Detached garage cost in Riverside, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $31,500 – $63,200
- Per sq ft
- $54.50 – $109
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #46
- 1 = most expensive
A detached garage in Riverside, CA usually costs $31,500 to $63,200 for 576 sq ft. That works out to about $54.50 to $109 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $3,850 more. Carpenters earn a median of $34.08 an hour in the Riverside area, 17% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Riverside, CA, standard level
$41,000 to $53,700
About $71 to $92.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $19,000 | $24,800 |
| Labor | $21,800 | $28,500 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $420 |
| Total | $41,000 | $53,700 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Riverside, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,600 | $21,900 | $29,200 | 46% |
| Labor | $16,700 | $25,100 | $33,500 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $350 | $530 | 1% |
| Total | $31,500 | $47,400 | $63,200 | 100% |
What is behind the Riverside number
Labor is 53% of the midpoint bill here, against 50% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (45%), cement masons and concrete finishers (15%), construction laborers (20%), electricians (10%), roofers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Riverside the blended ratio comes out at 1.16.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Riverside is at 101.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $21,900 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 106.4: $160 to $530.
Pick a size, pick a tier: detached garage pricing in Riverside
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Riverside. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to 3-car (900 sq ft).
Basic
$31,500 to $44,200
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$41,000 to $53,700
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$50,500 to $63,200
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $13,200 – $18,600 | $17,300 – $22,600 | $21,300 – $26,700 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $31,500 – $44,200 | $41,000 – $53,700 | $50,500 – $63,200 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $39,400 – $55,200 | $51,200 – $67,000 | $63,100 – $78,900 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $49,100 – $68,900 | $64,000 – $83,700 | $78,800 – $98,500 |
Planning more than one job in Riverside?
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Riverside wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+11%) and garage door lowest (+6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,550 | +7% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $750 – $3,900 | +6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,000 – $10,200 | +11% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $41,300 – $83,700 | +9% |
Is Riverside cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 576 sq ft range from $43,400 to $49,600 across Riverside and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CAthis page | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,400 | |
| San Diego, CA110 miles | $32,900 – $66,000 | $49,500 | +4% |
| El Centro, CA115 miles | $31,900 – $63,900 | $47,900 | +1% |
| Los Angeles, CA120 miles | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | +5% |
| Las Vegas, NV130 miles | $28,800 – $57,900 | $43,400 | −8% |
| Bakersfield, CA155 miles | $31,400 – $62,900 | $47,100 | −1% |
| California (statewide) | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | +5% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Riverside ranks #46 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Riverside is 5% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | +5% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $36,700 – $73,600 | $55,200 | +16% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $32,900 – $66,000 | $49,500 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $35,000 – $70,200 | $52,600 | +11% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $32,600 – $65,400 | $49,000 | +3% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,400 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Riverside against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $30,800 – $61,800 | $46,300 | −2% |
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $29,900 – $59,900 | $44,900 | −5% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $33,300 – $66,800 | $50,000 | +6% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $32,900 – $66,000 | $49,500 | +4% |
Why two Riverside quotes can differ
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).
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.
Riverside weather and the detached garage calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Riverside Fire Stn 3 (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Riverside are October through June: 9 of 12. Outside them, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July, August and September, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Riverside gets about 10 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (2.5 inches in February). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.1 inches. The station averages about 110 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70 | 43 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 70 | 44 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 46 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 50 | 0.6 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 55 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 64 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 65 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 93 | 62 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 84 | 55 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 76 | 47 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 69 | 42 | 1.4 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Riverside
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 5 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Riverside the blend is 1.16.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $34.08 an hour, 17% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.27 and $43.08 an hour. About 12,970 work in the metro. That is 75.5 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 $28.61 an hour, which is 26% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.57 and $37.37 an hour. BLS counts 12,120 of them working in the area, 70.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 15% of the weighting: a median of $28.63 an hour, 4% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.24 and $40.30 an hour. About 4,740 work in the metro. That is 27.6 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 $35.00 an hour, which is 15% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $26.00 and $46.89 an hour. BLS counts 7,880 of them working in the area, 45.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
Roofers (47-2181), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.83 an hour, 12% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $27.65 and $34.60 an hour. About 2,480 work in the metro. That is 14.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $3,000 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,600. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 6.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has 1,716,760 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 16th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $26.27 | $34.08 | $43.08 | $29.12 | 1.17 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $23.24 | $28.63 | $40.30 | $27.41 | 1.04 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.57 | $28.61 | $37.37 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $26.00 | $35.00 | $46.89 | $30.38 | 1.15 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $27.65 | $29.83 | $34.60 | $26.65 | 1.12 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
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Detached garage in Riverside: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Riverside?
For 576 sq ft, expect $31,500 to $63,200 in the Riverside area. A standard-spec job lands at $41,000 to $53,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Riverside?
About $54.50 to $109 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $160 to $530 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Riverside or San Diego?
San Diego is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $49,500, which is 4% more than Riverside ($47,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Riverside?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $25,100 out of $47,400. Materials are 46% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Riverside?
$39,400 to $78,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Riverside?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $160 to $530 for fees in the Riverside area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Riverside expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of California?
Riverside is 5% below the California statewide estimate ($49,600 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Riverside?
The BLS median is $34.08 an hour in the Riverside area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.27 to $43.08.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Riverside?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $31,500 to $44,200 and premium work $50,500 to $63,200. Basic means: basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door. Premium means: insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes.
+When is the best time to build a detached garage in Riverside?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through June. May and June are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Detached garage near Riverside
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).