Detached garage cost in Louisiana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $25,800 – $51,800
- Per sq ft
- $44.50 – $89
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 9
Across Louisiana, a detached garage costs about $25,800 to $51,800 for 576 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 11% below the US figure of $43,500. Carpenters earn a median $24.00 an hour in Louisiana (US: $29.12).
Inside Louisiana, the metros we cover range from $37,800 (Alexandria) to $40,600 (Baton Rouge) 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 Louisiana (statewide), standard level
$33,600 to $44,000
About $58 to $76 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,500 | $22,900 |
| Labor | $15,900 | $20,800 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $350 |
| Total | $33,600 | $44,000 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Louisiana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,500 | $20,200 | $27,000 | 52% |
| Labor | $12,200 | $18,300 | $24,400 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $25,800 | $38,800 | $51,800 | 100% |
Louisiana versus the states around it
Louisiana ranks 47 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. Louisiana sits at $38,800. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 130 miles away | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,700 | level |
| Alabama | 310 miles away | $25,600 – $51,300 | $38,500 | −1% |
| Texas | 360 miles away | $26,300 – $52,800 | $39,600 | +2% |
| Arkansas | 360 miles away | $25,100 – $50,400 | $37,800 | −3% |
| Tennessee | 460 miles away | $26,600 – $53,300 | $40,000 | +3% |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Louisiana
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).
Other Louisiana jobs that often go with detached garage
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Louisiana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, garage door comes out highest (−9%) and concrete driveway lowest (−13%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,650 | −11% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $630 – $3,400 | −9% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,200 – $8,000 | −13% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,700 – $68,300 | −11% |
Quality levels and sizes in Louisiana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Louisiana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$25,800 to $36,200
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$33,600 to $44,000
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$41,400 to $51,800
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $10,800 – $15,200 | $14,100 – $18,600 | $17,500 – $21,900 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $25,800 – $36,200 | $33,600 – $44,000 | $41,400 – $51,800 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $32,300 – $45,200 | $42,000 – $55,000 | $51,700 – $64,700 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $40,300 – $56,500 | $52,400 – $68,600 | $64,600 – $80,800 |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Louisiana
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 0.85 for Louisiana.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $24.00 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.03 and $28.72 an hour. BLS counts 8,990 of them working in the state, 46.5 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 $18.38 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.74 an hour. About 22,100 work in the state. That is 114.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 15%) the local median is $23.64 an hour, which is 14% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $19.54 and $30.00 an hour. BLS counts 910 of them working in the state, 4.7 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 $29.59 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.51 and $35.02 an hour. About 10,550 work in the state. That is 54.5 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 $23.44 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.74 and $27.02 an hour. BLS counts 760 of them working in the state, 3.9 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 ($28.72 an hour) would add about $1,600 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.03) would take off about $990. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,934,900 jobs across Louisiana (May 2025), which is 1.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $21.03 | $24.00 | $28.72 | $29.12 | 0.82 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $19.54 | $23.64 | $30.00 | $27.41 | 0.86 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.59 | $18.38 | $22.74 | $22.66 | 0.81 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.51 | $29.59 | $35.02 | $30.38 | 0.97 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.74 | $23.44 | $27.02 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Which Louisiana city is cheapest for detached garage?
1 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $38,800, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $27,000 – $54,200 | $40,600 | +5% |
| New Orleans, LA | $25,900 – $52,000 | $39,000 | level |
| Lake Charles, LA | $25,900 – $51,900 | $38,900 | level |
| Lafayette, LA | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,600 | level |
| Slidell, LA | $25,600 – $51,300 | $38,400 | −1% |
| Houma, LA | $25,500 – $51,100 | $38,300 | −1% |
| Shreveport, LA | $25,500 – $51,100 | $38,300 | −1% |
| Monroe, LA | $25,300 – $50,700 | $38,000 | −2% |
| Alexandria, LA | $25,200 – $50,500 | $37,800 | −3% |
When Louisiana weather lets you build
Season matters for detached garage. For each Louisiana metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
New Orleans has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Louisiana at 10 months (September through June); Monroe has the shortest at 6 (March through May and September through November). Rainfall runs from 51 inches a year in Shreveport to 66 inches in Slidell.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 47 | 91 | 60 | 10: September through June |
| Baton Rouge | 42 | 92 | 62 | 9: September through May |
| Lafayette | 44 | 92 | 63 | 9: September through May |
| Shreveport | 37 | 94 | 51 | 6: February through May and October through November |
| Lake Charles | 43 | 92 | 60 | 9: September through May |
| Slidell | 42 | 90 | 66 | 10: September through June |
| Monroe | 37 | 93 | 55 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| Houma | 44 | 91 | 65 | 9: September through May |
| Alexandria | 39 | 92 | 61 | 8: February through June and September through November |
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Detached garage in Louisiana: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Louisiana?
$25,800 to $51,800 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Louisiana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Louisiana is cheapest for detached garage?
Alexandria at about $37,800 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Baton Rouge at $40,600.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Louisiana than the US average?
It is 11% cheaper: $38,800 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Louisiana?
About 47% ($18,300). Materials are 52%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.85x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Louisiana?
The BLS statewide median is $24.00 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.03 to $28.72.
+Where does Louisiana rank for detached garage costs?
47th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $38,800 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Louisiana?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $25,800 to $36,200 and premium work $41,400 to $51,800. 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 Louisiana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Louisiana metros we cover, New Orleans has the most comfortable months (10 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 Louisiana
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).