Detached garage cost in Alabama
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $25,600 – $51,300
- Per sq ft
- $44 – $88.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 9
Across Alabama, a detached garage costs about $25,600 to $51,300 for 576 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 12% below the US figure of $43,500. Carpenters earn a median $23.18 an hour in Alabama (US: $29.12).
Inside Alabama, the metros we cover range from $36,800 (Dothan) to $39,300 (Decatur) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your detached garage cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Alabama (statewide), standard level
$33,300 to $43,600
About $57.50 to $75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $23,600 |
| Labor | $15,000 | $19,700 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $350 |
| Total | $33,300 | $43,600 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Alabama
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,900 | $20,800 | $27,800 | 54% |
| Labor | $11,600 | $17,300 | $23,100 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $25,600 | $38,500 | $51,300 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Alabama
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Alabama wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$25,600 to $35,900
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$33,300 to $43,600
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$41,000 to $51,300
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $10,700 – $15,100 | $14,000 – $18,400 | $17,300 – $21,600 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $25,600 – $35,900 | $33,300 – $43,600 | $41,000 – $51,300 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $31,900 – $44,800 | $41,600 – $54,400 | $51,200 – $64,100 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $39,900 – $55,900 | $51,900 – $67,900 | $63,900 – $80,000 |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Alabama
Size and finish level
HomeGuide puts a 2-car detached garage at $20,000-$57,600, with the spread driven by how finished it is.
Foundation
A slab is cheapest. A frost-depth foundation in cold states costs more.
Garage apartments
A garage with living space is a different project: HomeGuide puts them at $80,000-$300,000.
Permits
You need a permit for a detached garage: $150-$500 on average, with separate electrical or plumbing permits if those are involved.
Electrical
Running power to a detached garage costs $1,000-$3,800 for a standard build and $5,000 or more for a long trench or amperage upgrade (Angi, Trusscore).
Alabama seasons and detached garage
Season matters for detached garage. For each Alabama metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Daphne has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Alabama at 11 months (February through December); Decatur has the shortest at 6 (March through June and September through October). Rainfall runs from 49 inches a year in Decatur to 66 inches in Daphne.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 35 | 91 | 57 | 7: March through June and September through November |
| Huntsville | 33 | 92 | 54 | 7: March through June and September through November |
| Mobile | 43 | 92 | 61 | 9: September through May |
| Montgomery | 37 | 94 | 51 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| Tuscaloosa | 35 | 92 | 57 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| Daphne | 39 | 89 | 66 | 11: February through December |
| Auburn | 35 | 89 | 56 | 9: March through November |
| Decatur | 32 | 90 | 49 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Dothan | 40 | 93 | 54 | 8: February through May and September through December |
Alabama against its neighbors
Alabama ranks 49 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for detached garage, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $56,300 and the cheapest Arkansas at $37,800, both for 576 sq ft at the midpoint. Alabama sits at $38,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 170 miles away | $26,400 – $52,900 | $39,600 | +3% |
| Mississippi | 180 miles away | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,700 | +1% |
| Tennessee | 190 miles away | $26,600 – $53,300 | $40,000 | +4% |
| Louisiana | 310 miles away | $25,800 – $51,800 | $38,800 | +1% |
| South Carolina | 350 miles away | $26,500 – $53,100 | $39,800 | +3% |
Alabama labor market for detached garage
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 5 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.80 for Alabama.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $23.18 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.43 and $27.11 an hour. BLS counts 5,560 of them working in the state, 26.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.74 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.41 and $21.75 an hour. About 18,400 work in the state. That is 87.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 15%) the local median is $21.50 an hour, which is 22% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.96 and $26.36 an hour. BLS counts 2,110 of them working in the state, 10.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.78 an hour, 12% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.17 and $30.98 an hour. About 10,900 work in the state. That is 51.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.96 an hour, which is 18% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $20.36 and $25.64 an hour. BLS counts 1,010 of them working in the state, 4.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($27.11 an hour) would add about $1,300 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.43) would take off about $1,250. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,113,660 jobs across Alabama (May 2025), which is 1.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $19.43 | $23.18 | $27.11 | $29.12 | 0.80 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $17.96 | $21.50 | $26.36 | $27.41 | 0.78 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.41 | $17.74 | $21.75 | $22.66 | 0.78 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.17 | $26.78 | $30.98 | $30.38 | 0.88 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $20.36 | $21.96 | $25.64 | $26.65 | 0.82 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Alabama
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Alabama wages and prices. Against national midpoints, garage door comes out highest (−8%) and concrete driveway lowest (−16%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,650 | −11% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $630 – $3,400 | −8% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,700 | −16% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $32,900 – $66,800 | −13% |
Which Alabama city is cheapest for detached garage?
4 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $38,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (576 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $26,200 – $52,500 | $39,300 | +2% |
| Birmingham, AL | $26,000 – $52,200 | $39,100 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | $25,900 – $51,900 | $38,900 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | $25,800 – $51,700 | $38,700 | +1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,600 | level |
| Daphne, AL | $25,400 – $51,100 | $38,300 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | $25,400 – $51,000 | $38,200 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | $25,300 – $50,800 | $38,100 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL | $24,500 – $49,100 | $36,800 | −4% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $33,300 to $43,600 for Alabama is attached.
Detailed detached garage report for Alabama, $9
Multi-page report for Alabama: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Detached garage in Alabama: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Alabama?
$25,600 to $51,300 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Alabama can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Alabama is cheapest for detached garage?
Dothan at about $36,800 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Decatur at $39,300.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Alabama than the US average?
It is 12% cheaper: $38,500 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Alabama?
About 45% ($17,300). Materials are 54%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.80x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Alabama?
The BLS statewide median is $23.18 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.43 to $27.11.
+Where does Alabama rank for detached garage costs?
49th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $38,500 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Alabama?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $25,600 to $35,900 and premium work $41,000 to $51,300. Basic means: basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door. Premium means: insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes.
+Does the season matter for detached garage in Alabama?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Alabama metros we cover, Daphne has the most comfortable months (11 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Detached garage by city in Alabama
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Detached Garage Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Trusscore: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage? 2026 Price Guide (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Angi: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Detached Garage? [2026 Data] (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range / 1.6, because Angi puts professional labor at roughly an additional 60% of the materials cost (materials about 62.5% of the total).