The cost of building a garage is decided by its size, whether it is detached or attached, the ground it sits on, how the walls and roof are built, the type of door, whether you want power, insulation or windows, and the approvals it needs. A brick garage with a tiled pitched roof matched to the house sits at a very different point to a basic block building with a flat roof. A site visit and a clear specification are the only route to a reliable price.
Single or double garage
Size is the first driver. A double garage needs a wider floor slab, more walling, a longer roof span and either one wide door or two standard ones. Wider spans can need a steel or engineered timber beam to carry the roof. Think carefully about internal dimensions: today's cars, with their doors open, need noticeably more room than garages built decades ago, and a little extra length for storage or a workbench often adds more use than cost.
Foundations and the floor slab
Every garage needs footings under its walls and a concrete slab strong enough to carry a car. On firm ground this is straightforward, but clay soil, nearby trees, old drains or made-up ground can mean deeper or wider foundations. Sloping sites may need extra excavation or a retaining wall to create a level base, which adds to groundwork costs before any walls go up.
Brick, block or a mix
Walls built entirely in facing brick look best next to a brick house but take more time and material. Blockwork is quicker and can be rendered, while a cavity wall with a brick outer skin and block inner skin suits an attached garage or one you plan to heat. Matching the brick of your existing house may also mean sourcing a specific product, which can cost more than a standard brick.
Roof type
A flat roof is usually the simplest and is handy where height is limited by planning rules or neighbours. A pitched roof with tiles matched to the house looks more traditional and may provide storage space in the roof, but it uses more timber and tiles and takes longer. Hipped roofs, gables and dormers all change the amount of work involved.
- Flat roof: simpler build, lower height
- Pitched roof: matches many houses, more materials
- Roof storage or loft space adds structure
- Guttering and rainwater disposal for either type
Doors, windows and services
Garage doors range widely: manual up-and-over, insulated sectional, roller or side-hung timber, and remote-control motors add more. A personal side door, windows for light and a concrete path to the house are common additions. If you want lighting, sockets, an electric car charger or water, a qualified electrician or plumber adds those costs, and running a supply cable from the house can involve trenching across the garden.
Approvals and fees
Many small detached garages can be built without planning permission under permitted development rules, but position, height and location change that. Attached garages and larger buildings may need Building Regulations approval too. Fees for drawings, planning, building control and any party wall arrangement sit on top of the building cost. Our guide to garage planning permission explains when each applies.
Access and site conditions
If materials and machinery can be driven straight onto the drive, work is faster. Narrow side access, steps or a rear garden reached only through the house mean more barrowing and more hours. Removing an old shed, garage or concrete base adds demolition and disposal.
Getting a useful garage quote
Before you ask for prices, decide roughly the size, the roof style, the door type and whether you need power or insulation. A clear brief means quotes can be compared like for like. George can visit, look at the ground and access, and talk through the options. See our garages page for how we build them.
Frequently asked questions
Is a double garage twice the cost of a single?
Not usually. Some costs, such as setting up, approvals and one end wall, are shared, but the larger slab, roof span and door add significantly.
Is a brick garage dearer than a block one?
Generally yes, because facing brick takes more time and material, but it usually looks better next to a brick house.
Does a pitched roof cost more than a flat roof?
In most cases, because it uses more timber, tiles and labour. It may also offer storage in the roof space.
Do I need planning permission to build a garage?
It depends on size, height and where it sits. Our garage planning permission guide explains the main rules.
What extra costs should I plan for?
Drawings, approvals, electrics, door motors, demolition of an old structure and any extra foundation work are the most common extras.