Garage kit and steel building prices look like a bargain next to a builder's quote for a framed garage. Often they are cheaper. But the advertised number is usually for the building alone, delivered to the end of your driveway. The slab it sits on, the crew that puts it up, the permit and the wiring are separate, and those cost about the same however the walls arrive.
This guide compares the three common ways to get a garage, with published prices for each, and shows how to compare them on the same basis: standing, wired and ready to park in.
Key takeaways
- HomeAdvisor: most prefab garages cost $5,000 to $30,000, not counting the foundation, delivery or assembly.
- Fixr: prefab attached garages run $40 to $60 per square foot installed, against $60 to $80 for site-built.
- HomeAdvisor: a steel garage averages $10,000 to $25,000 delivered and installed; a wood-framed one about $30,000.
- Add the slab ($600 to $5,000), delivery ($4 to $10 per mile) and wiring ($1,000 to $2,500) before comparing.
Three ways to get a garage
- Stick-built. Framed on site from lumber, on a concrete slab, and finished to match the house. The most flexible and usually the most expensive.
- Prefab, modular or kit. Built in a factory, either delivered whole, delivered in sections or shipped as a kit of pre-cut parts to assemble. Often wood-framed with vinyl or wood siding.
- Steel building. A metal frame with steel wall and roof panels, sold as a kit and usually erected by the seller's crew or a local installer.
HomeGuide says a two-car prefab garage costs $7,200 to $26,000 for the unit only, without site prep, the foundation, electrical wiring or installation, while a custom-built garage of the same size averages $25,000 to $60,000.[1]
What prefab garages cost
HomeAdvisor puts prefabricated garages at $2,000 to $150,000, with most between $5,000 and $30,000 and an average of about $15,000. That doesn't include the foundation, delivery or assembly.[2]
| Material | Price range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | $2,000 to $50,000 | $26,000 |
| Vinyl | $4,500 to $95,000 | $49,750 |
| Wood | $15,000 to $150,000 | $83,500 |
| Size | Minimum dimensions | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Single-car | 12 × 20 ft | $2,000 to $30,000 |
| Double-wide | 20 × 20 ft | $4,000 to $50,000 |
| Triple-wide | 30 × 20 ft | $10,000 to $70,000 |
| Four-car | 40 × 20 ft | $20,000 to $95,000 |
Kits sit at the bottom of the market. HomeAdvisor says garage kits cost $2,000 to $30,000 and include the roof, framing, hardware, panels and siding, but not the labor, foundation or utilities.[2]
Comparing them installed
Two guides publish installed comparisons. Fixr prices a conventional site-built attached garage at $60 to $80 per square foot and a prefab one at $40 to $60. For a 24 by 24 foot two-car garage, that is $34,560 to $46,080 site-built against $23,040 to $34,560 prefab.[4] HomeAdvisor says the average steel garage costs $10,000 to $25,000 delivered and installed, and that a wood-framed garage costs about $30,000 on average.[5]
In our garage cost calculator, we apply those savings only to the building shell (framing, roof and siding), since the slab, wiring and permit don't change. For a detached 24 by 24 garage with national averages, that gives:
| Method | Construction cost | With 10% fee and 10% contingency |
|---|---|---|
| Stick-built | $46,789 | $56,615 |
| Prefab or kit | $38,737 | $46,872 |
| Steel building | $35,127 | $42,504 |
The gap narrows once everything else is included. A steel building can save around $10,000 on a two-car garage, but the slab, door, wiring and permit are still roughly $20,000 of the total.
Beyond the price
Resale value. HomeAdvisor says custom-built or attached garages substantially enhance a home's value, while prefabricated detached garage kits may not add value and could even decrease it.[3] If the garage is in sight of the street, a stick-built or well-finished prefab garage that matches the house is usually the safer bet.
Speed. HomeGuide says prefab garages are often finished within days once the foundation is ready, though manufacturing can take several weeks. It puts a garage build overall at 4 to 12 weeks from start to finish.[1]
Fit. A stick-built garage can be any size, roof pitch or style, and can carry a room above. Prefab sizes are set by the factory and by what fits on a truck. Steel buildings span wide openings cheaply, which suits RV bays and workshops, but look like what they are.
Zoning. Some towns and homeowners associations restrict metal buildings or require accessory buildings to match the house. Check before you order, because a kit can't easily be returned.
Which to choose
A steel building makes most sense for a large, plain garage or workshop on a rural lot, where span and cost matter more than looks. A prefab or kit garage suits a standard size where you want a traditional look for less, and you are happy to manage the slab and wiring. A stick-built garage is the choice when it has to match the house, be an unusual size, or carry a room above.
Whichever you lean toward, price all three as a whole project. Our garage cost research explains every line the calculator includes, and the guide to prefab and modular homes covers the same trade-offs for houses.
Switch the construction method in the garage calculator and see the whole project cost change.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a prefab garage cost?
HomeAdvisor puts most prefab garages at $5,000 to $30,000, averaging about $15,000, before the foundation, delivery and assembly. HomeGuide puts a two-car prefab unit at $7,200 to $26,000.
Is a metal garage cheaper than a wood garage?
Usually. HomeAdvisor says a steel garage averages $10,000 to $25,000 delivered and installed, against about $30,000 for a wood-framed garage. The slab, wiring and permit cost the same for both.
Do prefab garages need a foundation?
Most need a concrete slab, which HomeAdvisor puts at about $4,500. Some smaller units can sit on a gravel pad at $600 to $900, if your building department allows it.
Does a prefab garage add value to a home?
HomeAdvisor says prefab detached garage kits may not add value and could decrease it, while custom-built or attached garages substantially enhance a home’s value.
How long does a prefab garage take to build?
HomeGuide says prefab garages are often finished within days once the foundation is ready, though manufacturing can take several weeks. It puts a garage build overall at 4 to 12 weeks.
Sources
- HomeGuide, "How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage?", January 15, 2026 Verified
- HomeAdvisor, "How Much Does a Prefab Garage Cost?", updated June 17, 2026 Verified
- HomeAdvisor, "How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage?", updated June 17, 2026 Verified
- Fixr, "Cost to Build an Attached Garage", updated August 29, 2025 Verified
- HomeAdvisor, "Garage Cost Guides", updated June 17, 2026 Verified
Figures last checked October 25, 2026. National averages are a planning guide, not a quote. See our editorial policy and data sources.
