pay $1,500 to $3,000 total. For oversized doors, such as in an RV stall which are larger and less common, add another 50%. Custom doors can set you back up to $10,000 each.

Permits

Garage building permits cost $200 to $1,500 but may vary in your area. Check with your local building code enforcement agency or ask your contractor before starting work.

Average Cost to Build a Garage with an Apartment

Building an apartment above a garage costs $110 to $350 per square foot or $60,000 to $270,000. Pricing depends on whether you add a simple loft room in over a single-car unit or a full apartment over a four-stall structure.

The cost to build a garage with a room over it varies based on detached vs. attached due to running plumbing and electrical from your main residence to the new building. In most places, you’ll spend more per square foot to build a garage with an apartment above it than a house in the same area.

The following table should help you figure out what you must have and what you can live without.

Garage Addition or Extension Cost

A garage addition or extension costs the same as building a new one or an average of $40 to $70 per square foot. It’ll have all the same associated building code requirements, materials and labor costs.

Cost to Expand a One-Car to a Two-Car Garage

Expanding a one-car garage to fit two cars costs $12,000 to $21,000. You’ll be adding approximately 300 square feet of space. It’ll require all the same cost considerations for building a new structure.

Cost to Rebuild a Garage

The cost to tear down your old garage and rebuild it runs $44 to $85 per square foot for most common projects. Garage demolition costs $4 to $8 per square foot for detached structures or $5 to $15 per square foot for attached structures because it's far harder to remove something attached to avoid damaging your home.

Garage Cost Estimator by Location

Cost to Build a Garage Yourself vs. Garage Builder Rates

The DIY cost of building a simple detached garage runs $5,000 to $25,000 in materials. Builder rates tend to eat up 60% of your total budget. Because this is a complex project, when deciding whether to do it yourself, consider that the cost of one mistake might be higher than the cost to hire a pro at the outset. Even if you’re considering building yourself, talk to a local garage builder first, get at least three quotes. The peace of mind is worth it.

Is it cheaper to build a garage or buy a kit?

Prefab garage prices run about half that of a traditionally built structure, or around $3,000 to $10,000. But many homeowner associations forbid these since they can negatively affect property values.

FAQs

How much does it cost to build a 24x24 vs. 30x30 garage?

A 24-by-24 garage costs $13,000 to $22,600 less than a 30-by-30.

• 24x24: $23,000-$40,300
• 30x30: $36,000-$63,000

How much does it cost to build a carriage house garage?

You’ll spend between $120 and $350 per square foot to build a carriage house garage, which is a detached garage with living space above it. The final price tag depends on the materials you use and your location.

How much extra to attach garage to a prefabricated house?

The cost to attach a garage to a prefab house is the same as it would be to attach to a conventionally built house: $40 to $70 per square foot. You may be able to cut that in half if you use a prefab garage unit, but it could be harder to match the materials and styling to your current home’s exterior.

How much does it cost to move a garage?

The cost to move a garage varies widely from location to location and depends heavily on how large the structure is, what it’s made from, and how far you’re going to move it. In most cases, it’s more cost-effective to simply build new.

How much does it cost to remodel a garage?

Garage remodeling costs $6,000 to $22,000 on average.

How much does it cost to build on top of a garage?

The answer depends entirely on what you want to put above your garage. Check out the section above on adding an apartment for more information, but bank on spending about $120 to $350 per square foot for the job. If you want to add a home gym, office, storage space or studio, talk to a professional in your area.

You’ll also need to know the load capacity of your footings and walls to see if you can use the existing structure. It also depends on what you’re putting on top. For example, a simple deck may not present any problems since it doesn’t weigh much, but a second story may require structural reinforcement and new footings.

How much value does a single, double or triple car garage add?

A garage adds between $12,750 to $33,150 of value to your home on average. Regardless of size, you’ll get about 75% to 85% of your investment back when you sell.