How Much Does It Cost To Build A Garage?

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Garage?

This aticle is is reprinted from this website, for more details, please refer to Right to Rise(https://righttorisesuperpac.org/).

Looking to build a new garage? Perhaps your home doesn’t have a garage, and you’re looking for a safe place to store your car at night or when you’re not using it. Or, you need a structure big enough to accommodate both your car and your DIY tools. Whatever the case, it’s essential that you create a budget and plan ahead so all the costs are factored in, and so you’re able to build the structure successfully and in a cost-efficient manner.

Calculating how much it costs to build a new garage might seem like a straightforward process, but there are lots of considerations to make as explained in this post.  

The costing overview

The HomeAdvisor estimates that the average cost of building a new garage in the US is around 25000 dollars. The marketplace calculates the average cost per square foot to be around 30 dollars for the average attached garage. 

Also, it approximates the lowest costs of building a new garage to be around 6000 with the more sophisticated designs costing more than 50000. 

But what factors can you take into consideration when coming up with a more accurate figure for your garage’s cost? Here are a few:

  • Materials used to build it. 
  • Size. 
  • Design - attached or detached. 
  • Type of door used. 
  • Any additional features. 
  • Whether you build it yourself or hire someone. 
  • Building permits

Let’s look at these factors One by One.

The Garage Size

Obviously, the bigger the garage, the higher the cost. That is because you will use more materials, and if you’re paying someone to build it, a bigger size means more pay for the labor. 

There are various sizes for garages. It depends on the type and number of cars you’re looking to store in there. Oh, and it also depends on whether you’re looking to use the garage as extra living space as well as what other items you’re looking to keep there. 

Here are the common sizes in feet:

  • 14, 18 or 20 by 20 
  •  22 by 22 
  • 24 by 24

On average, cars have a length of 14 feet with the bigger vehicles like SUVs having a length of around 18 to 22 feet. That means that typically, a garage should have a length of at least 20 feet. 

If you have two cars, a 22-foot-wide garage is vital, but in case you have just one car, a 10-foot-wide garage should be adequate. 

Those are the usual dimensions for the length and width, but what about the height? 

If you’re building a single-story garage, the ceiling has got to be at least 7 feet high. If you have a tall vehicle, you might need as much as 9 feet. 

Remember, the height also determines the kind of door you can install. If you want to install a roll-up door, that will need lots of space height-wise, but if you want a simple swing-out design, a shorter garage will do.

Design – Attached or Detached?

Do you want to the garage to be attached to your home or not? Let’s explore some of the pros and cons of both so you can make up your mind.

  • Attached
                     
                     

Detached garage

As you’ll see, the pros and cons of a detached garage are the opposite of the pros and cons of an attached garage.

Materials

When talking about the materials, there are 3 main parts to think about – the foundation, the walls, and the ceiling.

The foundation

The foundation of any structure is one of the most vital aspects in determining its longevity. For most people, all that needs to be done is pour concrete slab foundation, and this is a good option as it’s durable and affordable. You can have this done by professionals or DIY as illustrated in this handy video.

If you live in a place where the ground often freezes, you might find a frost-protected or t-shaped concrete foundation more appropriate.

The walls

Your options include:

  • Metal panels 
  • Drywall 
  • Plastic 
  • Cement board 
  • Wood, e.g. plywood

Drywall happens to be the most commonly used type of wall for garages probably due to the fact that it meets the fire code requirements. 

Plywood is another great option particularly for those who need an affordable but sturdy option. 

Metal panels are easy to install and are more easily styled.

When there are lots of pests, and you also need to deal with moisture and mold, then the best option would be plastic or fiberglass.

The ceiling

With regards to the ceiling, the most popular options are:

  • Drywall – most common as due to the superior ease of use and the inexpensive nature 
  • Plywood 
  • Styrofoam 
  • Plastic

Before you install the roofing, think about installing some form of insulation. It will be extremely helpful particularly if you’d like to keep delicate items in there or use the garage as extra living space. 

You could use spray foam, blow-in, or batt insulation.

The roof

This is the final consideration to make. You want to ensure that the materials you choose for the roof are robust, good looking, and in line with the HOA architectural rules. 

If you’re building an attached garage, the roof should naturally be the same as your house’s roof, but if the garage is detached, the roofing can be different. 

Most folks build a metal roof, using either steel or aluminum. Both of these options are:

  • Easy to install 
  • Relatively affordable 
  • Lightweight 
  • Flame-resistant

Final word

More often than not, people build a garage to store one or two cars as well as a few tools, and thus they don’t modify the structure very much.

If you intend to use the garage as a storage for your tool collection or as extra living space or workspace, there are certain modifications you will need to make, such as constructing shelves and installing large windows and suitable lights and HVAC systems for keep cool garage. 

The costing we have done here is based on estimates. To know what it will cost you to build a new garage, head to the stores and request for a price quote for the materials needed. 

We wish you all the best as you build yourself a new garage!

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.