Detached garage cost in North Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $28,300 – $56,900
- Per sq ft
- $49 – $98
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to build a detached garage in North Dakota? Plan on $28,300 to $56,900 for 576 sq ft. Wages (1.00x the US blend), materials (price index 95.7) and permit costs (89.0) put the state below the national midpoint by 2%.
Inside North Dakota, the metros we cover range from $41,600 (Bismarck) to $43,200 (Fargo) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in North Dakota (statewide), standard level
$36,900 to $48,300
About $63.50 to $83.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,900 | $23,400 |
| Labor | $18,800 | $24,500 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $350 |
| Total | $36,900 | $48,300 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in North Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,800 | $20,700 | $27,600 | 49% |
| Labor | $14,400 | $21,600 | $28,900 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $28,300 | $42,600 | $56,900 | 100% |
When North Dakota weather lets you build
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and North Dakota 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.
Every North Dakota metro on the list has 5 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 19 inches a year in Bismarck to 24 in Fargo.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 0 | 82 | 24 | 5: May through September |
| Bismarck | 2 | 85 | 19 | 5: May through September |
Basic, standard or premium: North Dakota 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
$28,300 to $39,700
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$36,900 to $48,300
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$45,500 to $56,900
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,900 – $16,700 | $15,500 – $20,300 | $19,100 – $24,000 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $28,300 – $39,700 | $36,900 – $48,300 | $45,500 – $56,900 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $35,400 – $49,600 | $46,100 – $60,300 | $56,700 – $71,000 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $44,200 – $62,000 | $57,500 – $75,300 | $70,800 – $88,600 |
If you are planning more than one job in North Dakota
Each project weights the trades differently, so North Dakota's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, concrete driveway is level and garage door −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −2% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $680 – $3,550 | −4% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,200 | level |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $36,600 – $74,100 | −4% |
North Dakota metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $42,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | $28,800 – $57,700 | $43,200 | +1% |
| Bismarck, ND | $27,700 – $55,600 | $41,600 | −2% |
North Dakota versus the states around it
North Dakota ranks 27 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. North Dakota sits at $42,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $26,200 – $52,700 | $39,500 | −7% |
| Minnesota | 270 miles away | $31,500 – $63,200 | $47,300 | +11% |
| Nebraska | 410 miles away | $26,400 – $53,000 | $39,700 | −7% |
| Iowa | 450 miles away | $27,600 – $55,400 | $41,500 | −3% |
| Wyoming | 500 miles away | $27,900 – $56,000 | $41,900 | −2% |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in North Dakota
North Dakota'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 1.00 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $27.83 an hour, 4% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.47 and $30.55 an hour. About 2,360 work in the state. That is 55.0 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 $23.59 an hour, which is 4% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.17 an hour. BLS counts 5,050 of them working in the state, 117.6 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 $27.74 an hour, in line with the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.14 and $29.53 an hour. About 1,190 work in the state. That is 27.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $31.59 an hour, which is 4% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.36 and $38.71 an hour. BLS counts 3,570 of them working in the state, 83.1 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 $28.72 an hour, 8% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.08 and $34.68 an hour. About 290 work in the state. That is 6.8 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 ($30.55 an hour) would add about $910 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.47) would take off about $1,450. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 429,430 jobs across North Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $23.47 | $27.83 | $30.55 | $29.12 | 0.96 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $24.14 | $27.74 | $29.53 | $27.41 | 1.01 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.96 | $23.59 | $29.17 | $22.66 | 1.04 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.36 | $31.59 | $38.71 | $30.38 | 1.04 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $23.08 | $28.72 | $34.68 | $26.65 | 1.08 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Why two North Dakota 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).
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Detached garage in North Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in North Dakota?
$28,300 to $56,900 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Dakota is cheapest for detached garage?
Bismarck at about $41,600 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Fargo at $43,200.
+Is detached garage cheaper in North Dakota than the US average?
It is 2% cheaper: $42,600 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Dakota?
About 51% ($21,600). Materials are 49%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.00x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in North Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $27.83 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.47 to $30.55.
+Where does North Dakota rank for detached garage costs?
27th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $42,600 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in North Dakota?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $28,300 to $39,700 and premium work $45,500 to $56,900. 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 North Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Dakota metros we cover, Fargo has the most comfortable months (5 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 North Dakota
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).