Detached garage cost in Dover, DE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $27,300 – $54,800
- Per sq ft
- $47 – $94.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #168
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a detached garage in the Dover area: $27,300 to $54,800 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 6% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $25.07 an hour in the Dover area, 14% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Dover, DE, standard level
$35,500 to $46,500
About $61.50 to $80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $23,600 |
| Labor | $17,200 | $22,600 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $390 |
| Total | $35,500 | $46,500 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Dover, DE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,900 | $20,800 | $27,800 | 51% |
| Labor | $13,300 | $19,900 | $26,500 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 | $490 | 1% |
| Total | $27,300 | $41,000 | $54,800 | 100% |
Where the Dover price comes from
Labor is 49% of the midpoint bill here, against 50% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (45%), cement masons and concrete finishers (15%), construction laborers (20%), electricians (10%), roofers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Dover the blended ratio comes out at 0.92.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Dover is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $20,800 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.5: $150 to $490.
The best months for detached garage in Dover
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Dover (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Dover are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
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.
Dover gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 13 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, April and May are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 35 | 4.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 66 | 45 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 69 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 67 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 50 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 39 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 49 | 32 | 4.0 | Cold |
Dover: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dover. 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
$27,300 to $38,300
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$35,500 to $46,500
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$43,800 to $54,800
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,500 – $16,100 | $15,000 – $19,600 | $18,400 – $23,100 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $27,300 – $38,300 | $35,500 – $46,500 | $43,800 – $54,800 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $34,100 – $47,800 | $44,400 – $58,100 | $54,600 – $68,400 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $42,600 – $59,700 | $55,400 – $72,500 | $68,200 – $85,300 |
Is Dover cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $41,000 to $48,800 across Dover and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DEthis page | $27,300 – $54,800 | $41,000 | |
| Vineland, NJ25 miles | $32,500 – $65,100 | $48,800 | +19% |
| Atlantic City, NJ45 miles | $30,300 – $60,900 | $45,600 | +11% |
| Philadelphia, PA55 miles | $29,600 – $59,500 | $44,600 | +9% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $29,300 – $58,900 | $44,100 | +7% |
| Lancaster, PA75 miles | $28,700 – $57,500 | $43,100 | +5% |
| Delaware (statewide) | $28,300 – $56,700 | $42,500 | +4% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dover ranks #168 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dover is 3% below the Delaware figure.
Dover is the only Delaware metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dover against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $27,900 – $56,000 | $41,900 | +2% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $26,100 – $52,300 | $39,200 | −4% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $28,900 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +6% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $26,300 – $52,900 | $39,600 | −3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Dover bid
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.
Foundation
A slab is cheapest. A frost-depth foundation in cold states costs more.
Who does the work: Dover 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 Dover the blend is 0.92.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $25.07 an hour, 14% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.87 and $32.20 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. That is 39.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.02 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $24.63 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 58.8 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 $25.27 an hour, 8% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.09 and $30.38 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 4.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.21 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $36.72 an hour. BLS counts 340 of them working in the area, 49.9 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 $28.04 an hour, 5% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $24.27 and $28.37 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 4.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,400 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $730. That is a swing of roughly 1.8% to 5.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dover has 68,080 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 265th 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% | $22.87 | $25.07 | $32.20 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $22.09 | $25.27 | $30.38 | $27.41 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.50 | $22.02 | $24.63 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.51 | $29.21 | $36.72 | $30.38 | 0.96 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $24.27 | $28.04 | $28.37 | $26.65 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Dover
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dover wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete slab comes out highest (−5%) and home addition lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,950 | −5% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $650 – $3,500 | −6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,600 | −7% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $34,700 – $70,400 | −9% |
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Detailed detached garage report for Dover, DE, $9
The report lays out the detached garage numbers for Dover, DE 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 Dover: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Dover?
For 576 sq ft, expect $27,300 to $54,800 in the Dover area. A standard-spec job lands at $35,500 to $46,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Dover?
About $47 to $94.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $150 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Dover or Vineland?
Vineland is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $48,800, which is 19% more than Dover ($41,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dover?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $19,900 out of $41,000. Materials are 51% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Dover?
$34,100 to $68,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Dover?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $490 for fees in the Dover area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dover expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Delaware?
Dover is 3% below the Delaware statewide estimate ($42,500 at the midpoint).
+What do carpenters earn in Dover?
The BLS median is $25.07 an hour in the Dover area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.87 to $32.20.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Dover?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $27,300 to $38,300 and premium work $43,800 to $54,800. 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 Dover?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and May 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 Dover
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).