HomeGuide publishes a national range of $15,000 to $80,000 to build a garage, and $25,000 to $60,000 for a typical two-car garage. On a Newark lot, the things that push a price up or down are usually the old garage that has to come out, how a concrete truck reaches the back of a narrow lot, and footings deep enough for North Jersey frost.
Every dollar figure on this page is a national figure published by HomeGuide (read October 2026), not a price from us. HomeGuide publishes no figure for New Jersey or Newark, so we do not claim one. On a real job, the price moves with access down a narrow driveway, any old garage to remove, footings deep enough for frost and the finish you pick.
How much does it cost to build a garage in Newark?
A new garage costs $15,000 to $80,000 by HomeGuide's national figures, with size, materials, location and attached or detached construction setting where a job lands. HomeGuide's detached garage page gives a national average of $38,800, with a low of about $6,400 and a high of about $117,800. Neither page has a New Jersey figure. We price your lot after we see it.
How much does a garage cost per square foot?
A detached garage costs $50 to $100 per square foot by HomeGuide's detached garage page. HomeGuide's main build-a-garage page does not give a whole-garage per square foot figure, so we use the detached page. A simple shell with a concrete floor sits lower in that range, and a garage with insulation, drywall, windows and power sits higher.
How much does a 1-car, 2-car or 3-car garage cost?
By HomeGuide's national figures, a one-car garage of 200 to 384 square feet costs $15,000 to $35,000, a two-car garage of 400 to 576 square feet costs $25,000 to $60,000, and a three-car garage of 700 to 864 square feet costs $30,000 to $80,000. HomeGuide publishes no four-car garage figure. In Newark, the one-car garage is the most common rebuild, because narrow lots leave little room for more.
| Garage | Size | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|---|
| 1-car | 200 to 384 sq ft | $15,000 to $35,000 |
| 2-car | 400 to 576 sq ft | $25,000 to $60,000 |
| 3-car | 700 to 864 sq ft | $30,000 to $80,000 |
How much does a 20x20 or a 24x24 garage cost?
A 20x20 garage of 400 square feet costs $20,000 to $40,000, and a 24x24 garage of 576 square feet costs $28,800 to $57,600, by HomeGuide's detached garage page. Both are two-car sizes. Four extra feet each way sounds small, but it is the difference between squeezing past a car door and having a spot for the snow blower, the bikes and a shovel rack.
| 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 a garage cost is labor and how much is materials?
Labor is about 50% of the total cost of a detached garage, by HomeGuide's detached garage page, so materials and other costs make up the rest. HomeGuide gives no dollar split. On a tight lot where material has to be carried down a side driveway by hand, the labor share tends to go up.
Is an attached or a detached garage cheaper?
A detached two-car garage costs $20,000 to $57,600 and an attached two-car garage of the same size $25,000 to $60,000, by HomeGuide's detached garage page. HomeGuide's building permit page also says permits for attached garages cost more than for detached structures. An attached garage saves one wall but has to tie into the house roof, foundation and fire separation. On most narrow Newark lots, the choice is made by the lot, not the price.
Why are my garage quotes so far apart?
Garage quotes usually differ because each builder priced a different job. One may include demolition of the old garage, haul-off, a new slab, gutters, power and the permit, while another leaves some of those out. Lay them out line by line. Check whether each one prices footings to 3 feet, the same slab thickness, the same door, haul-off of the old garage and the permit fees. When one number is far lower, something on that list is usually missing.
Does a new garage add value to a home?
A garage can add to a home's resale value, but HomeGuide says the return on investment varies by location and gives no national figure we can quote. In parts of Newark and Harrison where street parking is hard to find, off-street parking is a real selling point. An Essex or Hudson County agent who sells on your street can tell you what buyers there pay for one.
How much does it cost to tear down an old garage and build a new one?
Tearing down an old garage costs $1,000 to $5,000 on average, or $3 to $10 per square foot, by HomeGuide's demolition page, and the new garage is priced on top of that. A wood one-car garage runs $1,000 to $2,500 to remove, a wood two-car garage $1,500 to $3,500, and a brick two-car garage $2,000 to $5,000. Removing the old concrete foundation adds $1 to $3 per square foot.
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 dimensions, and a one-car garage is 12 to 16 feet wide and 20 to 24 feet deep. Two compact cars go into a 20x20, but the doors will touch the walls. If you drive a pickup or a large SUV, plan on 24 feet deep or more. On a narrow lot, side setbacks may limit the width before your wish list does.
Thinking about a garage on your lot? We come out, measure, check the driveway and whatever is standing there now, and send a written quote. Call or text (917) 909-5756.