Detached garage cost in Houma, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $25,500 – $51,100
- Per sq ft
- $44 – $88
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #268
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a detached garage in the Houma area: $25,500 to $51,100 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 12% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $23.18 an hour in the Houma area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Houma, LA, standard level
$33,200 to $43,400
About $57 to $75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,500 | $22,900 |
| Labor | $15,400 | $20,200 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $340 |
| Total | $33,200 | $43,400 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Houma, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,500 | $20,200 | $27,000 | 53% |
| Labor | $11,900 | $17,800 | $23,700 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $280 | $430 | 1% |
| Total | $25,500 | $38,300 | $51,100 | 100% |
Why Houma prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.18 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Houma is 0.82 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Houma is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $20,200 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.1: $130 to $430.
Data note: 25% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Houma. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Houma cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (576 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baton Rouge is the priciest of the group at $40,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LAthis page | $25,500 – $51,100 | $38,300 | |
| New Orleans, LA75 miles | $25,900 – $52,000 | $39,000 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA85 miles | $27,000 – $54,200 | $40,600 | +6% |
| Lafayette, LA90 miles | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,600 | +1% |
| Slidell, LA90 miles | $25,600 – $51,300 | $38,400 | level |
| Gulfport, MS135 miles | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,600 | +1% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $25,800 – $51,800 | $38,800 | +1% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Houma ranks #268 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Houma is 1% below the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $25,900 – $52,000 | $39,000 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $27,000 – $54,200 | $40,600 | +6% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,600 | +1% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $25,500 – $51,100 | $38,300 | level |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $25,900 – $51,900 | $38,900 | +2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $25,600 – $51,300 | $38,400 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houma against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $27,600 – $55,400 | $41,500 | +8% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $26,600 – $53,400 | $40,000 | +4% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $29,200 – $58,600 | $43,900 | +15% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $26,500 – $53,100 | $39,800 | +4% |
Who does the work: Houma 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 Houma the blend is 0.82.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $23.18 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $28.31 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 47.9 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 $17.74 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.80 and $21.44 an hour. BLS counts 880 of them working in the area, 105.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) carry 15% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Houma metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $23.64 an hour against $27.41 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.54 and $30.00 an hour.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.72 an hour, which is 9% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.16 and $31.06 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 55.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Houma metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $23.44 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.74 and $27.02 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,700 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $470. That is a swing of roughly 1.2% to 4.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux has 83,440 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 230th 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% | $21.76 | $23.18 | $28.31 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $19.54 | $23.64 | $30.00 | $27.41 | 0.86 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.80 | $17.74 | $21.44 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.16 | $27.72 | $31.06 | $30.38 | 0.91 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.74 | $23.44 | $27.02 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Detached garage: what moves the price in Houma
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).
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.
Houma: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Houma. 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
$25,500 to $35,700
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$33,200 to $43,400
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$40,900 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 – $21,500 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $25,500 – $35,700 | $33,200 – $43,400 | $40,900 – $51,100 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $31,800 – $44,600 | $41,400 – $54,200 | $51,000 – $63,800 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $39,700 – $55,700 | $51,700 – $67,700 | $63,700 – $79,600 |
Related projects, priced for Houma
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Houma wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, garage door comes out highest (−10%) and concrete driveway lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,600 | −11% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $630 – $3,350 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,900 | −14% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $32,800 – $66,500 | −14% |
The best months for detached garage in Houma
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Houma (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Houma are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Houma gets about 65 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (9.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, April and December are the driest, at 4.0 and 4.2 inches. The station averages about 76 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 | 64 | 44 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 54 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 67 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 8.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 74 | 9.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 75 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 71 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 52 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 46 | 4.2 | Workable |
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Detached garage in Houma: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Houma?
For 576 sq ft, expect $25,500 to $51,100 in the Houma area. A standard-spec job lands at $33,200 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 Houma?
About $44 to $88 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $130 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Houma or New Orleans?
New Orleans is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $39,000, which is 2% more than Houma ($38,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houma?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $17,800 out of $38,300. Materials are 53% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Houma?
$31,800 to $63,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Houma?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $430 for fees in the Houma area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houma expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Houma is 1% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($38,800 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Houma?
The BLS median is $23.18 an hour in the Houma area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.76 to $28.31.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Houma?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $25,500 to $35,700 and premium work $40,900 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 Houma?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. April and December 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 Houma
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).