What should it cost to build a garage

That price depends on the cost of materials and labor in your area. Custom garage kits that equate to high-end builds will cost less than hiring an architect to design one from scratch. Skilled labor ranging from floor plan design to garage door opener installation is often the most expensive part of any construction budget.

Choosing DIY-friendly kits will save you money upfront but may cost more if installation hits unexpected snags or repairs are needed in the future.

Take a look at the garages in your neighborhood and the topography of your lot while you consider whether an attached or detached unit is best. You may even be able to rent out the space to generate more income. Rachel is a home improvement writer and content editor. In addition to being a contributing writer at Forbes, she writes for small businesses and creative agencies. She uses her home improvement expertise to give homeowners the knowledge they need to furnish and care for their homes.

Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.

Select Region. United States. United Kingdom. Rachel Abraham, Samantha Allen. Contributor, Editor. Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. These cost ranges cover both attached and detached garages. To figure out an appropriate budget, decide if an attached or detached garage better suits your property and needs.

If you have a lot of empty space around your home, an attached garage might be the better choice for you. An attached garage could be especially convenient if your home already has a side door, offering easy access from the house to the garage.

A detached garage might also be a good idea if you plan to make a lot of noise in there — such as using a loud saw or having band practice. Keep in mind, your homeowners association or municipality might not allow you to construct a separate building on your property. Check local regulations before getting your heart set on a detached garage. You can control your budget for building a garage by choosing less expensive materials.

Cinder blocks are the more durable, more convenient, and more expensive option. Plus, the blocks are more likely to stand up through severe weather such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Most garages have a simple asphalt shingle roof. Asphalt shingles will usually be your most affordable roofing option, but you may choose a different material to match the aesthetic of your home and neighborhood.

You also can choose an affordable material like vinyl or aluminum for the siding to keep your project under budget. If you live in an area where storms or other issues can damage roofs, you may want to opt for one of the more durable siding materials such as stucco, stone, or brick. The material of the door will decide whether you pay closer to the low end or high end.

Multiply that cost for a two-car garage, three-car garage, or larger. Choose the material of your garage door based on your specific needs. The most durable garage door options are steel and fiberglass, while wood is a good choice for someone whose priority is style. Where you live will play a part in the type of garage foundation you need.

The type of soil on your property also can affect the selection of your garage foundation. No matter what final finish you elect, most building codes dictate that you, at the minimum, have drywall installed because of its fire resistance.

For the construction of the garage roof, a support framework is placed on top of the frame for the rest of your structure. For the most common type of installation used in a simple roof, trusses are placed on each end of this support structure, and they are joined by a support or ridge beam; and from there the rafters are added.

Once the rafters are in place, it is common to secure sheets of plywood followed by underlayment, and finally, the shingles are added. A rain gutter system will direct the flow of water down the corners of the garage in pipes to spots about two feet away from the foundation.

Here are the price ranges for the most common siding options. To maintain any energy efficiency garnered by your choice of materials for the walls, you will have to finish out the ceiling to help insulate the garage.

The more time you spend in the garage, the more critical insulation becomes to you. Not all garages have windows, but if you plan on spending time in the garage, it is nice to have natural light. Despite the additional cost, most detached garages have at least one window, and a larger 2-car garage with a workshop area or storage features could have as many as three windows.

Windows for your garage are typical residential windows available in steel, composite, vinyl, or wood frames. Additional options available include single-, double-, or triple-panel windows; and a UV protection film on the glass or exterior additions like shutters and whatever paint you may choose to add.

Either for aesthetic reasons or for residential security considerations, you could also opt for skylights instead of windows. If the side of your home you are attaching the garage to has either siding or a brick wall, then you can either leave as is—which would typically look out of the ordinary inside the finished garage. In general, doing the latter will vastly reduce your savings from not having to build a third wall with siding.

This price includes the doors, labor, tracks, and materials. Aluminum doors are the least expensive, but they are also more likely to exhibit dents and physical damage than the next cheapest option of a steel door. Fiberglass and wood doors generally offer a more diverse range of designs. Each material type for your door will also come with energy efficient ratings, making some more suitable for your area. The more secure you want the door to be to protect the contents of your garage, and the more insulated you want it to be, the closer you will get to the upper end of the price range.

If you want to avoid many of the costs associated with hiring a contractor, you can also buy a prefabricated garage. They are manufactured with high-quality materials and can be significantly cheaper than building. This option can get you a large space for thousands less than building in the traditional way.

Overall, garages can be expensive and time-consuming to have installed, but you can minimize the pain with planning ahead. Although the team at Mid-Atlantic Door Group does not build new garages, we do offer an extensive selection of garage doors and garage door openers.

Contact us today to learn more information.