Detached garage cost in Sacramento, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $32,600 – $65,400
- Per sq ft
- $56.50 – $113
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #21
- 1 = most expensive
A detached garage in Sacramento, CA usually costs $32,600 to $65,400 for 576 sq ft. That works out to about $56.50 to $113 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $5,500 more. Carpenters earn a median of $35.79 an hour in the Sacramento area, 23% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Sacramento, CA, standard level
$42,400 to $55,600
About $73 to $95.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $19,700 | $25,700 |
| Labor | $22,500 | $29,400 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $420 |
| Total | $42,400 | $55,600 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Sacramento, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,100 | $22,700 | $30,300 | 46% |
| Labor | $17,300 | $25,900 | $34,600 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $350 | $530 | 1% |
| Total | $32,600 | $49,000 | $65,400 | 100% |
Why Sacramento prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $35.79 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Sacramento is 1.20 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 53% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Sacramento is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $22,700 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 106.7: $160 to $530.
Detached garage: what moves the price in Sacramento
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.
Sacramento: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Sacramento. 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
$32,600 to $45,700
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$42,400 to $55,600
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$52,300 to $65,400
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $13,700 – $19,200 | $17,800 – $23,400 | $22,000 – $27,600 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $32,600 – $45,700 | $42,400 – $55,600 | $52,300 – $65,400 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $40,700 – $57,100 | $53,000 – $69,400 | $65,300 – $81,600 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $50,800 – $71,300 | $66,200 – $86,600 | $81,500 – $102,000 |
Is Sacramento cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Sacramento. Chico is the lowest at about $47,700 (midpoint, 576 sq ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CAthis page | $32,600 – $65,400 | $49,000 | |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $31,700 – $63,700 | $47,700 | −3% |
| Vallejo, CA60 miles | $33,000 – $66,300 | $49,600 | +1% |
| Chico, CA70 miles | $31,700 – $63,600 | $47,700 | −3% |
| Napa, CA75 miles | $33,800 – $67,900 | $50,900 | +4% |
| Modesto, CA85 miles | $33,200 – $66,600 | $49,900 | +2% |
| California (statewide) | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | +1% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Sacramento ranks #21 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Sacramento is 1% 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 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $36,700 – $73,600 | $55,200 | +13% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,400 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $32,900 – $66,000 | $49,500 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $35,000 – $70,200 | $52,600 | +7% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,400 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sacramento against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $29,000 – $58,200 | $43,600 | −11% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $29,200 – $58,500 | $43,900 | −11% |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $27,300 – $54,900 | $41,100 | −16% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $28,300 – $56,900 | $42,600 | −13% |
What local crews earn in Sacramento
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 Sacramento the blend is 1.20.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $35.79 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.45 and $40.70 an hour. About 9,730 work in the metro. That is 90.0 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 $29.11 an hour, which is 28% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.15 and $36.54 an hour. BLS counts 7,390 of them working in the area, 68.4 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 $28.96 an hour, 6% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.14 and $37.93 an hour. About 2,580 work in the metro. That is 23.9 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 $35.98 an hour, which is 18% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $25.35 and $47.18 an hour. BLS counts 6,340 of them working in the area, 58.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Roofers (47-2181), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.44 an hour, 14% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.59 and $35.89 an hour. About 1,800 work in the metro. That is 16.7 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 $1,650 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,800. That is a swing of roughly 5.7% to 3.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom has 1,080,590 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 35th 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% | $27.45 | $35.79 | $40.70 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $23.14 | $28.96 | $37.93 | $27.41 | 1.06 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.15 | $29.11 | $36.54 | $22.66 | 1.28 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $25.35 | $35.98 | $47.18 | $30.38 | 1.18 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $28.59 | $30.44 | $35.89 | $26.65 | 1.14 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.20 | |||||
Sacramento 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, Sacramento 5 Ese (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Sacramento are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August 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 and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Sacramento gets about 19 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (3.9 inches in January). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.1 inches. The station averages about 90 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 | 57 | 41 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 44 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 47 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 49 | 1.4 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 54 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 59 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 53 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 45 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 41 | 3.5 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Sacramento?
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Sacramento wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+15%) and garage door lowest (+10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,750 | +11% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $780 – $4,050 | +10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,150 – $10,600 | +15% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $42,800 – $86,700 | +13% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed detached garage report for Sacramento, CA, $9
The report lays out the detached garage numbers for Sacramento, CA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Sacramento: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Sacramento?
For 576 sq ft, expect $32,600 to $65,400 in the Sacramento area. A standard-spec job lands at $42,400 to $55,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Sacramento?
About $56.50 to $113 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 Sacramento or Stockton?
Stockton is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $47,700, which is 3% less than Sacramento ($49,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sacramento?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $25,900 out of $49,000. Materials are 46% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Sacramento?
$40,700 to $81,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Sacramento?
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 Sacramento area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sacramento expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of California?
Sacramento is 1% 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 Sacramento?
The BLS median is $35.79 an hour in the Sacramento area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.45 to $40.70.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Sacramento?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $32,600 to $45,700 and premium work $52,300 to $65,400. 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 Sacramento?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. June and September 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 Sacramento
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).