Highlights
The average cost to build an RV garage is $90,000.
The cost can range between $36,000 and $140,000, including labor.
You can choose an attached or detached garage.
Try to get at least three quotes from general contractors or garage builders.
A recreational vehicle opens up a world of exploration possibilities. When you’re not out on the road discovering the beauty of the country, you’ll want to park your RV in a tall, wide, secure RV garage. The average cost to build an RV garage is $90,000 with a typical range from $36,000 to $140,000. In addition to offering security, building an RV garage will make it easier for you to maintain and access your vehicle. Let’s take a look at how much it costs to build an RV garage.
| National Average Cost | Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $90,000 | $9,100 | $180,000 |
Average Cost of an RV Garage Near You
The cost of most prefab RV garage kits doesn’t vary widely from location to location. However, you can wind up paying more for labor depending on whether you live in a rural or urban area and what type of professional you choose to hire. General contractors may charge less than more specialized garage building companies.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an RV Garage?
RV garage kits generally come in two distinct types: attached and detached. Which one you should choose depends on the space you have available, your budget, and your personal preferences.
Attached RV Garage
An RV garage that’s built off to one side of your home and is attached to the home’s structure can be less expensive to build than one that’s detached. However, you might have to spend more to install insulation in an attached garage.
Detached RV Garage
Most homeowners select a detached garage style to protect their RVs. This style is more flexible because you can put it anywhere on your property where it’ll physically fit, with allowances for driving and maneuvering the RV itself. It does tend to cost more than the attached version, but it won’t block your views from your home windows. Detached garages also give you more flexibility in choosing materials, which can help you save money overall.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an RV Garage per Square Foot?
Most RV garages come in the same general size, roughly 14 feet by 50 feet, or 700 square feet. Depending on the type of garage you choose, its design, and the materials used in its construction, you can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $140 per square foot. To get a more precise quote that’s tailored to your property, the RV’s dimensions, and your personal design preferences, contact a garage builder near you for a written estimate.
RV Garage Cost Breakdown
Break down where the money goes in a project with additional <h3>s. At the least, this should include materials and labor. For a bigger project like building a house, it may include a breakdown of various elements, such as:
Materials
Depending on the method you choose, you might need a wide variety of materials to build your garage. If you’re constructing it based on architectural plans, you’ll need the base structure material, siding, roofing, a door or two, and possible windows. In most cases, RV garages are built using metal, with an average price of $5 to $15 per square foot.
Labor
Labor costs to build your RV garage average from $20 to $50 per square foot, representing an average of about 50% of the total project cost. Typically, general contractors don’t charge by the hour, so you’ll want to get competitive quotes for building your garage from at least three general contractors before you make a final decision. The quotes will also help you finalize a more accurate budget for your project.
Site Conditions and Location
The condition of the site you’ve chosen for your RV garage will have a direct impact on your total project costs. If your site needs to be graded to a level surface, or if it needs work to provide good drainage, your costs will increase, as will the total project time. The same is true if you plan to run power or water to the garage but the location is removed from your home’s plumbing and electrical systems.
Permits
Most municipalities will require you or your general contractor to acquire a building permit before constructing or installing your garage. The cost for a permit for a RV garage averages between $1,200 to $1,500, although your town or city may charge more or less.
Cost to Build an RV Garage Yourself
The easiest way to DIY your new RV garage is to purchase a prefabricated garage kit. At an average price somewhere between $15 to $25 per square foot. This is a cost-effective and relatively convenient way of installing your garage yourself.
When you build a garage yourself, you can save about half of the total project costs. At the average cost of $90,000, you would end up saving about $44,000. That amount varies depending on the size and type of garage you choose.
However, even if you choose the simplest DIY garage kit, you’re still looking at spending several hours to finish the job. You’ll also need assistance to help you maneuver the parts into place and secure them to each other and into the ground.
Finally, you’ll need to have access to basic tools like a shovel, circular saw, angle grinder, rivet gun, hammer, anchors, a level, and a hammer drill. If you don’t already own these tools or can’t borrow them from a friend, you’ll need to rent or purchase them. That will add to your cost. Given the time and labor involved, you may well decide that hiring a professional might be more cost effective.
Cost to Install It Yourself vs. Hiring a Contractor
You can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $50 per square foot for labor in building your RV garage. For the average sized structure, which is about 14 by 50 feet or a total of 700 square feet, that’s a total labor cost range of $14,000 to $35,000 you’d save off the total project cost.
However, you’d also have to consider the costs of doing the job yourself, such as any tools or equipment you don’t currently own and the cost of additional labor to assist you in handling and fastening the garage kit elements together.
How You Can Save Money on an RV Garage
Installing an RV garage can be a significant investment. To save money on the project, consider the following tips:
Comparison shop for different methods of building your RV garage. Even if you’re leaning towards a DIY experience with a garage kit, check out how much it would cost to have one built based on available plans or hiring a specialist to design and assemble one for you.
Get at least three quotes or prices from contractors. This is the most effective way to evaluate your options and make sure you’re getting the best possible price.
Explore different materials. You may be able to save some money by choosing a different material for your garage.
RV Garage Questions and Answers
What should I consider when buying and building an RV garage?
Make sure you’re getting the right size to meet your space needs, including enough space both side to side and vertically to accommodate your RV’s features and allow you to safely move it in and out of the garage.
If you’re building an attached and enclosed garage for your RV, you’ll also want to give some thought to whether you’d like to add workspace, water or electricity, or additional storage. If so, you’ll need a garage with larger dimensions.
What other projects should I do at the same time?
Consider tackling the following projects while you have your general contractor on site:
How do I know what size my RV garage should be?
Most commercially available RV garage kits are sized 20 feet wide, 14 feet high, and 50 feet long in order to accommodate the average RV size plus extra space for safe operation. If you want to add extra features, such as electrical service or storage, you’ll need to calculate how much additional space you’ll need. Finally, check your city or town’s building ordinances, as they might specify certain minimum or maximum sizes for RV garages.
What kind of professional should I hire to install my RV garage?
To build or install your RV garage, hire a professional general contractor, preferably one with garage-building experience. Alternatively, you can hire a garage builder, but check to make sure they have experience building the kind of RV garage you’ve selected.
