True Cost Guide Garages Build a Detached Garage

How Much Does a Detached Garage Cost?

Typical Range:

$19,200 - $45,000

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated July 29, 2022

Reviewed by Ezra Laniado, Expert Contributor.

Written by HomeAdvisor.

The average cost of building a detached garage is $40 to $70 per square foot. The cost to build a detached two-car garage averages between $19,200 and $45,000.

About half of the cost will be for materials and half for labor. A local garage builder can make recommendations and give you an estimate. The cost to build a detached garage will be 10 to 15% more than the cost to build an attached garage.

A detached garage can give you the flexibility to use it as traditional car and boat storage or as additional living space, a home office, or a studio. Some homeowners also like them because they keep car fumes farther from the house.

Detached Garage Cost by Size
Cost of Building a Detached Garage by Number of Cars
Average Detached Garage Costs
Detached Garage for RV
Detached Garage Cost Factors
Detached vs. Attached Garage Costs
Detached Garage Living Space
What Is the DIY Cost of Building a Detached Garage?
FAQs About the Cost to Build a Detached Garage

Detached Garage Cost by Size

The first thing to decide is how big you want your new garage. That could be determined by the number of cars or square feet. It’s also popular to add half a car size to accommodate a workspace or provide additional storage space for outdoor gear or warehouse store purchases.

Number of Cars	Square Feet	Total Cost
1	240 – 384	$12,000 – $31,000
1.5	320 – 528	$14,700 – $37,000
2	440 – 624	$16,700 – $46,400
2.5	520 – 744	$24,000 – $60,000
3	620 – 816	$32,500 – $65,700
3.5	680 – 960	$31,300 – $77,200
4	800 – 1056	$36,800 – $85,000
6	1,320 – 1,728	$55,200 – $135,300
10	2,200 – 2,880	$92,000 – $232,000

Cost of Building a Detached Garage by Number of Cars

1-Car Detached Garage Cost

A one-car garage is 12 to 16 feet wide and 20 to 24 feet deep. Expect to pay in the range of $11,500 and $31,000 for a single-stall detached garage.

2-Car Detached Garage Cost

The detached two-car garage cost ranges from $16,000 to $46,000. A double car garage is 22 to 26 feet wide and 20 to 24 feet deep.

3-Car Detached Garage Cost

A three-car garage is 31 to 34 feet wide and 20 to 24 feet deep. The typical cost range for a three-car garage is $31,000 to $77,000.

4-Car Detached Garage Cost

A four-car detached garage runs $35,000 to $85,000. They are either configured with a single row of four stalls or two tandem stalls.

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Average Detached Garage Costs

Size	Square Footage	Price Range
12x24(1 car)	288	$12,600 – $23,200
14x24(1 car)	336	$14,800 – $27,000
16x24(1 car)	384	$17,000 – $31,000
20x20(1.5 car)	400	$17,600 – $32,000
20x24(1.5 car)	480	$21,100 – $38,600
24x24(2 cars)	576	$25,300 – $46,300
20x30(2 cars deep)	600	$26,400 – $48,000
26x26(2.5 cars)	676	$29,700 – $54,300
24x30(2.5 cars deep)	720	$31,700 – $58,000
25x30(2.5 cars deep)	750	$33,000 – $60,000
24x32(2.5 cars deep)	768	$33,700 – $61,800
20x40(4-car tandem)	800	$35,000 – $64,000
24x36(4-car tandem)	864	$38,000 – $69,500
30x30(3 cars deep)	900	$39,600 – $72,400
32x32(3 cars deep)	1,024	$45,000 – $82,500
30x40(6-car tandem)	1,200	$52,800 – $96,600
36x36(4-plus-car tandem)	1,296	$57,000 – $104,000

Cost of a Detached Garage for RV

A detached garage can be an ideal place to store your recreational vehicle out of the elements and on level ground between adventures. Building a detached garage to accommodate an RV is on average $40,000 to $160,000.

You’ll need a bay at least 40 feet deep, though many owners prefer to go 50 feet deep. You’ll also need a garage door at least 14 feet wide and 12 feet high. Again, many owners prefer some extra clearance and go 16 feet wide by 14 feet high.

Detached Garage Cost Factors

A general contractor can arrange the specialized professionals needed for the job.

Foundation

Concrete slabs are a common foundation for a garage. Expect a concrete foundation to cost between $1,500 and $5,000 or about $3 to $5 per square foot.

Electrician

The average cost to hire an electrician is between $50 and $100 per hour. The cost of materials will vary based on your project.

Siding

The cost of siding for a 20-by-20-foot garage averages $1,500 to $9,500. Aluminum is the least expensive option, while brick is usually the highest priced.

Roofing

The price of a new roof depends on the size of your structure and ventilation or gutter needs. Adding a new roof, including the structure and shingles, costs between $10,000 and $20,000 installed.

Insulation

Finishing walls and insulating a garage is optional. If you’ll be working in it rather than storing cars, you might consider adding insulation. The price will depend on the type you choose. Insulation costs between $1 and $5 per square foot.

Painting

Exterior painting usually costs more than an interior job. Expect to pay between $0.50 and $3.50 per square foot or up to $100 per hour for professional painting.

Driveway

Now that you have a garage, you’ll probably want a garage to access it. The price of a driveway depends on the length. The average cost to install a driveway is $2,300 to $6,500 or $2 to $15 per square foot.

Doors

The cost of garage door installation by a garage door company near you for a single car ranges from $600 to $1,500 installed. A double garage door costs on average $800 to $1,500. Installation labor is about $300, while the cost of the door is typically $300 to $1,100.

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Detached vs. Attached Garage Costs

Building a garage attached to the house is 10 to 15% less expensive than building a detached garage. This is especially true when plumbing and electricity are involved because lines will need to run out to the new structure.

But there are some advantages to separating house and garage. It gives you fresh air when you walk between, keeps car fumes away from the house, and offers flexibility to use the space to run a small business or convert it into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). “A detached garage also insulates engine noise or the noise associated with ADU occupants from disturbing people living in the home,” says Ezra Laniado, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Landmark Construction & Development Group, Inc.

Detached Garage Living Space

Building a detached garage means you’ll have room to play with add-ons like a home office or an apartment. Of course, this adds to the cost since you’ll have to run plumbing and electricity out there and add temperature controls. That’s in addition to equipping the living space with a kitchen, bathroom, flooring, and light fixtures. Adding an over-garage apartment costs between $110 to $350 per square foot or $60,000 to $270,000.

Here are some costs to consider when designing your garage apartment:

Flooring cost	$0 – $10 per square foot
Wall cost	$7 – $16 per square foot
Ceilings	$7 – $16 per square foot
Window cost	$200 – $1,300 each
HVAC cost for heating and cooling	$25 – $60 per square foot
Electrical wiring cost	$6 – $10 per square foot
Plumbing cost	$600 – $1,600 per fixture
Bathroom installation costs	$5,000 and up
Kitchen	$75 – $250 per square foot

What Is the DIY Cost of Building a Detached Garage?

The price of labor is about 60% above the cost of materials. Materials for a simple detached garage will cost approximately $5,000 to $25,000. This is a complex project, though, and you might want to bring in pros for any part above your comfort or skill level.

FAQs About the Cost to Build a Detached Garage

Is it cheaper to build a garage or use a prefab garage kit?

Prefab garage kits cost between $2,000 and $150,000, with an average price of $15,000. This is about half of building a structure the traditional way. That doesn’t include delivery, assembly, or the foundation, however.

Prefab garages aren’t quite as easy as putting together flat-packed furniture with a hex key. Check out a prefab garage guide on what to know before ordering a kit.

How much does it cost to extend an existing garage?

If there’s not enough room in your existing garage, consult a garage contractor to see if adding on is an option. Extending an existing garage isn’t likely to save a bundle, though, because you’ll still need new concrete work, siding, and roofing. You might even need a new garage door and extended driveway.

The cost to add about 300 square feet, the amount of space to accommodate another car, is $12,000 to $21,000 on average.

How much does it cost to rebuild a detached garage?

This is one place where the detached garage option will save you money. That’s because demoing something attached to your house takes extra care and precision. Detached garage demolition costs $4 to $8 per square foot, while attached garage demolition costs $5 to $15 per square foot.