Detached garage cost in Delaware
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $28,300 – $56,700
- Per sq ft
- $49 – $97.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 1
What does it cost to build a detached garage in Delaware? Plan on $28,300 to $56,700 for 576 sq ft. Wages (0.99x the US blend), materials (price index 96.2) and permit costs (99.8) put the state below the national midpoint by 2%.
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Delaware (statewide), standard level
$36,800 to $48,200
About $63.50 to $83 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $23,500 |
| Labor | $18,600 | $24,300 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $390 |
| Total | $36,800 | $48,200 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Delaware
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,800 | $20,800 | $27,700 | 49% |
| Labor | $14,300 | $21,400 | $28,500 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 | $500 | 1% |
| Total | $28,300 | $42,500 | $56,700 | 100% |
Delaware against its neighbors
Delaware ranks 28 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. Delaware sits at $42,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 60 miles away | $32,400 – $65,100 | $48,700 | +15% |
| Maryland | 60 miles away | $29,700 – $59,700 | $44,700 | +5% |
| Pennsylvania | 100 miles away | $29,100 – $58,500 | $43,800 | +3% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,500 | +9% |
| New York | 150 miles away | $32,700 – $65,600 | $49,200 | +16% |
Quality levels and sizes in Delaware
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Delaware wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$28,300 to $39,700
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$36,800 to $48,200
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$45,400 to $56,700
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,900 – $16,700 | $15,500 – $20,300 | $19,100 – $23,900 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $28,300 – $39,700 | $36,800 – $48,200 | $45,400 – $56,700 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $35,300 – $49,500 | $45,900 – $60,100 | $56,600 – $70,800 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $44,100 – $61,800 | $57,400 – $75,100 | $70,700 – $88,400 |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Delaware
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).
Delaware 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 0.99 for Delaware.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $28.46 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.35 and $36.24 an hour. BLS counts 2,250 of them working in the state, 46.4 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 $21.90 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.93 and $27.07 an hour. About 3,240 work in the state. That is 66.8 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 $27.42 an hour, which is in line with the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.07 and $30.97 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the state, 8.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.63 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.10 and $43.52 an hour. About 2,260 work in the state. That is 46.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.58 an hour, which is 7% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $20.40 and $30.59 an hour. BLS counts 230 of them working in the state, 4.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($36.24 an hour) would add about $2,600 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.35) would take off about $1,700. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 484,790 jobs across Delaware (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $23.35 | $28.46 | $36.24 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $24.07 | $27.42 | $30.97 | $27.41 | 1.00 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.93 | $21.90 | $27.07 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.10 | $30.63 | $43.52 | $30.38 | 1.01 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $20.40 | $28.58 | $30.59 | $26.65 | 1.07 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Delaware
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Delaware wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (−2%) and garage door lowest (−3%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $680 – $3,600 | −3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $9,000 | −2% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $37,100 – $75,200 | −2% |
Detached garage cost by metro in Delaware
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $27,300 – $54,800 | $41,000 | −3% |
Delaware seasons and detached garage
Season matters for detached garage. For each Delaware metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Dover has 7 comfortable months (April through October), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 28 | 87 | 48 | 7: April through October |
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Detached garage in Delaware: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Delaware?
$28,300 to $56,700 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Delaware can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Delaware is cheapest for detached garage?
Dover at about $41,000 (midpoint, 576 sq ft).
+Is detached garage cheaper in Delaware than the US average?
It is 2% cheaper: $42,500 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Delaware?
About 50% ($21,400). Materials are 49%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Delaware?
The BLS statewide median is $28.46 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.35 to $36.24.
+Where does Delaware rank for detached garage costs?
28th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $42,500 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Delaware?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $28,300 to $39,700 and premium work $45,400 to $56,700. 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 Delaware?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Delaware metros we cover, Dover has the most comfortable months (7 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 Delaware
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).