How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage?
Part of Cost & Estimating
Quick answer
A detached garage costs roughly $50–$90 per square foot to build. A standard 2-car garage (about 20×24 ft, 480 ft²) runs roughly $25,000–$45,000; a 1-car garage $15,000–$25,000; a large 3-car or garage with a loft, $50,000+. Attached garages can cost a bit less by sharing a wall.
A garage is a simple structure — slab, walls, roof, a door or two — so it costs far less per square foot than living space. Cost scales with size, whether it's attached or detached, and how finished the interior is.
Cost by garage size
| Garage | Approx. size | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1-car | 12×20 (240 ft²) | $15,000–$25,000 |
| 2-car | 20×24 (480 ft²) | $25,000–$45,000 |
| 3-car | 30×24 (720 ft²) | $40,000–$70,000 |
| With loft / finished | varies | +$15,000–$40,000 |
What drives garage cost
- Foundation: a thickened slab is cheap; a frost-protected or full footing adds cost.
- Doors and openers — a major line item for a multi-bay garage.
- Finishing: insulation, drywall, heat and electrical turn a shell into a workshop.
- Attached vs. detached: attached shares a wall and footing (cheaper) but needs a firewall.
Estimate your garage by entering its floor area and the 'Shed / pole barn' or a low quality level in the construction cost estimator, then add doors and any interior finish. Source: US national average construction-cost references. Last verified: June 2026.
FAQs
Is it cheaper to build an attached or detached garage?
Attached garages are usually slightly cheaper because they share a wall and part of the foundation with the house and tap existing utilities. Detached garages need their own complete shell and a separate run for power.
How much does a 24x24 garage cost?
A 24×24 ft garage is about 576 ft². At $50–$90/ft² that's roughly $29,000–$52,000 for a basic-to-finished detached build, before a concrete driveway approach.