Detached garage cost in Colorado
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $29,100 – $58,400
- Per sq ft
- $50 – $100
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to build a detached garage in Colorado? Plan on $29,100 to $58,400 for 576 sq ft. Wages (1.02x the US blend), materials (price index 98.7) and permit costs (103.1) put the state above the national midpoint by 0%.
Inside Colorado, the metros we cover range from $41,300 (Pueblo) to $44,900 (Denver) 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 Colorado (statewide), standard level
$37,900 to $49,600
About $65.50 to $85.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,500 | $24,200 |
| Labor | $19,100 | $25,000 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $410 |
| Total | $37,900 | $49,600 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Colorado
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,200 | $21,300 | $28,400 | 49% |
| Labor | $14,700 | $22,100 | $29,400 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $330 | $520 | 1% |
| Total | $29,100 | $43,700 | $58,400 | 100% |
Colorado against its neighbors
Colorado ranks 19 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. Colorado sits at $43,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 120 miles away | $27,900 – $56,000 | $41,900 | −4% |
| New Mexico | 340 miles away | $27,100 – $54,400 | $40,700 | −7% |
| Utah | 410 miles away | $27,300 – $54,800 | $41,000 | −6% |
| South Dakota | 440 miles away | $26,200 – $52,700 | $39,500 | −10% |
| Kansas | 450 miles away | $27,200 – $54,600 | $40,900 | −6% |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Colorado
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).
Colorado metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $43,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 9%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | $29,900 – $59,900 | $44,900 | +3% |
| Boulder, CO | $28,500 – $57,200 | $42,900 | −2% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $28,000 – $56,200 | $42,100 | −4% |
| Greeley, CO | $28,000 – $56,100 | $42,100 | −4% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $27,900 – $55,900 | $41,900 | −4% |
| Grand Junction, CO | $27,900 – $55,900 | $41,900 | −4% |
| Pueblo, CO | $27,400 – $55,100 | $41,300 | −6% |
Related projects, priced for Colorado
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Colorado wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+3%) and garage door lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $700 – $3,700 | level |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,500 | +3% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $38,400 – $77,800 | +1% |
Colorado seasons and detached garage
Season matters for detached garage. For each Colorado metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Colorado Springs has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Colorado at 5 months (May through September); Pueblo has the shortest at 3 (May through June and September). Rainfall runs from 9 inches a year in Grand Junction to 21 inches in Boulder.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 18 | 90 | 15 | 4: May through June and August through September |
| Colorado Springs | 19 | 87 | 16 | 5: May through September |
| Boulder | 22 | 88 | 21 | 5: May through September |
| Fort Collins | 18 | 87 | 16 | 5: May through September |
| Greeley | 18 | 92 | 15 | 4: May through June and August through September |
| Grand Junction | 17 | 95 | 9 | 3: May through June and September |
| Pueblo | 15 | 93 | 12 | 3: May through June and September |
Quality levels and sizes in Colorado
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Colorado wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$29,100 to $40,800
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$37,900 to $49,600
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$46,700 to $58,400
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $12,200 – $17,200 | $15,900 – $20,900 | $19,700 – $24,600 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $29,100 – $40,800 | $37,900 – $49,600 | $46,700 – $58,400 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $36,300 – $50,900 | $47,300 – $61,900 | $58,200 – $72,800 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $45,400 – $63,600 | $59,000 – $77,200 | $72,700 – $90,900 |
Colorado 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 1.02 for Colorado.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $30.21 an hour, which is 4% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.97 and $35.78 an hour. BLS counts 12,740 of them working in the state, 44.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.03 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.53 and $27.25 an hour. About 18,680 work in the state. That is 65.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 15%) the local median is $29.18 an hour, which is 6% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $31.70 an hour. BLS counts 5,140 of them working in the state, 17.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.92 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.50 and $37.73 an hour. About 17,010 work in the state. That is 59.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.88 an hour, which is 7% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.93 and $29.40 an hour. BLS counts 3,340 of them working in the state, 11.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($35.78 an hour) would add about $1,850 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($24.97) would take off about $1,750. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,873,900 jobs across Colorado (May 2025), which is 1.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $24.97 | $30.21 | $35.78 | $29.12 | 1.04 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $23.59 | $29.18 | $31.70 | $27.41 | 1.06 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.53 | $23.03 | $27.25 | $22.66 | 1.02 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.50 | $29.92 | $37.73 | $30.38 | 0.98 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $22.93 | $24.88 | $29.40 | $26.65 | 0.93 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
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Detached garage in Colorado: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Colorado?
$29,100 to $58,400 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Colorado can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Colorado is cheapest for detached garage?
Pueblo at about $41,300 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Denver at $44,900.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Colorado than the US average?
It is 0% more expensive: $43,700 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Colorado?
About 50% ($22,100). Materials are 49%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.02x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Colorado?
The BLS statewide median is $30.21 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.97 to $35.78.
+Where does Colorado rank for detached garage costs?
19th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $43,700 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Colorado?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $29,100 to $40,800 and premium work $46,700 to $58,400. 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 Colorado?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Colorado metros we cover, Colorado Springs has the most comfortable months (5 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 Colorado
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).