How Much Does a Detached Garage Affect Property Value in 2024?
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Evette Zalvino, Contributing AuthorClose
Evette Zalvino Contributing AuthorEvette is just your average HGTV fan who dreams of having a home worthy of being on one of those shows. When she isn't writing for HomeLight, she's working at her local real estate office. In her downtime, you'll find her searching for the next great hiking trail in her area.
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Joseph Gordon, EditorClose
Joseph Gordon EditorJoseph Gordon is an Editor with HomeLight. He has several years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries.
Garages attached to or detached from your house are incredibly useful feature: they protect cars from the elements, provide storage space for outdoor equipment, and sometimes function as additional living space.
If you’re considering adding a new garage to your property or remodeling an existing structure, you may wonder how much a detached garage adds to property value.
These things aren’t cheap, and as a homeowner, you want to ensure that any money you pour into the home will increase its value when you’re ready to sell. This guide will break down the cost of adding a detached garage to your property, what options are available, and answer how much value one of the structures can add to your home’s value.
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Cost to build an attached garage vs. a detached garage
The cost to build a detached garage can vary greatly depending on the size, materials used, labor, and location. Also, since the contractor cannot use the walls or power from your current home when constructing your standalone garage, attaching the garage to the house is 10% to 15% less expensive than constructing a detached version.
Angi’s August 2023 report noted that the square footage can significantly impact garage construction costs. On average, working with a professional can cost you about $50 per square foot for labor and materials. However, prices often start at $29 per square foot for simple, attached garages. The cost of a standard detached, two-car garage falls between $19,200 and $33,600, averaging around $26,400.
Cost of prefab structures
For homeowners looking for a cheaper route, you can find pre-fabricated detached garages for a fraction of the cost. The average cost for a prefab detached garage is $15,000. Still, you can find options for less than $100, like the DuraMax Vinyl Garage Building Shed with Foundation Kit, and as much as $150,000, like what Barn Pros offers (these structures could also double as additional living space in the form of a barndominium — hence the higher price).
Here are just a few options currently on the market:
- Sheds Unlimited offers a wide selection of prefab garages you can choose from:
- Standard workshop single-car starts at $6,378. It features a raised panel garage door, two windows, and a single door. You can choose between wood siding or vinyl.
- Single-story workshop two-car garage starts at $20,931. It features two raised panel garage doors, two windows, and a pre-hung single door. You can choose between wood siding or vinyl, but you can also get this model with an attic (starting at $29,238) or a full second story (starting at $38,658).
Home Depot has a smaller selection of prefab garages to choose from:
- Best Barns Sierra 12’ x 24’ Wood Garage costs about $4,582.56. This model has few customization options, but you can choose optional windows and a walk-in door. This kit does not come with a floor.
- Best Barns Dover 12’ x 20’ Wood Garage costs about $7,664. The high walls offer plenty of space to add storage shelves and still fit one car inside. Everything is included with this kit, even the materials necessary to build the floor.
Additional design costs
When trying to answer the question, “How much does a detached garage add to property value?” we also need to consider what other touches are added to the garage’s interior. There are a lot of great features that can be added to customize the functionality and look of your detached garage, all of which can impact its effect on your property value.
Lighting
According to Homeguide, light fixture installation can range between $100 to $650, varying by type and size. Fixtures cost between $50 and $400, while labor typically ranges from $50 to $250. Electricians often charge more for hanging chandeliers or pendant lights from high ceilings. LED strip installation ranges from $70 to $400 for lights and labor or $20 to $50 for the fixture alone. DIY-friendly LED strips have adhesive backing and a remote control, providing highly efficient lighting.
Storage systems
You’ll need storage if you’re using your detached garage as more than just a garage (like a workshop or a makeshift workspace). The type of storage system you choose will impact the cost. You can choose simple garage shelves made of wire, like the HDX Chrome 4-tier metal wire shelving unit, for $69.98. You might need a full-on storage system like the Husky 8-Piece Heavy Duty Welded Steel Garage Storage System for $2,808.
Epoxy flooring
Even if you’re using the garage as a workshop, you probably don’t want to have stains all over the concrete. You can paint the concrete with a water-based epoxy finish like the Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield 2-part Gray Gloss Garage Floor Epoxy Kit for $200, which can cover a 2.5-car garage floor). Professional installation can cost between $1,600 to $5,800.
Security system
It’s not unusual for someone to want to make sure their security system covers their garage in addition to the main parts of the home. Installing a new security system can cost around $703. However, you can opt for a simple alarm like the Ring Alarm Security 5-Piece Kit for just $200.
Second-story living space
Adding an apartment above a detached garage could raise the cost to $110 to $250 per square foot, depending on whether you’re adding an entire apartment or a simple loft room above the garage space. Don’t forget the building permit, which might cost an additional $30 to $3,000, depending on the project’s scope and your municipality, and always make sure you meet zoning and other requirements.
How much does a detached garage add to property value by location?
Much like an attached garage, a detached garage contributes to your home’s value since it adds usable square footage.
Angela Miller, a certified appraiser in Tidewater, Va., with over 25 years of experience, says she gives as much value to a detached garage as an attached one, especially in the country. “I also give some value for an unfinished, accessible second floor,” she adds.
A “functionally adequate” garage in a typical market might add $5,000 to $25,000 worth of value, Mike Ford, a Southern California-based general certified real estate appraiser since 1986. In high-end markets, the value might be higher.
For example, if a homeowner in Austin spends an average of $45,419, they can potentially add $29,000 to the value of their home. However, if a homeowner were to build one of these structures in Kansas City and spend an average of $14,568, they could add $9,469 in home value, on average.
Are detached garages worth the investment?
Top real estate agent Scott Freeman, who sold 86% more single-family homes than the average agent in Riegelsville, PA, says, “It’s definitely become very popular to have additional living spaces like carriage houses or apartments above garages.”
Get an Estimate on Your Home's Value
If you’re considering adding a detached garage, get an estimate of your home’s current value to understand the potential impact of your investment.
“It depends on the availability of other off-street parking and demand [for] available on-street parking,” Ford says. “Where on-street parking or large driveways are not present, the value of a garage goes up quite a bit.”
“Where I do most of my business, we have properties with detached garages. We have a lot of people with hobbies and toys, boats, four-wheelers, and workshops,” Freeman adds. “If you have a business — like in our area, we have a lot of landscapers — they don’t necessarily want this big garage attached to the house. They want it separate to store their things and keep noise and whatnot away from the living space.”
In other words, it’s often worth the investment for the use a homeowner gets from the garage and can return a decent amount on your investment when you go to sell. You can get a better sense of what to do if you reach out to your real estate agent and ask them how much a detached garage add to property value.
Header Image Source: (Artazum / Shutterstock)
- Basement & Garage How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage?", Bob Vila (August 2023)
- "The Modern Garage Makes Space for More", National Association of REALTORS® (August 2023)
- "15 Surprising Garage Remodel Before and Afters That Will Make You Rethink Yours", Forbes (May 2023)
- "How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage?", Angi ( August 2023)
- "How much does it cost to install a light fixture?", Home Guide (April 2023)
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