HomeGuide publishes a national range of $15,000 to $80,000 to build a garage, with most two-car garages at $25,000 to $60,000. It gives no figure for Boston. On a tight city lot, the work around the garage (demolition, ledge, deep footings, access) often matters as much as its size.
Every dollar figure on this page is a national figure published by HomeGuide, not a quote from us. HomeGuide publishes no Boston or Massachusetts garage prices. Lot access, ledge, frost depth and snow load all move what a real job here costs. Figures read in October 2026.
How much does it cost to build a garage in Boston?
A new garage costs $15,000 to $80,000 by the national figures on HomeGuide's build a garage page, depending on size, materials, location and whether it is attached or detached. HomeGuide's outbuilding page adds that states with higher costs of living, Massachusetts among them, tend to have stricter building codes, which raises permit and construction costs. That is a general statement, not a Boston price, so we price your lot after seeing it.
How much does a garage cost per square foot?
HomeGuide's detached garage page puts a detached garage at $50 to $100 per square foot nationally. Its modular garage page lists an attached garage at $35 to $60 per square foot. The main build a garage page gives no per square foot figure. Small garages cost more per foot than big ones, because the door, slab edge and roof framing are a bigger share of the total.
How much does a 1-car garage cost?
A one-car garage of 200 to 384 square feet costs $15,000 to $35,000 by HomeGuide's national figures. That is the size most often rebuilt behind Boston two-families and triple-deckers, where the lot leaves room for one bay and little more.
How much does a 2-car garage cost?
A two-car garage of 400 to 576 square feet costs $25,000 to $60,000 on HomeGuide's build a garage page. Its detached garage page gives $20,000 to $57,600 for a detached two-car garage and a national average of $38,800. Use the first range for a typical two-car job and the second for a stand-alone garage.
How much does a 3-car garage cost?
A three-car garage of 700 to 864 square feet costs $30,000 to $80,000 by HomeGuide's national figures. Around Boston, lots wide enough for three bays are found mostly in towns like Milton, Dedham and parts of Newton.
How much does a 20x20 or a 24x24 garage cost?
A 20x20 garage costs $20,000 to $40,000 and a 24x24 garage $28,800 to $57,600, by the size table on HomeGuide's detached garage page. Both are counted as two-car sizes there.
| Size | Square feet | Cars | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x24 | 288 | 1 | $14,400 to $28,800 |
| 14x28 | 392 | 1 | $19,600 to $39,200 |
| 20x20 | 400 | 2 | $20,000 to $40,000 |
| 24x24 | 576 | 2 | $28,800 to $57,600 |
| 36x24 | 864 | 3 | $43,200 to $86,400 |
How much of the cost is labor and how much is materials?
Labor is about half of the total project cost, by HomeGuide's detached garage page; it gives no dollar split. The same page notes that contractors charge more in labor for complex jobs and hard-to-access areas, which describes many back lots in Boston reached by one narrow driveway.
Is an attached or a detached garage cheaper?
By HomeGuide's detached garage page, an attached two-car garage costs $25,000 to $60,000 and a detached two-car garage of the same size $20,000 to $57,600, so the ranges overlap. HomeGuide's permit page also says permits for attached garages cost more than for detached ones. Attached garages need fire separation and a roof tie-in; detached ones need four walls and their own full foundation.
Why are my garage quotes so far apart?
Garage quotes differ mostly because each builder priced a different job. One may include tearing down the old garage, hauling, a ledge allowance, electrical work, gutters and the permit; another may leave them out. Lay the quotes side by side and compare foundation depth, slab thickness, roof framing for snow, door type, siding, power and cleanup. The gap is usually in two or three of those lines.
Does a garage add value to a house?
A garage often helps resale where off-street parking is hard to find, but HomeGuide gives no figure and says the return on investment varies by location. In dense Boston neighborhoods covered parking is rare, so ask a local real estate agent what a garage adds on your street.
How much does it cost to tear down an old garage and build a new one?
Tearing down an old garage costs $3 to $10 per square foot, or $1,000 to $5,000 on average, by HomeGuide's demolition page. A wood two-car garage runs $1,500 to $3,500 to take down and a brick one $2,000 to $5,000, and removing the old concrete floor adds $1 to $3 per square foot. Add that to the price of the new garage from the ranges above.
How big should a 2-car garage be?
A two-car garage is 20 to 24 feet wide and 20 to 24 feet deep, by HomeGuide's size guide. A one-car garage is 12 to 16 feet wide and a three-car garage 30 to 36 feet wide, both 20 to 24 feet deep. For a pickup, or room to open doors and store bikes, plan for the deeper and wider end.
What costs are often left out of a garage quote?
The items most often left out are the driveway, power and site work. HomeGuide lists a driveway at $3 to $12 per square foot, or $1,700 to $6,900 for a two-car garage, and electrical wiring for a two-car garage at $1,600 to $5,200. Ask whether the quote includes the permit, demolition, gutters, painting and haul-away.
Want a number for your own lot? We visit, measure and put the scope and price in a written quote. Call or text (617) 326-7524.