Detached garage cost in Duluth, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $30,500 – $61,200
- Per sq ft
- $53 – $106
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #59
- 1 = most expensive
A detached garage in Duluth, MN usually costs $30,500 to $61,200 for 576 sq ft. That works out to about $53 to $106 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $2,350 more. Carpenters earn a median of $29.10 an hour in the Duluth area, 0% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Duluth, MN, standard level
$39,700 to $52,000
About $68.50 to $89.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,800 | $23,300 |
| Labor | $21,700 | $28,300 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $350 |
| Total | $39,700 | $52,000 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $20,600 | $27,400 | 45% |
| Labor | $16,700 | $25,000 | $33,300 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $30,500 | $45,900 | $61,200 | 100% |
Where the Duluth 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, Duluth wages are 1.16 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Duluth is at 95.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $20,600 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.8: $130 to $440.
Duluth weather and the detached garage calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Duluth (5 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 Duluth are May through September: 5 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Duluth gets about 31 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 90 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 2 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 | 20 | 2 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 25 | 6 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 36 | 18 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 49 | 30 | 2.5 | Cold |
| May | 63 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 72 | 50 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 78 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 76 | 55 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 67 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 53 | 36 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Nov | 37 | 23 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 25 | 10 | 1.5 | Cold |
Why two Duluth quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Duluth
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 Duluth the blend is 1.16.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $29.10 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $36.50 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 49.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $29.49 an hour, which is 30% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.29 and $37.00 an hour. BLS counts 1,390 of them working in the area, 111.5 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 $33.81 an hour, 23% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $28.31 and $40.26 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 12.0 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 $39.76 an hour, which is 31% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $29.03 and $46.53 an hour. BLS counts 680 of them working in the area, 54.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
Roofers (47-2181), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.03 an hour, 31% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.52 and $43.29 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 19.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,450 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,000. That is a swing of roughly 4.4% to 5.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Duluth has 124,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 173rd 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% | $23.05 | $29.10 | $36.50 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $28.31 | $33.81 | $40.26 | $27.41 | 1.23 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.29 | $29.49 | $37.00 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $29.03 | $39.76 | $46.53 | $30.38 | 1.31 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $28.52 | $35.03 | $43.29 | $26.65 | 1.31 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Duluth: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Duluth. 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
$30,500 to $42,800
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$39,700 to $52,000
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$48,900 to $61,200
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $12,800 – $18,000 | $16,700 – $21,900 | $20,600 – $25,800 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $30,500 – $42,800 | $39,700 – $52,000 | $48,900 – $61,200 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $38,100 – $53,400 | $49,600 – $64,900 | $61,100 – $76,400 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $47,600 – $66,700 | $62,000 – $81,100 | $76,300 – $95,400 |
What nearby projects cost in Duluth
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Duluth wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+14%) and garage door lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,500 | +7% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $710 – $3,650 | −1% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,100 – $10,600 | +14% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $40,500 – $81,800 | +6% |
Is Duluth cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 576 sq ft range from $41,900 to $50,000 across Duluth and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $30,500 – $61,200 | $45,900 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $30,100 – $60,400 | $45,300 | −1% |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $33,300 – $66,800 | $50,000 | +9% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $28,900 – $58,000 | $43,400 | −5% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $27,900 – $56,000 | $41,900 | −9% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $28,800 – $57,700 | $43,200 | −6% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,300 | +3% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Duluth ranks #59 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Duluth is 3% below the Minnesota figure.
Elsewhere in Minnesota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $33,300 – $66,800 | $50,000 | +9% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $30,500 – $61,100 | $45,800 | level |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $30,100 – $60,400 | $45,300 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $26,400 – $53,000 | $39,700 | −13% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $29,700 – $59,600 | $44,600 | −3% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $29,700 – $59,600 | $44,700 | −3% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $25,300 – $50,700 | $38,000 | −17% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed detached garage report for Duluth, MN, $9
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Detached garage in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Duluth?
For 576 sq ft, expect $30,500 to $61,200 in the Duluth area. A standard-spec job lands at $39,700 to $52,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Duluth?
About $53 to $106 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $130 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $45,300, which is 1% less than Duluth ($45,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $25,000 out of $45,900. Materials are 45% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Duluth?
$38,100 to $76,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Duluth?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $440 for fees in the Duluth area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 3% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($47,300 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Duluth?
The BLS median is $29.10 an hour in the Duluth area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.05 to $36.50.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Duluth?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $30,500 to $42,800 and premium work $48,900 to $61,200. 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 Duluth?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. May and September 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 Duluth
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).