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.
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.