Estimating garages
Prices for garages, what drives the cost and how to structure the estimate, for remodeling contractors bidding the work.
A detached garage is a simple building with a few big lines: the slab, the framing and roof, and the doors. Get those right, then check what the client expects that a basic garage doesn't include, like power, a driveway or tearing out the old one.
No contract. No setup fees. Cancel anytime.
New garage prices
Q4 2026 pricing. National figures are the median of 50 metro areas. Ranges are rounded to the nearest $50, or $100 from $5,000 up.
One car
$21,100 to $41,900
200 to 400 square feet
Two car
$36,500 to $68,600
350 to 650 square feet
Labor and materials
For a typical job, nationally. Labor rates move more from place to place than materials do.
How the estimate is structured
The cost categories an estimate for this work breaks into:
- Project preparation
- Excavation
- Concrete
- Wall framing
- Roof framing
- Roofing and gutters
- Exterior doors
- Vinyl windows
- Exterior trim
- Siding and awnings
- Project finalization
What drives the cost
Size
One car or two, and how deep. Size moves the slab, framing and roofing together.
Slab and site
Slab thickness, footings for your frost depth and how much grading the site needs. Removing an old garage or slab adds demolition and haul-off.
Garage doors and openers
One wide door or two single doors, insulated or not, and the openers. Door choices change the price quickly.
Exterior finish
Siding, roofing and trim, especially when they have to match the house.
Electrical
A basic garage may have none. Lights, outlets, a subpanel or a car charger circuit add scope, plus trenching for the feed from the house.
Space above
Attic storage trusses, a bonus room or an apartment over the garage make it a different project. An apartment over a garage is priced as an ADU.
Building the estimate
The lines in a garage estimate
- Site prep, demolition of any existing garage, and grading
- Concrete slab and footings
- Wall framing and roof framing or trusses
- Roofing, gutters and downspouts
- Siding, soffit and fascia
- Garage doors and openers
- Windows and the service door
- Electrical, when it's included
- Driveway or apron work, when it's included
Say what's not included
The one and two car templates in Clear Estimates include the slab, a framed and sided shell, a shingle roof, steel garage doors with openers, vinyl windows and a steel service door, with no electrical. Electrical, removing an old garage and driveway work are separate lines. Put anything you're leaving out in writing.
Attached garages
An attached garage is closer to an addition. It ties into the house's foundation, roof and wall, and needs the fire separation between garage and living space that your local code requires.
Local pricing
Prices for garages in each metro area, against the national median.
- New York, NYPrices run 19% above the national median.
- Chicago, ILPrices run 24% above the national median.
- Atlanta, GAPrices run 2% below the national median.
- Washington, DCPrices run 1% above the national median.
- Dallas, TXPrices run 9% below the national median.
- Boston, MAPrices run 17% above the national median.
- Minneapolis, MNPrices run 11% above the national median.
- Detroit, MIPrices run 4% above the national median.
- Seattle, WAPrices run 16% above the national median.
- Pittsburgh, PAPrices run 2% above the national median.
- Los Angeles, CAPrices run 9% above the national median.
- Philadelphia, PAPrices run 11% above the national median.
- Denver, COPrices run 2% below the national median.
- Baltimore, MDPrices run about the national median.
- Miami, FLPrices run 9% below the national median.
- Charlotte, NCPrices run 9% below the national median.
- St. Louis, MOPrices run 3% above the national median.
- Houston, TXPrices run 13% below the national median.
- San Francisco, CAPrices run 24% above the national median.
- Tampa, FLPrices run 13% below the national median.
- Phoenix, AZPrices run 3% below the national median.
- Orlando, FLPrices run 11% below the national median.
- Cincinnati, OHPrices run 4% below the national median.
- Cleveland, OHPrices run 3% below the national median.
- Kansas City, MOPrices run 2% above the national median.
- Columbus, OHPrices run 6% below the national median.
- Indianapolis, INPrices run 6% below the national median.
- Raleigh, NCPrices run 10% below the national median.
- Virginia Beach, VAPrices run 9% below the national median.
- Riverside, CAPrices run 5% above the national median.
- San Diego, CAPrices run 6% above the national median.
- Portland, ORPrices run 6% above the national median.
- San Jose, CAPrices run 21% above the national median.
- San Antonio, TXPrices run 15% below the national median.
- Grand Rapids, MIPrices run 5% below the national median.
- Jacksonville, FLPrices run 12% below the national median.
- New Orleans, LAPrices run 12% below the national median.
- Albany, NYPrices run 1% above the national median.
- Richmond, VAPrices run 9% below the national median.
- Las Vegas, NVPrices run 2% above the national median.
- Providence, RIPrices run 4% above the national median.
- Memphis, TNPrices run 11% below the national median.
- Rochester, NYPrices run 2% above the national median.
- Greenville, SCPrices run 10% below the national median.
- Bridgeport, CTPrices run 10% above the national median.
- Worcester, MAPrices run 10% above the national median.
- Syracuse, NYPrices run 1% below the national median.
- Sacramento, CAPrices run 8% above the national median.
- Nashville, TNPrices run 12% below the national median.
- Milwaukee, WIPrices run 4% above the national median.
Questions
What should a garage estimate include?
Site prep and any demolition, the slab and footings, framing, roofing and gutters, siding and trim, garage doors and openers, windows and the service door. Add electrical and driveway work as their own lines when they're part of the job.
Does a garage estimate include electrical?
Only if you add it. The new garage templates leave electrical out, since many garages are built without it or wired by a separate sub. Add lighting, outlets and the feed from the house as their own lines.
How do I price a garage with a room above it?
Price it as an ADU or a bonus room, not a plain garage. There are templates for ADUs above a garage, from economy to luxury, under Additions and ADUs.
Estimate garages with prices for your area
No contract. No setup fees. Cancel anytime.