Detached garage cost in Pittsfield, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $29,600 – $59,400
- Per sq ft
- $51 – $102
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #84
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a detached garage in Pittsfield, plan on $29,600 to $59,400 for 576 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $51 to $102 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $30.31 an hour in the Pittsfield area, 4% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Pittsfield, MA, standard level
$38,600 to $50,500
About $66.50 to $87 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,200 | $23,700 |
| Labor | $20,200 | $26,400 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $380 |
| Total | $38,600 | $50,500 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Pittsfield, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,000 | $21,000 | $27,900 | 47% |
| Labor | $15,500 | $23,300 | $31,000 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $310 | $480 | 1% |
| Total | $29,600 | $44,500 | $59,400 | 100% |
Where the Pittsfield price comes from
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, Pittsfield wages are 1.08 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Pittsfield metro is 97.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 576 sq ft comes to $21,000, compared with $21,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.1) and land at $140 to $480.
Data note: 15% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Pittsfield. The wage table below marks each row.
How Pittsfield compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Pittsfield. Waterbury comes closest at about $44,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield, MAthis page | $29,600 – $59,400 | $44,500 | |
| Amherst, MA30 miles | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,400 | +4% |
| Springfield, MA35 miles | $32,200 – $64,500 | $48,400 | +9% |
| Albany, NY45 miles | $30,000 – $60,200 | $45,100 | +1% |
| Hartford, CT60 miles | $30,200 – $60,600 | $45,400 | +2% |
| Waterbury, CT60 miles | $29,900 – $60,000 | $44,900 | +1% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $32,400 – $65,100 | $48,700 | +9% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Pittsfield comes in at #84 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $57,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $35,500 (midpoints, 576 sq ft). Statewide, Pittsfield is 9% below the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $32,400 – $64,900 | $48,600 | +9% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $32,600 – $65,300 | $48,900 | +10% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $32,200 – $64,500 | $48,400 | +9% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $31,400 – $63,100 | $47,300 | +6% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,400 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Pittsfield's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Pittsfield against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Gorda, FL | 57,530 jobs | $26,300 – $52,800 | $39,600 | −11% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 56,490 jobs | $26,100 – $52,300 | $39,200 | −12% |
| Texarkana, TX | 57,580 jobs | $24,500 – $49,100 | $36,800 | −17% |
| Cheyenne, WY | 48,470 jobs | $27,900 – $56,000 | $42,000 | −6% |
What nearby projects cost in Pittsfield
Because every project leans on different trades, Pittsfield's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete driveway runs +6% and garage door level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,300 | +2% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $710 – $3,650 | level |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,850 – $9,800 | +6% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $40,100 – $81,200 | +6% |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Pittsfield
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.
Pittsfield labor market for detached garage
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 Pittsfield is 1.08 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $30.31 an hour, which is 4% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.70 and $37.40 an hour. BLS counts 430 of them working in the area, 75.7 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 $25.06 an hour, 11% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.32 and $30.23 an hour. About 350 work in the metro. That is 61.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) carry 15% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Pittsfield metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $30.69 an hour against $27.41 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.87 and $37.60 an hour.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.95 an hour, 18% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $25.32 and $41.18 an hour. About 320 work in the metro. That is 56.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.05 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $27.05 and $34.50 an hour. BLS counts 30 of them working in the area, 5.3 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 ($37.40 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $2,350. At the 25th percentile ($25.70) it shrinks by about $1,550. The total moves by 5.3% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 56,810 jobs in the Pittsfield area. That makes it the 298th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $25.70 | $30.31 | $37.40 | $29.12 | 1.04 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $26.87 | $30.69 | $37.60 | $27.41 | 1.12 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.32 | $25.06 | $30.23 | $22.66 | 1.11 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $25.32 | $35.95 | $41.18 | $30.38 | 1.18 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $27.05 | $27.05 | $34.50 | $26.65 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Climate in Pittsfield: timing your detached garage job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Pittsfield Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through September is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Pittsfield (5 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
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.
Pittsfield gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.6 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 3 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 | 30 | 14 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 33 | 15 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 42 | 23 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Cold |
| May | 67 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 53 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 79 | 58 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 57 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 49 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 39 | 4.6 | Cold |
| Nov | 47 | 29 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 21 | 3.6 | Cold |
Pittsfield: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Pittsfield 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
$29,600 to $41,600
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$38,600 to $50,500
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$47,500 to $59,400
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $12,400 – $17,500 | $16,200 – $21,300 | $20,000 – $25,000 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $29,600 – $41,600 | $38,600 – $50,500 | $47,500 – $59,400 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $37,000 – $51,900 | $48,200 – $63,000 | $59,300 – $74,200 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $46,200 – $64,800 | $60,100 – $78,700 | $74,100 – $92,600 |
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Detached garage in Pittsfield: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Pittsfield?
For 576 sq ft, expect $29,600 to $59,400 in the Pittsfield area. A standard-spec job lands at $38,600 to $50,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Pittsfield?
About $51 to $102 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 Pittsfield or Amherst?
Amherst is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $46,400, which is 4% more than Pittsfield ($44,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Pittsfield?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $23,300 out of $44,500. Materials are 47% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Pittsfield?
$37,000 to $74,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Pittsfield?
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 Pittsfield area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Pittsfield expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Pittsfield is 9% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($48,700 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Pittsfield?
The BLS median is $30.31 an hour in the Pittsfield area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.70 to $37.40.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Pittsfield?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $29,600 to $41,600 and premium work $47,500 to $59,400. 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 Pittsfield?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. May and August 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 Pittsfield
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).