Detached garage cost in California
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $33,000 – $66,200
- Per sq ft
- $57 – $114
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 23
Across California, a detached garage costs about $33,000 to $66,200 for 576 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 14% above the US figure of $43,500. Carpenters earn a median $36.50 an hour in California (US: $29.12).
Inside California, the metros we cover range from $45,500 (Visalia) to $55,200 (San Francisco) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in California (statewide), standard level
$43,000 to $56,300
About $74 to $97 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $19,900 | $26,000 |
| Labor | $22,800 | $29,900 |
| Permits and fees | $280 | $440 |
| Total | $43,000 | $56,300 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in California
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,300 | $22,900 | $30,600 | 46% |
| Labor | $17,600 | $26,400 | $35,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $360 | $550 | 1% |
| Total | $33,000 | $49,600 | $66,200 | 100% |
California seasons and detached garage
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and California is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Los Angeles has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in California at 12 months; Redding has the shortest at 5 (March through May and October through November). Rainfall runs from 3 inches a year in El Centro to 34 inches in Redding.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 48 | 78 | 14 | 12: all year |
| San Francisco | 47 | 66 | 23 | 12: all year |
| Riverside | 43 | 95 | 10 | 9: October through June |
| San Diego | 46 | 80 | 11 | 12: all year |
| San Jose | 42 | 81 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Sacramento | 41 | 94 | 19 | 10: September through June |
| Fresno | 41 | 98 | 11 | 7: January through May and October through November |
| Bakersfield | 41 | 98 | 6 | 7: January through May and October through November |
| Oxnard | 46 | 73 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Stockton | 39 | 95 | 17 | 6: February through May and October through November |
| Santa Rosa | 38 | 82 | 32 | 9: March through November |
| Santa Maria | 41 | 73 | 13 | 11: January through November |
| Modesto | 39 | 95 | 12 | 7: February through May and September through November |
| Salinas | 42 | 71 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Visalia | 38 | 94 | 10 | 8: February through June and September through November |
| Vallejo | 38 | 79 | 20 | 8: March through October |
| San Luis Obispo | 41 | 78 | 18 | 11: January through November |
| Santa Cruz | 41 | 74 | 31 | 12: all year |
| Merced | 37 | 96 | 12 | 5: March through May and October through November |
| Chico | 36 | 95 | 27 | 5: March through June and October |
| Napa | 40 | 83 | 27 | 10: February through November |
| Redding | 38 | 100 | 34 | 5: March through May and October through November |
| El Centro | 43 | 107 | 3 | 6: November through April |
California labor market for detached garage
California's labor line is priced from 5 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.22 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $36.50 an hour, 25% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.72 and $46.07 an hour. About 100,750 work in the state. That is 55.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.98 an hour, which is 28% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.15 and $37.75 an hour. BLS counts 88,240 of them working in the state, 48.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 15% of the weighting: a median of $30.15 an hour, 10% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.73 and $40.42 an hour. About 28,700 work in the state. That is 15.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $36.62 an hour, which is 21% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $28.50 and $49.52 an hour. BLS counts 73,310 of them working in the state, 40.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Roofers (47-2181), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.58 an hour, 15% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.57 and $36.27 an hour. About 21,190 work in the state. That is 11.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($46.07 an hour) would add about $3,200 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($28.72) would take off about $2,600. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 18,213,700 jobs across California (May 2025), which is 11.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $28.72 | $36.50 | $46.07 | $29.12 | 1.25 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $24.73 | $30.15 | $40.42 | $27.41 | 1.10 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.15 | $28.98 | $37.75 | $22.66 | 1.28 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $28.50 | $36.62 | $49.52 | $30.38 | 1.21 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $28.57 | $30.58 | $36.27 | $26.65 | 1.15 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.22 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: California prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to 3-car (900 sq ft).
Basic
$33,000 to $46,300
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$43,000 to $56,300
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$53,000 to $66,200
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $13,900 – $19,500 | $18,100 – $23,700 | $22,300 – $27,900 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $33,000 – $46,300 | $43,000 – $56,300 | $53,000 – $66,200 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $41,200 – $57,800 | $53,700 – $70,200 | $66,100 – $82,700 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $51,500 – $72,200 | $67,000 – $87,700 | $82,500 – $103,000 |
Other California jobs that often go with detached garage
Each project weights the trades differently, so California's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, concrete driveway is +16% and garage door +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,800 | +12% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $790 – $4,100 | +11% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,200 – $10,700 | +16% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $43,800 – $88,800 | +15% |
Why two California quotes can differ
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).
Which California city is cheapest for detached garage?
4 of the 23 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $49,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 21%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $36,700 – $73,600 | $55,200 | +11% |
| San Jose, CA | $35,000 – $70,200 | $52,600 | +6% |
| Napa, CA | $33,800 – $67,900 | $50,900 | +2% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $33,400 – $67,000 | $50,200 | +1% |
| Modesto, CA | $33,200 – $66,600 | $49,900 | level |
| Vallejo, CA | $33,000 – $66,300 | $49,600 | level |
| Los Angeles, CA | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | level |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $32,900 – $66,100 | $49,500 | level |
| San Diego, CA | $32,900 – $66,000 | $49,500 | level |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $32,800 – $65,900 | $49,300 | −1% |
| Sacramento, CA | $32,600 – $65,400 | $49,000 | −1% |
| Oxnard, CA | $32,400 – $65,000 | $48,700 | −2% |
| Santa Maria, CA | $32,300 – $64,900 | $48,600 | −2% |
| Salinas, CA | $32,300 – $64,800 | $48,500 | −2% |
| Merced, CA | $31,900 – $64,100 | $48,000 | −3% |
| Redding, CA | $31,900 – $64,000 | $47,900 | −3% |
| El Centro, CA | $31,900 – $63,900 | $47,900 | −4% |
| Stockton, CA | $31,700 – $63,700 | $47,700 | −4% |
| Chico, CA | $31,700 – $63,600 | $47,700 | −4% |
| Riverside, CA | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,400 | −5% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $31,400 – $62,900 | $47,100 | −5% |
| Fresno, CA | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,400 | −6% |
| Visalia, CA | $30,300 – $60,700 | $45,500 | −8% |
How California compares with nearby states
California ranks 5 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. California sits at $49,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 210 miles away | $29,000 – $58,200 | $43,600 | −12% |
| Arizona | 430 miles away | $27,900 – $55,900 | $41,900 | −16% |
| Utah | 490 miles away | $27,300 – $54,800 | $41,000 | −17% |
| Idaho | 600 miles away | $27,500 – $55,200 | $41,400 | −17% |
| Oregon | 690 miles away | $31,600 – $63,400 | $47,500 | −4% |
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Detached garage in California: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in California?
$33,000 to $66,200 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside California can sit above or below that.
+Which city in California is cheapest for detached garage?
Visalia at about $45,500 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is San Francisco at $55,200.
+Is detached garage cheaper in California than the US average?
It is 14% more expensive: $49,600 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in California?
About 53% ($26,400). Materials are 46%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.22x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in California?
The BLS statewide median is $36.50 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.72 to $46.07.
+Where does California rank for detached garage costs?
5th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $49,600 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in California?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $33,000 to $46,300 and premium work $53,000 to $66,200. 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 California?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the California metros we cover, Los Angeles has the most comfortable months (12 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 California
- San Francisco, CA$55,200 midpoint
- San Jose, CA$52,600 midpoint
- Napa, CA$50,900 midpoint
- Santa Rosa, CA$50,200 midpoint
- Modesto, CA$49,900 midpoint
- Vallejo, CA$49,600 midpoint
- Los Angeles, CA$49,600 midpoint
- San Luis Obispo, CA$49,500 midpoint
- San Diego, CA$49,500 midpoint
- Santa Cruz, CA$49,300 midpoint
- Sacramento, CA$49,000 midpoint
- Oxnard, CA$48,700 midpoint
- Santa Maria, CA$48,600 midpoint
- Salinas, CA$48,500 midpoint
- Merced, CA$48,000 midpoint
- Redding, CA$47,900 midpoint
- El Centro, CA$47,900 midpoint
- Stockton, CA$47,700 midpoint
- Chico, CA$47,700 midpoint
- Riverside, CA$47,400 midpoint
- Bakersfield, CA$47,100 midpoint
- Fresno, CA$46,400 midpoint
- Visalia, CA$45,500 midpoint
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).