Detached garage cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $27,600 – $55,400
- Per sq ft
- $47.50 – $95.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 7
Iowa prices for detached garage: $27,600 to $55,400 for 576 sq ft, or $47.50 to $95.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 5% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $27.75 an hour.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $40,100 (Iowa City) to $43,300 (Davenport) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Iowa (statewide), standard level
$36,000 to $47,100
About $62 to $81 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,500 | $22,900 |
| Labor | $18,200 | $23,800 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $350 |
| Total | $36,000 | $47,100 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,500 | $20,200 | $27,000 | 49% |
| Labor | $14,000 | $21,000 | $28,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $27,600 | $41,500 | $55,400 | 100% |
How Iowa compares with nearby states
Iowa ranks 32 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. Iowa sits at $41,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $26,400 – $53,000 | $39,700 | −4% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $29,100 – $58,300 | $43,700 | +5% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $29,500 – $59,100 | $44,300 | +7% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,300 | +14% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $34,500 – $69,200 | $51,900 | +25% |
Why two Iowa 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.
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).
Iowa metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $41,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | $28,800 – $57,800 | $43,300 | +4% |
| Des Moines, IA | $28,200 – $56,600 | $42,400 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA | $27,900 – $56,000 | $42,000 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA | $27,600 – $55,400 | $41,500 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $27,500 – $55,200 | $41,300 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $27,200 – $54,500 | $40,900 | −2% |
| Iowa City, IA | $26,700 – $53,600 | $40,100 | −3% |
Basic, standard or premium: Iowa prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to 3-car (900 sq ft).
Basic
$27,600 to $38,700
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$36,000 to $47,100
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$44,300 to $55,400
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,600 – $16,300 | $15,100 – $19,800 | $18,600 – $23,300 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $27,600 – $38,700 | $36,000 – $47,100 | $44,300 – $55,400 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $34,500 – $48,400 | $44,900 – $58,800 | $55,300 – $69,200 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $43,100 – $60,400 | $56,100 – $73,400 | $69,000 – $86,300 |
Iowa labor market for detached garage
Iowa's labor line is priced from 5 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.97 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $27.75 an hour, 5% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $31.69 an hour. About 5,770 work in the state. That is 37.0 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 $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. BLS counts 13,780 of them working in the state, 88.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 15% of the weighting: a median of $27.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.74 and $31.25 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 13.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.26 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $38.45 an hour. BLS counts 10,310 of them working in the state, 66.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Roofers (47-2181), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.39 an hour, 12% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $29.50 an hour. About 930 work in the state. That is 6.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($31.69 an hour) would add about $1,300 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.91) would take off about $1,600. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $22.74 | $27.99 | $31.25 | $27.41 | 1.02 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.31 | $29.26 | $38.45 | $30.38 | 0.96 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $22.31 | $23.39 | $29.50 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Iowa
Each project weights the trades differently, so Iowa's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, concrete driveway is −1% and home addition −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,000 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $670 – $3,500 | −5% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,150 | −1% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $35,900 – $72,700 | −6% |
Weather windows across Iowa
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Iowa is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 7 months (April through October); Dubuque has the shortest at 5 (May through September). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 6: May through October |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 5: May through September |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 6: May through October |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 5: May through September |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 5: May through September |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 5: May through September |
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Detailed detached garage report for Iowa, $9
Multi-page report for Iowa: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Iowa?
$27,600 to $55,400 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for detached garage?
Iowa City at about $40,100 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Davenport at $43,300.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 5% cheaper: $41,500 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 51% ($21,000). Materials are 49%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.97x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $27.75 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.91 to $31.69.
+Where does Iowa rank for detached garage costs?
32nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $41,500 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Iowa?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $27,600 to $38,700 and premium work $44,300 to $55,400. 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 Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines 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 Iowa
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).