Detached garage cost in Savannah, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $25,400 – $51,100
- Per sq ft
- $44 – $88
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #269
- 1 = most expensive
Savannah homeowners pay roughly $25,400 to $51,100 to build a detached garage at 576 sq ft, or $44 to $88 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Savannah is 12% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $21.59 an hour in the Savannah area, 26% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Savannah, GA, standard level
$33,100 to $43,400
About $57 to $74.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $23,600 |
| Labor | $14,900 | $19,500 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $380 |
| Total | $33,100 | $43,400 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Savannah, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,900 | $20,800 | $27,700 | 54% |
| Labor | $11,400 | $17,200 | $22,900 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $310 | $480 | 1% |
| Total | $25,400 | $38,300 | $51,100 | 100% |
Why Savannah prices look the way they do
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, Savannah wages are 0.79 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Savannah metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 576 sq ft comes to $20,800, compared with $21,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.2) and land at $140 to $480.
Related projects, priced for Savannah
Because every project leans on different trades, Savannah's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, garage door runs −8% and concrete driveway −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,650 | −11% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $630 – $3,400 | −8% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,750 | −15% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,100 – $67,100 | −13% |
Cost by quality level and size in Savannah
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Savannah 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
$25,400 to $35,700
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$33,100 to $43,400
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$40,800 to $51,100
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $10,700 – $15,000 | $13,900 – $18,300 | $17,200 – $21,600 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $25,400 – $35,700 | $33,100 – $43,400 | $40,800 – $51,100 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $31,800 – $44,600 | $41,400 – $54,100 | $51,000 – $63,700 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $39,700 – $55,600 | $51,600 – $67,600 | $63,600 – $79,600 |
Savannah against nearby metros and the rest of Georgia
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 $38,300 to $40,400 across Savannah and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GAthis page | $25,400 – $51,100 | $38,300 | |
| Hilton Head, SC30 miles | $26,500 – $53,100 | $39,800 | +4% |
| Charleston, SC95 miles | $26,700 – $53,500 | $40,100 | +5% |
| Augusta, GA100 miles | $26,900 – $53,900 | $40,400 | +6% |
| Jacksonville, FL135 miles | $26,500 – $53,200 | $39,900 | +4% |
| Columbia, SC135 miles | $26,200 – $52,600 | $39,400 | +3% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $26,400 – $52,900 | $39,600 | +4% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +14% |
Across 300 US metros, Savannah comes in at #269 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $57,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $35,500 (midpoints, 576 sq ft). Statewide, Savannah is 3% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $27,000 – $54,200 | $40,600 | +6% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $26,900 – $53,900 | $40,400 | +6% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $24,900 – $50,000 | $37,400 | −2% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $25,600 – $51,400 | $38,500 | +1% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $25,200 – $50,500 | $37,800 | −1% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $25,000 – $50,100 | $37,600 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Savannah's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Savannah against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $28,800 – $57,800 | $43,300 | +13% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $33,200 – $66,600 | $49,900 | +30% |
| Santa Maria, CA | 200,760 jobs | $32,300 – $64,900 | $48,600 | +27% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $25,500 – $51,200 | $38,300 | level |
When to schedule detached garage in Savannah
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Savannah Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through May and September through December are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Savannah (8 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low of 40°F or below; June, July and August have 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 June, July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Savannah gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 81 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 | 61 | 40 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 65 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 55 | 3.4 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 71 | 6.7 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 5.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 73 | 5.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 69 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 48 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Savannah is 0.79 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $21.59 an hour, which is 26% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.51 and $26.34 an hour. BLS counts 330 of them working in the area, 16.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.12 an hour, 20% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.71 and $21.63 an hour. About 1,210 work in the metro. That is 61.0 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 $22.04 an hour, which is 20% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.56 and $25.28 an hour. BLS counts 140 of them working in the area, 7.1 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 $28.09 an hour, 8% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.84 and $31.63 an hour. About 650 work in the metro. That is 32.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.43 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.05 and $24.52 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 3.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.34 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,600. At the 25th percentile ($18.51) it shrinks by about $1,050. The total moves by 4.1% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 198,360 jobs in the Savannah area. That makes it the 116th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.13% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $18.51 | $21.59 | $26.34 | $29.12 | 0.74 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $17.56 | $22.04 | $25.28 | $27.41 | 0.80 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.71 | $18.12 | $21.63 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.84 | $28.09 | $31.63 | $30.38 | 0.92 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.05 | $23.43 | $24.52 | $26.65 | 0.88 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Why two Savannah quotes can differ
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.
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 $33,100 to $43,400 for Savannah, GA is attached.
Detailed detached garage report for Savannah, GA, $9
The report lays out the detached garage numbers for Savannah, GA 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 Savannah: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Savannah?
For 576 sq ft, expect $25,400 to $51,100 in the Savannah area. A standard-spec job lands at $33,100 to $43,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Savannah?
About $44 to $88 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $140 to $480 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Savannah or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $39,800, which is 4% more than Savannah ($38,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Savannah?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $17,200 out of $38,300. Materials are 54% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Savannah?
$31,800 to $63,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Savannah?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $480 for fees in the Savannah area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Savannah expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Georgia?
Savannah is 3% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($39,600 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Savannah?
The BLS median is $21.59 an hour in the Savannah area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.51 to $26.34.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Savannah?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $25,400 to $35,700 and premium work $40,800 to $51,100. 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 Savannah?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through May and September through December. February and November 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 Savannah
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).