Last updated: 2026-10-07
e.g. 2
e.g. 240 for a 10 x 24 apron
Estimated Total Cost
$25,920 – $48,960
24 x 24 ft (576 sf) · Attached · 2 doors
Cost Breakdown
Permits ($500-$3,000) and sales tax are not included.
Tip: Attached garages share a wall with your home, which saves on framing and siding. Most codes require fire separation between an attached garage and the house (typically gypsum board on the garage side and a solid-core, steel, or fire-rated self-closing door), so check your local code. Check local zoning setback requirements before choosing your garage location.
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Garage Building Cost Guide
Complete cost breakdown for new garage construction including slab, framing, and doors.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage in 2026?
A new detached garage costs $28,800–$57,600 for a standard 2-car (24×24 ft) build, varying by materials and finishes.
- 1-car garage (12×20): $12,000–$24,000
- 2-car garage (24×24): $28,800–$57,600
- 3-car garage (36×24): $43,200–$86,400
- Per sq ft cost: $45–$85/sq ft attached, $50–$100/sq ft detached for the shell (includes garage doors and basic electrical); insulation and drywall add $7–$22/sq ft of floor area (more on a smaller garage), an epoxy floor adds $5–$13/sq ft, and a ductless mini-split adds $2,000–$5,000 per zone
Attached garages cost 10–20% less than detached because they share a wall with the house.
Key Takeaways
- 2-car detached garage: $28,800–$57,600
- Cost per sq ft: $45–$100 for the shell, more with interior finish
- Attached garages 10–20% cheaper than detached
Garage Slab & Foundation Costs
On a 24x24 garage, the slab runs about $4,100–$7,800 of a $28,800–$57,600 detached build, roughly 13% at the midpoints. It's typically a 4"–6" thick slab on compacted gravel with thickened edges for footings.
- 24×24 slab (4" thick): ~7 cubic yards of concrete = $4,100–$7,800 poured and finished, with gravel base, thickened edges and reinforcement
- Monolithic slab (slab + thickened-edge footing in one pour): a single pour instead of two. Ask your building department whether it is allowed at your frost depth.
- Frost-depth footings: deeper footings are required where your local code sets a frost depth. Check with your building department and price the extra concrete and excavation.
- Rebar: #4 bar runs $0.40–$1.00 per linear foot (material). At 18" on center each way that is about 1.3 linear feet per sq ft of slab.
Key Takeaways
- 24×24 slab: about 13% of a 2-car build
- 24×24 slab: $4,100–$7,800 complete
Garage Door Costs & Options
Garage doors range from $900–$2,500+ per door installed, and are the largest visible item on the garage front.
- Single steel (non-insulated): $900–$1,500 installed
- Insulated steel: $1,200–$2,500 installed
- Opener: $300–$700 installed for a belt or chain drive
Budget more for oversized, custom, or wood/carriage-style doors.
Key Takeaways
- Insulated steel door: $1,200–$2,500 installed
- Opener installed: $300–$700
Quick Answer: How Much Does a Garage Cost?
Detached, a standard 2-car garage (24x24 ft) runs $28,800-$57,600 (about $25,900-$49,000 attached). A 1-car garage detached runs $12,000-$24,000. A 3-car garage detached runs $43,200-$86,400. All-in, that is $45-$85 per square foot attached or $50-$100 detached, including garage doors and basic electrical; insulation, drywall, and extra windows add to that. Detached garages cost 10-20% more than attached. Permits, site prep, and finish upgrades are not included in those numbers.
Garage Cost by Size and Style
| Garage Size | Sq Ft | Attached Cost | Detached Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Car (12x20) | 240 sf | $10,800-$20,400 | $12,000-$24,000 |
| Compact (20x20) | 400 sf | $18,000-$34,000 | $20,000-$40,000 |
| 2-Car (24x24) | 576 sf | $25,900-$49,000 | $28,800-$57,600 |
| Oversized 2-Car (25x25) | 625 sf | $28,100-$53,100 | $31,250-$62,500 |
| 2-Car Wide (24x30) | 720 sf | $32,400-$61,200 | $36,000-$72,000 |
| 3-Car (36x24) | 864 sf | $38,900-$73,400 | $43,200-$86,400 |
| Large Shop (30x40) | 1,200 sf | $54,000-$102,000 | $60,000-$120,000 |
Costs include slab, framing, roofing, basic siding, and doors. Insulation and drywall on walls and ceiling add roughly $7-$22 per sq ft of floor area (more on a smaller garage).
Garage Cost Per Square Foot by Finish Level
If you are pricing by the square foot, the finish level moves the number more than the size does. Here is what each level runs in 2026:
| Finish Level | What You Get | Cost Per Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|
| Basic shell | Slab, framing, roofing, siding, doors | $45-$85/sf attached, $50-$100/sf detached |
| Insulated and drywalled | Shell plus batt insulation and finished walls | $52-$107/sf attached |
| Fully finished (2-car) | Insulation, drywall, epoxy floor, ductless mini-split (trim extra) | $61-$123/sf attached, $66-$138/sf detached |
Detached garages run 10-20% higher than attached for the basic shell and insulated rows; the fully finished row above already lists both.
What Gets Left Out of Most Garage Bids
Confirm each of these is either in the bid or excluded in writing, because a missing one comes back as a change order:
- Permit fees: $500-$3,000 depending on jurisdiction and garage size. State in the bid whether permits are in the number or billed separately.
- Site grading: a sloped lot needs cut and fill before the slab. Excavation runs $50-$150 per cubic yard in soil or clay, plus $15-$50 per cubic yard to haul off spoils. Cutting a 24x24 pad 6 inches deep moves about 11 cubic yards.
- Panel upgrade or subpanel: Adding a subpanel for a workshop or EV charger adds $800-$2,500 on top of basic electrical, plus trenching if the garage is detached.
- Concrete finishing: A broom-finish slab is standard. Epoxy coating runs $5-$13/sf installed.
- Gutters and downspouts: Confirm they are in the bid. Budget $600-$1,500 depending on garage size.
Use the concrete calculator to verify the slab estimate before you sign anything.
Related Calculators
- Concrete Calculator - Cubic Yards and Bags for the Slab
- Concrete Bag Calculator - How Many 80 lb Bags Do You Need?
- Framing Cost Calculator - Estimate Lumber and Labor
- Driveway Cost Calculator - Price Out a New Driveway or Apron
- Square Footage Calculator - Get Your Garage Footprint
Need a full bid ready to send? Try EstimationPro free (3 estimates, no card): build the estimate, send it from EstimationPro, and it follows up with your client automatically: at 24 hours if they haven't opened it, 48 hours after they open it with no reply, and a final reminder at 7 days.
How to Use This Calculator
Select Garage Size
Choose a preset size (1-car 12x20, 2-car 24x24, 3-car 36x24) or enter custom length and width dimensions. The calculator auto-determines the number of garage doors.
Choose Attached or Detached
Attached garages share a wall with your home and are cheaper to build. Detached garages cost 10-20% more but offer more placement flexibility.
Configure Options
Add insulation ($1.50-$3/sf of wall + ceiling), drywall finish ($2-$4/sf of wall + ceiling), electrical ($1,500-$3,000), windows ($300-$800 each), and a man door ($600-$2,000).
Review Cost Breakdown
See itemized costs for foundation, framing, roofing, siding, garage doors, electrical, and all selected options with low-to-high ranges.
Garage Cost Formula
Total = Sq Ft x $45-$85/sf attached or $50-$100/sf detached
(includes slab, framing, roof, siding, garage doors, entry door, basic electrical, 2 windows)
+ Insulation + Drywall + Extra WindowsWhere:
- Shell Rate
- = $45-$85/sf attached, $50-$100/sf detached: slab, framing, roof, siding, doors, and basic electrical
- Garage Doors
- = $900-$2,500 per door installed
- Insulation
- = $1.50-$3.00/sf of wall + ceiling area
- Drywall
- = $2-$4/sf of wall + ceiling area
- Electrical
- = $1,500-$3,000 for outlets, lighting, and opener circuit
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a garage?
All-in, a garage runs $45-$85 per square foot attached and $50-$100 detached. The calculator on this page prices the whole shell, including garage doors and basic electrical, at that rate, then adds insulation, drywall, and extra windows on top. A 1-car garage (12x20, 240 sf) runs $12,000-$24,000. A 2-car garage (24x24, 576 sf) costs $28,800-$57,600. A 3-car garage (36x24, 864 sf) ranges from $43,200-$86,400. Those are detached prices; attached runs 10-20% less.
Is it cheaper to build attached or detached?
Attached garages are typically 10-20% cheaper than detached because they share one wall with the existing house. Most codes require fire separation between an attached garage and the house (typically gypsum board on the garage side and a solid-core, steel, or fire-rated self-closing door), so check your local code. Detached garages avoid that shared-wall requirement but need all four walls fully built.
How much does a garage door cost installed?
A single 9x7 steel garage door runs $900 to $2,500 installed; insulated steel runs $1,200-$2,500. A double 16x7 door runs $1,200-$4,500 installed. Premium insulated single doors with windows run up to about $2,500 installed. A standard garage door opener adds $300-$700. Budget more for oversized or custom doors.
Do I need a permit to build a garage?
Yes, building a garage almost always requires a building permit. Permits typically cost $500-$3,000 depending on your jurisdiction and garage size. You must also meet your local zoning setbacks from property lines, so check them before you site the garage. Some HOAs have additional architectural review requirements.
Should I insulate my garage?
Insulation is worthwhile if you use the garage as a workshop, gym, or hobby space, or if it is attached to your home. Insulation costs $1.50-$3.00 per square foot of wall and ceiling for batt insulation. Add drywall finishing at $2-$4/sf for a clean interior. For attached garages, insulation also helps your home energy efficiency.
How long does it take to build a garage?
Plan on several weeks of active construction once the permit is issued. The slab needs time to cure before framing loads it, and inspections (footing/slab, framing, electrical, final) set the pace between trades. Ask your building department about review and inspection lead times before you set a start date.
How much does a 24x24 garage cost to build?
A 24x24 detached garage (576 sq ft) typically costs $28,800-$57,600. That breaks down to roughly $4,100-$7,800 for the concrete slab, $9,000-$17,000 for framing and roofing, $4,700-$10,500 for siding and doors, $1,500-$3,000 for basic electrical, and $9,500-$19,200 for windows, entry door, trim, gutters, and contractor overhead and profit. Insulation and drywall on the walls and ceiling add about $4,600-$9,200 (1,314 sf of wall and ceiling at $3.50-$7.00/sf); an epoxy floor adds another $2,900-$7,500 (576 sf at $5-$13/sf).
How much does it cost to build a detached garage per square foot?
Detached garage construction runs $50-$100 per square foot for standard finishes. A basic unfinished shell (slab, framing, roofing, siding, doors) lands at $50-$100/sf. Insulation and drywall on the walls and ceiling add roughly $7-$22 per sq ft of floor area on top of that (more on a smaller garage). A fully finished space (insulated, drywalled, epoxy floor, and a ductless mini-split for heat) runs roughly $66-$138/sf detached on a 2-car.
What is the cheapest way to build a garage?
Keep it simple: a plain rectangle with a gable truss roof, one wide door instead of two, vinyl siding, and no interior finish. If you are considering a prefab kit, get a kit quote and a stick-built quote on the same slab and compare them line for line before you decide.
How much does it cost to build a 2-car garage?
A standard 2-car garage (24x24, 576 sq ft) runs $28,800 to $57,600 built detached, or about $25,900 to $49,000 attached. Figure $4,100-$7,800 for the slab, $9,000-$17,000 for framing and roofing, $4,700-$10,500 for siding and doors, $1,500-$3,000 for basic electrical, and $9,500-$19,200 for windows, entry door, trim, gutters, and contractor overhead and profit. Insulation, drywall, and a finished floor push it higher. These ranges do not include site grading or permits.
How much does a detached garage cost?
A detached garage costs $50 to $100 per square foot, roughly 10-20% more than an attached garage of the same size because you build all four walls instead of three. A detached 2-car (576 sq ft) lands around $28,800-$57,600, and a detached 1-car runs $12,000-$24,000. You also pay for a separate roof structure and often a dedicated electrical run or subpanel from the house.
What is the price per square foot to build a garage?
Garage cost per square foot depends on finish level. A basic shell (slab, framing, roofing, siding, doors) runs $45-$85/sq ft attached, $50-$100/sq ft detached. Add insulation and drywall on the walls and ceiling and you add roughly $7-$22 per sq ft of floor area on top (more on a smaller garage). A fully finished space (insulated, drywalled, epoxy floor, and a ductless mini-split) runs roughly $66-$138/sq ft detached on a 2-car. Detached builds cost a little more than attached at every finish level.
How do contractors estimate garage construction costs?
A practical way to price a garage is a per-square-foot number for the shell, then separate line items for doors, electrical, insulation, site work, and permits. Break it into slab, framing, roofing, siding, doors, and electrical so the homeowner can see exactly where the money goes, then add a contingency line for grading or rock you cannot see until you dig. If you bid garages, build the whole thing as a clean line-item estimate with our contractor estimate template so nothing gets left off the number.
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