Cost to Build a Garage: Key Factors and What to Consider

Building a garage can be a great way to satisfy practical concerns — such as protecting your vehicle and storing your stuff — and to make your property look beautiful. It can also be a great way to increase the value of your home. But at what price? What does it cost to build a garage? Let’s get into it!

Why Build a Garage?

Does your house even really need a garage? If you own a property that doesn’t currently have a garage, or your garage is dilapidated and no longer fit for purpose, you may wonder if it’s worth paying the additional costs associated with adding a new garage. We’ll get into those costs a bit later, because the cost can differ a lot depending on various factors, such as whether you want a prefab garage or a custom garage.

But first, why have a garage at all? Well, the obvious answer is to provide covered parking. This brings up two rebuttal points: First, not all people who have garages park their cars in them, and second, a wall-less carport also provides cover. 

Looking at the second point first, such a structure wouldn’t offer the protection a full garage build would. Furthermore, the additional cost of walls, garage siding, and a door wouldn’t add a great deal to the overall cost. If you’re going to invest in this kind of project, why not spend a little more and build your dream garage?

This brings us back to the first point. Even if you don’t want to park your car in your garage, the total construction cost will likely pay for itself by adding value to your property. This points to the cost vs. value dynamic. Spending money on a new garage, or on improvements such as a new garage door, isn’t like making a discretionary purchase — it’s an investment in your home. 

Garages and garage doors have their lifespans, so whether you want to build a new one, replace a garage, or spruce it up, there’s a good chance you’ll get that money back, and then some. You can reap the rewards when you sell your house or by increasing its value and therefore your net worth, which could help you when taking out a loan.

What Factors Determine the Cost To Build a Garage?

On average, the cost to build a garage stretches from $7,500 for a one-car garage all the way up to $42,700 for a three-car garage. That’s quite the range, but that’s because how much a garage costs depends on a variety of factors. Some of the most important include:

Size

Garage size is one of the easier factors to understand. A three-car garage will cost more than a two-car garage, which will cost more than a one-car garage. The larger the size, the greater the material and labor costs, and therefore the greater the garage construction costs.

However, while larger garages cost more, it’s a correlation that tapers off. In most cases, a two-car garage won’t cost double what a single would. The same is usually true for scaling higher, so if you want an RV garage but are worried about the additional costs, it’s still probably worth it to invest a little more in the garage you want.

Location

Location affects the cost of building a garage both on the macro and micro levels. The cost of living fluctuates based on geography. This affects the price of materials and labor costs. Therefore, the same garage could have a higher cost in one region and be cheaper in another.

But where you want to build a garage on your property can also affect how much investment is required. This touches on the dynamic of attached garage cost vs. detached garage cost.

An attached garage abuts the house, so the exterior wall on one side of the house comprises one of the garage’s walls. Furthermore, attached garages are much closer to the house’s electricity, plumbing, and foundation. 

A fully insulated detached garage that’s hooked up to your home’s electrical supply and plumbing will probably cost more. You don’t just have to consider the garage framing cost, but also that of building the detached garage foundation. Nevertheless, a detached garage without insulation, plumbing, or even power would be cheaper; it would just limit what you can do in it.

The average cost of a detached garage is greater than that of an attached one. You can expect to pay between $40 and $70 per square foot, but the cost for attached garages can be as low as $30 per square foot. However, it’s important to remember that these are rough estimates and individual cases can vary significantly.

Materials

Materials will comprise a large portion of the final cost. Metal garages cost a lot less than ones with stone garage walls, for example. If you want to stay on trend, you may end up paying a bit more for materials that are in demand. Perhaps even more important, though, is getting materials that are durable and can withstand the weather where you live. Paying more for materials now may mean spending less on maintenance over the years.

Labor

Another big line item in any garage door budget is the labor cost. If you’re handy and you want to build a prefab garage door kit as a DIY project, you’ll save a lot of money … at least for now. 

With labor, as with materials, investing more now could save you money in the long run. Experienced contractors can build a garage that will last. They’re also likelier to build a garage that boosts your home’s curb appeal, and therefore its value.

Building vs. Buying a Garage

Labor costs are another facet of the building vs. buying — and what produces the best return on investment (ROI) — debate. Maybe what you need is a simple detached garage behind your home. And perhaps you’re skilled in construction and handiwork yourself. If so, building a prefab garage on your own might make the most sense.

The best decision for you depends on your skills, budget, and priorities. As a rule, it’s usually true that buying a prefab garage costs less than building a custom new garage, but the latter can produce a greater ROI as time goes by.

Remodels vs. Total Builds

Maybe you already have a garage, but you just don’t love it. When is it better to build a brand new garage vs. remodeling the one you have? Again, the answer is “it depends.” No two properties are identical, and the right choice for you depends on your circumstances.

A fresh coat of paint can make a garage look great, and it won’t cost much, but it won’t do anything to solve structural issues, make it bigger, or improve problems of mold and damp inside. Installing new garage siding would be more expensive, but it could also reduce draftiness and extend the lifespan of your garage. And then there’s the option of replacing your garage door.

Installing a New Garage Door

A new garage door offers perhaps the best value of any garage remodel — or even any home remodel. Garage door prices vary, often depending on the same factors that affect the cost to build a garage overall (especially materials). However, buying a new garage door will always be cheaper than building a whole new garage.

An insulated garage door can make your garage more enjoyable to spend time in and cut down on energy costs, especially if it’s an attached garage. It can also protect your contents and your family better by acting as a deterrent to potential invaders, both humans and animals who may want to get inside. 

So, rather than take on such a big garage project, it may behoove you to improve your garage’s look, security, insulation and value with a new garage door. Such a remodel is relatively cheap and can offer a great ROI. In fact, the average garage door replacement recoups an astonishing 268% of its cost.

Ready for a New Garage Door?

Whether you need a new garage door or you want a garage door replacement to spruce up your existing garage, Amarr can help.

We offer a wide variety of garage doors with different looks and materials as well as provide a network of dealers across the country who can help you purchase and install your next doors.

You can also see what a new garage door might look like on your home with our handy Design Your Door tool.