How Much Does It Cost To Build A Garage

Are you planning to build a garage at home? Then, understand first that a garage is a serious project to start with. This is not only in terms of the preparation and construction but in reference to the costs as well. Read on and find out how much it costs to build a garage today.

Typical Cost Of Building A Garage

The usual cost of building a garage is $35 to $45 per square foot.

This price includes site preparation, foundation work, framing and carpentry, roofing, flooring, installation of windows and doors, insulation, ventilation, electricity, and plumbing using standard-grade materials.

Factors That Affect The Price Of Building A Garage

Type of garage. A garage can be detached or attached to your house structure. An attached garage is a very good choice when speaking of a simple enclosed carport as this is usually less expensive. This is because it requires less work with already one or two walls already standing. Building a detached garage, on the other hand, is more expensive because it requires building the structure from scratch.

Size. How big do you want your garage to be? A single car garage is definitely cheaper as compared to a garage with more capacity. A basic single-car garage is around 240 square feet while a two-car garage is around 400 square feet. If the price for building the garage is $40, a single-car garage will cost $9,600 to build and the two-car garage will cost $16,000.

Materials. Your choice of materials will also affect the cost of building a garage. The higher the quality is of the materials, the higher the overall cost will become. Usually, you can expect around 15 to 20 percent increase in the cost per square foot of a garage if you choose better quality materials than mid-range ones.

Levels. If you want to incorporate an upper level in your garage project, you can expect to pay more for it. Usually, a two-level garage is ideal if you want to include a loft space, workshop, or apartment.

Contractors. Your choice of contractor can also affect the end cost of your project. Depending on skills, reputation, and geographical location, contractors can price differently. However, if you want to really save on building a garage, doing the project yourself instead of hiring a contractor is a good idea. Usually, the cost of a DIY garage range from $15 to $20 per square foot.

Additional Costs

You need a building permit to start with your garage project. This can average on $250 but can vary depending on the state or city you are in.

If you need to buy garage building plans, especially when doing the project yourself, they will be an obvious added cost. The average price of building plans for a garage is $100.

Tips Before You Decide To Build A Garage

Before you find contractors or check out building plans, plan the garage yourself first. Determine your needs such as the number of your cars, the size of your cars, your budget, your purpose of building it, and the like.  Make sure you get a good garage plan in mind that will work for your current living needs.

Use this Garage Cost Estimator to help you get an idea of the cost of your project even before looking for contractors.

Always find a contractor that is reliable, efficient, and credible. The best contractors are those that are licensed in your state and those that hold good recommendations and reviews from previous clients. Take note that it is better to pay more for a better contractor than paying less but sacrificing on the quality of the project.

If you are attempting to do the project yourself, analyze first your own skills and capacity. Building a garage is not a joke. It requires a lot of time and patience because there is so much work to do. Only go for DIY garage projects if you think you can successfully and safely finish it.

Make sure you have obtained the necessary building permits before getting the project started.