Detached garage cost in Denver, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $29,900 – $59,900
- Per sq ft
- $51.50 – $103
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #75
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a detached garage in Denver, plan on $29,900 to $59,900 for 576 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $51.50 to $103 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $31.21 an hour in the Denver area, 7% above the US median of $29.12.
Estimate your detached garage cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Denver, CO, standard level
$38,900 to $50,900
About $67 to $87.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,900 | $24,700 |
| Labor | $19,700 | $25,800 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $420 |
| Total | $38,900 | $50,900 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,500 | $21,800 | $29,100 | 49% |
| Labor | $15,200 | $22,800 | $30,300 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $340 | $530 | 1% |
| Total | $29,900 | $44,900 | $59,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Denver number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $31.21 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Denver is 1.05 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Denver metro is 101.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 576 sq ft comes to $21,800, compared with $21,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.8) and land at $160 to $530.
How Denver 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 $41,300 to $44,900 across Denver and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $29,900 – $59,900 | $44,900 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $27,900 – $55,900 | $41,900 | −7% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $28,500 – $57,200 | $42,900 | −4% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $28,000 – $56,100 | $42,100 | −6% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $28,000 – $56,200 | $42,100 | −6% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $27,400 – $55,100 | $41,300 | −8% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $29,100 – $58,400 | $43,700 | −3% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Denver comes in at #75 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $57,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $35,500 (midpoints, 576 sq ft). Statewide, Denver is 3% above the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $27,900 – $55,900 | $41,900 | −7% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $28,500 – $57,200 | $42,900 | −4% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $28,000 – $56,200 | $42,100 | −6% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $28,000 – $56,100 | $42,100 | −6% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $27,900 – $55,900 | $41,900 | −7% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $27,400 – $55,100 | $41,300 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Denver's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,400 | +6% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $32,900 – $66,000 | $49,500 | +10% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $30,800 – $61,800 | $46,300 | +3% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $26,600 – $53,300 | $39,900 | −11% |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Denver
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).
Denver: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Denver wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$29,900 to $41,900
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$38,900 to $50,900
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$47,900 to $59,900
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $12,500 – $17,600 | $16,400 – $21,500 | $20,200 – $25,300 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $29,900 – $41,900 | $38,900 – $50,900 | $47,900 – $59,900 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $37,300 – $52,300 | $48,500 – $63,500 | $59,800 – $74,800 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $46,600 – $65,300 | $60,600 – $79,300 | $74,600 – $93,400 |
Climate in Denver: timing your detached garage job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Denver-Stapleton (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through June and August through September are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Denver (4 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
The 40°F line is a deliberately cautious stand-in. The American Concrete Institute's cold-weather guide (ACI 306R-16) defines cold-weather concreting around an average daily air temperature below 40°F, which is colder than our test of an average overnight low at or below 40°F, so we flag a few extra shoulder months. In cold weather crews may need heated enclosures, insulating blankets or accelerated mixes, and those measures can raise a quote.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Denver gets about 15 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, July and August (2.3 inches in May). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 1.7 and 1.5 inches. The station averages about 42 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 48 | 19 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 27 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 34 | 1.7 | Cold |
| May | 72 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 59 | 2.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 48 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 36 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Nov | 55 | 26 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 46 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Denver
Because every project leans on different trades, Denver's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete driveway runs +5% and garage door +3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,400 | +4% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $720 – $3,800 | +3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,700 | +5% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $39,500 – $80,100 | +4% |
Denver labor market for detached garage
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 5 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Denver is 1.05 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $31.21 an hour, which is 7% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $36.14 an hour. BLS counts 7,250 of them working in the area, 45.0 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 $23.44 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $27.44 an hour. About 9,650 work in the metro. That is 60.0 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 $29.87 an hour, which is 9% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.35 and $33.74 an hour. BLS counts 2,590 of them working in the area, 16.1 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 $30.36 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $38.28 an hour. About 10,450 work in the metro. That is 64.9 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 $26.84 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $29.79 an hour. BLS counts 1,900 of them working in the area, 11.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.14 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,650. At the 25th percentile ($27.70) it shrinks by about $1,150. The total moves by 3.7% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,609,350 jobs in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial area. That makes it the 17th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.03% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $27.70 | $31.21 | $36.14 | $29.12 | 1.07 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $24.35 | $29.87 | $33.74 | $27.41 | 1.09 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.48 | $23.44 | $27.44 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.52 | $30.36 | $38.28 | $30.38 | 1.00 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $23.52 | $26.84 | $29.79 | $26.65 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $38,900 to $50,900 for Denver, CO is attached.
Detailed detached garage report for Denver, CO, $9
The report lays out the detached garage numbers for Denver, CO 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 Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Denver?
For 576 sq ft, expect $29,900 to $59,900 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $38,900 to $50,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Denver?
About $51.50 to $103 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 Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $41,900, which is 7% less than Denver ($44,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $22,800 out of $44,900. Materials are 49% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Denver?
$37,300 to $74,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Denver?
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 Denver area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 3% above the Colorado statewide estimate ($43,700 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Denver?
The BLS median is $31.21 an hour in the Denver area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.70 to $36.14.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Denver?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $29,900 to $41,900 and premium work $47,900 to $59,900. 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 Denver?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through June and August through September. 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 Denver
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).