What is the cost per square foot of building a garage?

Coming up with a standard cost per square foot for a prefabricated steel garage can be complicated due to the number of variables to be considered. Depending on the location of the garage, weather-resistant features and insulation can drive up the standard cost. In general, the final cost for a steel garage is about $16 to $20 per square foot. This estimate includes materials and delivery, a foundation, and construction labor costs. The materials alone account for about $5 to $15 per square foot. A foundation may cost between $4 and $8 per square foot, while labor costs per square foot are about $3 to $10. Many people reduce the cost of their steel garage by constructing it on an existing foundation and completing the labor themselves.

Hiring a contractor to build a conventional wooden detached garage from standard materials costs about $45 per square foot. This includes both materials and labor, with labor making up the largest percentage of the cost. This means that a typical double garage measuring 18x24 ft will cost about $19,500. If higher quality materials are used to build a conventional garage, the cost can go up to $55 per square foot, for a total cost of $24,000 for an 18x24 ft detached garage.

In contrast, a prefabricated steel garage of the same size will cost between $6,000 and $9,000.

A traditional, straight-walled steel garage, 20x20’, typically costs around $28 per square foot, including delivery and accessories. This can increase should the buyer wish to add features such as windows, additional doors, or a custom façade. The same can be said for the Quonset style, which itself has several subsets of design. The basic, no-nonsense “S” model Quonset Hut building generally goes for around $19 per square foot for the same size. Prices per square foot tend to drop as the buildings get larger. Of course, the foundation slab in both cases is generally the responsibility of the buyer. Foundation costs can be approximately $4-8 / square foot.

Usually, both styles of garage can be supplied fully assembled or as a kit. So one must also factor in the cost of erecting the garage if you don’t opt for DIY construction. The Quonset style is simpler and quicker to erect, so the buyer has less need to hire a professional contractor.

Additional Resources:

• Main steel garage building introduction page

• Garage building photo gallery

• Garage prices & estimates