Detached garage cost in Hawaii
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $37,400 – $75,100
- Per sq ft
- $64.50 – $129
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +29%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to build a detached garage in Hawaii? Plan on $37,400 to $75,100 for 576 sq ft. Wages (1.47x the US blend), materials (price index 111.6) and permit costs (110.0) put the state above the national midpoint by 29%.
Inside Hawaii, the metros we cover range from $56,600 (Kahului) to $57,900 (Honolulu) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Hawaii (statewide), standard level
$48,700 to $63,800
About $84 to $110 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $20,900 | $27,300 |
| Labor | $27,600 | $36,100 |
| Permits and fees | $280 | $430 |
| Total | $48,700 | $63,800 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Hawaii
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $24,100 | $32,100 | 43% |
| Labor | $21,200 | $31,800 | $42,400 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $360 | $550 | 1% |
| Total | $37,400 | $56,300 | $75,100 | 100% |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Hawaii
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).
Quality levels and sizes in Hawaii
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Hawaii wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$37,400 to $52,500
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$48,700 to $63,800
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$60,000 to $75,100
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $15,700 – $22,100 | $20,500 – $26,800 | $25,200 – $31,600 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $37,400 – $52,500 | $48,700 – $63,800 | $60,000 – $75,100 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $46,800 – $65,600 | $60,900 – $79,700 | $75,000 – $93,700 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $58,400 – $81,900 | $76,000 – $99,500 | $93,600 – $117,000 |
Hawaii versus the states around it
Hawaii ranks 1 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. Hawaii sits at $56,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2530 miles away | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | −12% |
| Oregon | 2590 miles away | $31,600 – $63,400 | $47,500 | −16% |
| Washington | 2710 miles away | $33,300 – $66,900 | $50,100 | −11% |
| Nevada | 2730 miles away | $29,000 – $58,200 | $43,600 | −23% |
| Alaska | 2850 miles away | $34,200 – $68,600 | $51,400 | −9% |
If you are planning more than one job in Hawaii
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Hawaii wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+49%) and garage door lowest (+19%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $6,900 | +34% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $860 – $4,400 | +19% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $5,300 – $13,900 | +49% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $50,500 – $102,000 | +33% |
Detached garage cost by metro in Hawaii
2 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $56,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 2%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $38,600 – $77,300 | $57,900 | +3% |
| Kahului, HI | $37,700 – $75,600 | $56,600 | +1% |
When Hawaii weather lets you build
Season matters for detached garage. For each Hawaii metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Honolulu has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Hawaii at 12 months; Kahului has the shortest at 10 (October through July). Rainfall runs from 16 inches a year in Kahului to 16 inches in Honolulu.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | 67 | 88 | 16 | 12: all year |
| Kahului | 64 | 89 | 16 | 10: October through July |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Hawaii
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 1.47 for Hawaii.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $41.00 an hour, which is 41% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $31.91 and $53.36 an hour. BLS counts 4,810 of them working in the state, 76.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $37.07 an hour, 64% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $25.13 and $42.19 an hour. About 4,580 work in the state. That is 73.0 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 $46.10 an hour, which is 68% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $32.36 and $47.69 an hour. BLS counts 650 of them working in the state, 10.4 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 $46.38 an hour, 53% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $33.88 and $58.05 an hour. About 3,070 work in the state. That is 48.9 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 $28.64 an hour, which is 7% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.96 and $35.43 an hour. BLS counts 1,110 of them working in the state, 17.7 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 ($53.36 an hour) would add about $4,150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($31.91) would take off about $3,050. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 627,530 jobs across Hawaii (May 2025), which is 0.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $31.91 | $41.00 | $53.36 | $29.12 | 1.41 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $32.36 | $46.10 | $47.69 | $27.41 | 1.68 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $25.13 | $37.07 | $42.19 | $22.66 | 1.64 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $33.88 | $46.38 | $58.05 | $30.38 | 1.53 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $22.96 | $28.64 | $35.43 | $26.65 | 1.07 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.47 | |||||
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Detached garage in Hawaii: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Hawaii?
$37,400 to $75,100 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Hawaii can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Hawaii is cheapest for detached garage?
Kahului at about $56,600 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Honolulu at $57,900.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Hawaii than the US average?
It is 29% more expensive: $56,300 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Hawaii?
About 57% ($31,800). Materials are 43%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.47x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Hawaii?
The BLS statewide median is $41.00 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $31.91 to $53.36.
+Where does Hawaii rank for detached garage costs?
1st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $56,300 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Hawaii?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $37,400 to $52,500 and premium work $60,000 to $75,100. 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 Hawaii?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Hawaii metros we cover, Honolulu has the most comfortable months (12 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 Hawaii
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).