Detached garage cost in San Diego, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $32,900 – $66,000
- Per sq ft
- $57 – $114
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #19
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a detached garage in the San Diego area: $32,900 to $66,000 for 576 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 14% higher than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $35.19 an hour in the San Diego area, 21% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in San Diego, CA, standard level
$42,900 to $56,100
About $74 to $96.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $20,200 | $26,400 |
| Labor | $22,400 | $29,200 |
| Permits and fees | $290 | $440 |
| Total | $42,900 | $56,100 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in San Diego, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,500 | $23,300 | $31,100 | 47% |
| Labor | $17,200 | $25,800 | $34,400 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $360 | $560 | 1% |
| Total | $32,900 | $49,500 | $66,000 | 100% |
Where the San Diego price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 5 trades: carpenters at 45%, cement masons and concrete finishers at 15%, construction laborers at 20%, electricians at 10%, roofers at 10%. Weighted together, San Diego wages are 1.19 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. San Diego is at 108.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $23,300 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 111.9: $170 to $560.
How San Diego compares
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 $39,400 to $49,600 across San Diego and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CAthis page | $32,900 – $66,000 | $49,500 | |
| El Centro, CA80 miles | $31,900 – $63,900 | $47,900 | −3% |
| Los Angeles, CA110 miles | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | level |
| Riverside, CA110 miles | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,400 | −4% |
| Oxnard, CA165 miles | $32,400 – $65,000 | $48,700 | −2% |
| Yuma, AZ165 miles | $26,200 – $52,600 | $39,400 | −20% |
| California (statewide) | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | level |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, San Diego ranks #19 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, San Diego is 0% 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 | level |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $36,700 – $73,600 | $55,200 | +11% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,400 | −4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $35,000 – $70,200 | $52,600 | +6% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $32,600 – $65,400 | $49,000 | −1% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,400 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Diego against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $29,900 – $59,900 | $44,900 | −9% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $26,600 – $53,300 | $39,900 | −19% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,400 | −4% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $26,000 – $52,300 | $39,100 | −21% |
Specs and site conditions that change a San Diego bid
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.
What nearby projects cost in San Diego
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same San Diego wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+17%) and garage door lowest (+11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,900 | +14% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $790 – $4,100 | +11% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,250 – $10,800 | +17% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $44,000 – $89,200 | +16% |
San Diego: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to San Diego. 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
$32,900 to $46,200
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$42,900 to $56,100
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$52,800 to $66,000
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $13,800 – $19,400 | $18,000 – $23,600 | $22,200 – $27,800 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $32,900 – $46,200 | $42,900 – $56,100 | $52,800 – $66,000 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $41,100 – $57,600 | $53,500 – $70,000 | $65,900 – $82,400 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $51,300 – $71,900 | $66,800 – $87,400 | $82,300 – $103,000 |
Who does the work: San Diego trade wages
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 San Diego the blend is 1.19.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $35.19 an hour, 21% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.16 and $46.12 an hour. About 8,710 work in the metro. That is 56.6 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 $27.49 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.31 and $34.32 an hour. BLS counts 8,850 of them working in the area, 57.5 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 $31.98 an hour, 17% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $26.35 and $43.78 an hour. About 2,330 work in the metro. That is 15.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
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 $28.90 and $48.92 an hour. BLS counts 8,060 of them working in the area, 52.4 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 $29.90 an hour, 12% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.47 and $35.44 an hour. About 1,830 work in the metro. That is 11.9 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 $3,650 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,350. That is a swing of roughly 4.7% to 7.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has 1,538,060 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 18th 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% | $28.16 | $35.19 | $46.12 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $26.35 | $31.98 | $43.78 | $27.41 | 1.17 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.31 | $27.49 | $34.32 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $28.90 | $36.62 | $48.92 | $30.38 | 1.21 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $28.47 | $29.90 | $35.44 | $26.65 | 1.12 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
The best months for detached garage in San Diego
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, San Diego Montgomery Fld (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for pouring concrete in San Diego: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low of 40°F or below) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
San Diego gets about 11 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (2.6 inches in February). The station averages about 16 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 | 67 | 46 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 47 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 69 | 50 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 52 | 0.8 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 57 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 60 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 64 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 65 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 64 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 58 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 73 | 50 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 67 | 45 | 1.6 | Workable |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed detached garage report for San Diego, CA, $9
Multi-page report for San Diego, CA: 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 San Diego: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in San Diego?
For 576 sq ft, expect $32,900 to $66,000 in the San Diego area. A standard-spec job lands at $42,900 to $56,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in San Diego?
About $57 to $114 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $170 to $560 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in San Diego or El Centro?
El Centro is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $47,900, which is 3% less than San Diego ($49,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Diego?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $25,800 out of $49,500. Materials are 47% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in San Diego?
$41,100 to $82,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in San Diego?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $170 to $560 for fees in the San Diego area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Diego expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of California?
San Diego is 0% 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 San Diego?
The BLS median is $35.19 an hour in the San Diego area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.16 to $46.12.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in San Diego?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $32,900 to $46,200 and premium work $52,800 to $66,000. Basic means: basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door. Premium means: insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes.
+Is there a bad season to build a detached garage in San Diego?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Detached garage near San Diego
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).