Summary: How much does it cost to build a garage, average garage installation costs and average garage materials costs.
Right away it would be fair to estimate a ball park figure of around £200 – £300 per square metre. Obviously this figure could be substantially reduced if you were able to undertake a lot of the work yourself If you intend to subcontract the job out, then it is likely that, all in all, the above figure will probably not be far away from your total. If the total amount spent turns out to be lower than expected, you will be able to treat yourself to some new tools or shelving for your garage! If you think the total cost might be higher, it’s wise to remember that this is just a ball park estimate and the best advice is always to have actual estimates carried out by professionals from reputable companies.
When organising estimates, it’s very important that you include everything you want. You may want electricity in your garage or plumbing/sewage connections and if this is the case, these have to be added in at the outset, to prevent any unexpected increases in your bill. Shop around for materials, especially roofing materials, windows and doors, as these can have a substantial effect on your total cost.
Average Cost
| Job | Average Cost | Updated | Quote |
| Detached brick garage (m²) | £350 – £750 (m²) | 2019 | n/a |
| Self build wood garage (m²) | £60 – £80 (m²) | 2019 | n/a |
Factors to consider
Planning Permission is very important and your application will need to include the plans for your new garage. Plans should be as detailed as possible as this helps to speed up the process. Professional plans can cost upwards from £65 and there are many companies who advertise this service online if you are not able to draw these up yourself. It’s also important to make sure that you obtain the necessary permits before you start any work, as failing to do this could result in a penalty. Worst case scenario here is for the local authority to refuse permission which, if you have started the work already, could be extremely costly.
Before you can apply for planning permission however, your first step will be to decide how big your new garage will be. This may be dependent on how much space you have available and whether your garage is going to be freestanding or attached to your house. All of these things are important considerations for planning. Generally, for information, a single garage is approximately 6m in length and 3.5m wide. If you are building a double garage, the width is approximately 5.5m. Again, if you intend to use your garage for reasons other than housing your car, then you may wish to amend the sizes accordingly.
Costs to consider
What type of garage do you want or need? Garage kits are available if you don’t fancy building your garage from scratch. If a kit isn’t what you had in mind, your first consideration will be whether you require a wooden or brick garage and also whether this will be with or without a foundation. For a brick garage, the foundation and flooring will be your starting point, but even before this is started, you may be looking at excavation work and backfilling. So hiring in subcontractors might be the best option here. Once that’s done, you will need to look at framing the walls and framing the roof (you will also need a qualified roofer). Depending on your skills, things like the masonry and laying bricks could be jobs you are able to do yourself and of course, there will be joinery to be done, together with making sure you insulate. If required, electrical and plumbing jobs may also need to be done.
Additional costs may come from whether or not you intend having windows installed in your garage. If so, you should shop around for quotes from different manufacturers as well as installers if you are not able to install these yourself. This would also apply to your garage door(s).
Costs will be incurred with drawings, planning permission and permits, any excavation and backfilling work, foundations and flooring, wall and roof construction, type of roof (flat or pitched, etc.), windows, type of door(s), insulation materials, electrical/plumbing materials, any internal shelving, etc. Of course, none of this includes paving for a driveway, so if this will be a requirement, make sure you add this additional cost into your total.
To summarise, decide on different aspects of your garage and obtain detailed drawings which should include the different elevations, sections, floor plans, wall plans and roofing plans. Additionally, if electrics and/or plumbing are required, these should be included in the plans. Make sure you obtain planning permission and any necessary permits. You will need detailed estimates from reputable and qualified subcontractors. Shop around for the best materials and you are ready to build your garage.