A garage is so much more than simply a place to park your car. In 2021, garages are a must-have for most homeowners. It’s no wonder so many people want to add an attached or detached garage onto their homes. If you’re ready to contact a contractor, but you’ve been wondering “how much does it cost to build a 24×24 garage compared to a 20×20 garage?” We will help you calculate the price of your garage’s construction and more.
How much does it cost to build a 24×24 garage?
For a 24×24 garage, you will want to set aside about $29,000. The typical price for constructing a new garage is about $50 per square foot. What does this price tag get you? Enough room to park two large vehicles or three compact cars. A 24×24 garage offers enough space for two midsize cars and room to build a workshop or ample storage.
What Goes into the Cost of Building a New Garage
Some homeowners may find spending upwards of $30,000 on a garage quite steep, but it’s important to keep in mind there’s a lot that goes into building a permanent and well-constructed structure. Plus, a garage serves as more than just a space for your car. It’s a space to explore hobbies, the foundation for a guestroom, and a room where you store your personal possessions. So, you want it to be air-tight, water-tight, and structurally sound.
When you break down how much it costs to build a garage 24×24 garage, step-by-step, it’s easy to see how the cost can add up quickly.
Permitting a New Garage
Before you set your garage’s cornerstone, you must apply for a building permit. Your local municipality will outline the conditions for permitting along with the cost. Some cities only allow the contractor who is building the garage to apply for the permit while others will allow a self-permit application from the homeowner.
You can expect a building permit for your garage to run anywhere from $150 to $1,600. The average permit costs about $500. And the permitting process often takes several weeks, so give yourself plenty of time for the permit to be processed before purchasing your materials.
While you’re looking into permitting your garage, it’s a good idea to check your HOA by-laws to ensure you understand if you can build a garage. And if you get the green light on your garage, what specifications your HOA requires.
How Much Do Materials Cost for a New Garage
What your garage is made of matters. You want to invest in high-quality materials to ensure your garage meets code and can withstand everyday wear and tear along with severe weather. Because materials will make up the majority of your garage budget, your price will depend on the style and type of materials you choose.
The main construction materials for a 24×24 garage include:
- A concrete slab foundation
- Cinderblock or poured concrete walls
- Wood framing
- Roofing
Many homeowners opt for luxury add-ons that can make their garage more attractive from the outside, more comfortable within, and add to the resale value of their home.
The most common garage material add-ons include:
- Exterior brick facade
- Windows
- HVAC systems
- Electricity
- Plumbing
- Landscaping
- Built-in storage or workshop equipment
- Walkways
Cost of a Concrete Slab for a Garage
When planning your garage, you will want to account for your garage’s foundation. This foundation is most often a concrete slab that is reinforced with rebar. The rebar provides structural strength and stability. Your garage floor will also require skilled labor to ensure the slope is correct and the concrete cures correctly.
Depending on your climate, your contractor will recommend a concrete slab with a T-shaped footing, a slab-on-grade foundation, or a frost-protected foundation.
Most concrete slab materials cost between $5 and $7 per square foot.
In addition to the materials, you will have to cover the cost of labor for pouring and finishing the slab. This can range from $5 up to $15 per square foot. And you do not want to skimp when it comes to using a professional. Pouring a finished garage floor improperly could result in flooding and drainage issues, which is why you want to perfect your garage floor slope.
Total estimated cost for a concrete slab when building a garage 24×24 garage: $3,500.
The Cost of Garage Roofing
The next major expense you’ll want to calculate when planning your new garage is the roof. For a 24×24 garage build, you can anticipate spending about $5,000 for a standard asphalt shingle roof or metal roof.
Tiled roofs can quadruple the cost of your garage roof to around $20,000. While tile may seem extravagant for a garage roof, it may be required by your HOW by-laws (another great reason to check your HOA requirements). For a slate roof, the number continues to grow even higher than that to about $24,000.
Unless you live in an extreme climate, the most cost-prohibitive option, asphalt tile, usually does a phenomenal job of protecting your car from extreme heat or cold.
Garage Insulation Pricing
Your garage needs insulation. Even though it’s not part of your primary home structure, you will want the garage to maintain a comfortable temperature and a safe temperature for the items stored in the garage. To save money, this is an easy DIY job if you’re handy with batt insulation from your local home improvement store.
If you choose to have a professional apply the insulation, they will use blow-in insulation or use batt insulation rolls.
Some homeowners choose professionally sprayed-in insulation foam, but this can result in a longer application time (more labor hours) and more mess. Spray insulation is the most expensive insulating option. It is also a finicky material that even professionals can mess up. So, vet your contractor before signing a contract.
The average cost for insulation for a 24×24 garage is between $1,000 and $3,000 for labor and materials.
Average Cost of Garage Framing
Framing is the structural process of building a wooden framework for your walls and roof. Framing holds up the roof and ensures your garage will withstand harsh weather, foundation shifts, and anything else you can throw at it.
This part of a new garage build can become quite costly quite quickly. The average cost of framing a 24×24 garage is about $5,100, with the average range being between $5 and $13 per square foot.
Of course, if you have cinder block walls or concrete poured walls, you will not have the added cost of wall framing, unless you want to drywall the interior of your garage. Most detached and many attached garages do not have drywalled interior walls since the space serves a more utilitarian function.
Average Drywalling and Wall Finishing Costs
Garages can have fully finished walls, unfinished drywall, or another application. Most homeowners choose unfinished cinderblock, unfinished poured slab, or finished drywall for their garages.
Leaving drywall unfinished can result in moisture issues, and the drywall holds up better when mudded, sanded, and painted. Finished drywall for a garage will cost between $11 and $30 per square foot. The price varies based on the paint type, the height of your garage, and labor cost. For a cleaner appearance and more visually appealing garage, you will want to insulate your ductwork. Insulated ductwork pairs well with finished walls.
If you’re looking to save money, you can always leave your garage walls unfinished.
Price of Windows and Doors
Windows and doors for a 24×24 new garage build typically run between $250 and $550 per window or door. For a garage door, you will likely spend between $1,000 and $5,000 per door. The price of windows and doors highly depends on the style you select. For windows, you also have to factor insulating strength into the price.
Common New Build Garage Add-Ons
Running Electricity to Your Garage
Many homeowners couldn’t imagine a garage without an electric garage door or lights. Electricity-free garages do exist, though. So, if you want lights and to be able to open your garage door when you pull it, be sure to budget for running electricity to your new garage.
Running electricity to a garage will cost between $1,000 and $4,000. This price changes based on the size of your garage, distance from your home, and the current state of your breaker box.
Plumbing a New Garage
Having plumbing in a garage is not necessary by any means, but it can prove to be quite convenient. If you want a garage sink, to have your washer and dryer in the garage or a fridge with an icemaker, you will need running water. Having plumbing run to your garage will cost between $400 and $1,800, not including plumbing fixtures.
Heating and Cooling In the Garage
If you’re planning to use your garage as a studio, workshop, or another workspace, it’s a good idea to add air conditioning and heating to the plan. You can ask your contractor to include a spot in one of your walls for a through-wall unit or you can extend your home’s central air into the garage. A through-wall unit is a much simpler and more affordable choice at about $700.
Extending your central air to the garage is a complex process that isn’t always possible. Having a single zone unit is another option if that is the case. Either way, you’re looking at about $2,500 to $3,500 for HVAC installation and unit.
Contingency Money
In addition to your total build cost, it’s a good idea to set aside another 15% of your total garage cost in case unintended expenses arise. Construction often goes perfectly as planned. You may run into an issue with the unavailability of materials, long labor times, or other issues.
Other Factors to Consider When Calculating the Cost of a Garage Build
Common Garage Sizes by Car Capacity
If cost is a factor, you could always stick to a 1-car or 2-car garage. If you’re limited in terms of space or price, a smaller garage could be a great solution.
Consider the following average garage dimensions:
| Garage Size | Square Feet | Car Capacity |
| 12’ x 24’ | 288 | 1 |
| 14’ x 28’ | 392 | 1 |
| 20’ x 20’ | 400 | 2 |
| 24’ x 24’ | 576 | 2 or 3 |
| 36’ x 24’ | 864 | 3 or 4 |
If you want to visualize the size of your future garage, we recommend taking a surveyor’s line or measuring tape and marking out the size in the place where you hope to build.
Garage Building Material Costs Factors
When having a garage built, the biggest cost factor will ultimately lie in the materials you choose. The most common choices for walls are a wood-frame garage, a poured-wall garage, or cinderblock construction.
- Wood-frame garages are the least expensive but have the shortest lifespan.
- Cinderblock construction falls between wood-frame and poured-concrete in price.
- Poured concrete walls are the most expensive building choice.
Another option is to purchase a garage build kit or prefab garage. These traditionally run between $3,000 and $10,000. Prefabricated garage companies often have a crew that can help to assemble the garage on-site.
How Much Is It to Add On an Attached Garage vs a Detached Garage
Because an attached garage requires slightly fewer materials and labor, having a garage built onto your home is less expensive. How much less? Typically 10% to 15% less expensive. Not every home is a great fit for an attached garage, however, so check with your contractor before making up your mind.
How Much Does It Cost to Expand My Garage
Building onto your existing garage by converting a one-car garage into a two-car garage will run you about $17,000. You will likely still need a building permit along with a new garage door and other materials.
Other Options for Cost-Effective Building a 24×24 Garage
You can always move an existing garage onto your property or from one property to another or within your property lines. This option works well if you live in an area with booming development or need to rebuild because your original garage was poorly located. Read more about how much it costs to move your garage.
Totaling the Cost of Your Garage Build
Whether you’re moving into a new home without a garage or looking to add a garage onto your existing property, garages add major value to your home and life. Of course, when it comes to the cost of a new garage, you will want to factor in size, materials, labor cost in your area, and permitting.
Moving into a new house? Calculate the cost of furnishing it.