Detached garage cost in Fargo, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $28,800 – $57,700
- Per sq ft
- $49.50 – $99.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #119
- 1 = most expensive
A detached garage in Fargo, ND usually costs $28,800 to $57,700 for 576 sq ft. That works out to about $49.50 to $99.50 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.7).
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Fargo, ND, standard level
$37,400 to $49,000
About $64.50 to $84.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,900 | $23,400 |
| Labor | $19,300 | $25,200 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $37,400 | $49,000 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Fargo, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,800 | $20,700 | $27,500 | 48% |
| Labor | $14,800 | $22,300 | $29,700 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $450 | 1% |
| Total | $28,800 | $43,200 | $57,700 | 100% |
Where the Fargo price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.34 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fargo is 1.03 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 52% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fargo is at 95.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $20,700 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 90.9: $140 to $450.
What local crews earn in Fargo
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 Fargo the blend is 1.03.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $28.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.34 and $31.06 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 59.2 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 $23.72 an hour, which is 5% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.29 and $29.85 an hour. BLS counts 1,760 of them working in the area, 118.4 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 $27.51 an hour, in line with the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.11 and $30.18 an hour. About 520 work in the metro. That is 35.0 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 $36.99 an hour, which is 22% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.64 and $39.69 an hour. BLS counts 920 of them working in the area, 61.9 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 $29.62 an hour, 11% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.08 and $34.68 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 8.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $910 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,650. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 2.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fargo has 148,660 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 156th 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% | $23.34 | $28.34 | $31.06 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $24.11 | $27.51 | $30.18 | $27.41 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.29 | $23.72 | $29.85 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.64 | $36.99 | $39.69 | $30.38 | 1.22 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $23.08 | $29.62 | $34.68 | $26.65 | 1.11 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Fargo 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, Fargo Hector Intl Ap (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 Fargo 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.
Fargo gets about 24 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 11 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 | 18 | 0 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 23 | 4 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 36 | 18 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 32 | 1.5 | Cold |
| May | 69 | 44 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 56 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 59 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 57 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 48 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 35 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Nov | 38 | 21 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 24 | 8 | 0.9 | Cold |
Pick a size, pick a tier: detached garage pricing in Fargo
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fargo. 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
$28,800 to $40,300
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$37,400 to $49,000
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$46,100 to $57,700
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $12,100 – $17,000 | $15,700 – $20,600 | $19,400 – $24,300 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $28,800 – $40,300 | $37,400 – $49,000 | $46,100 – $57,700 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $35,900 – $50,300 | $46,700 – $61,200 | $57,600 – $72,000 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $44,900 – $62,900 | $58,400 – $76,400 | $71,900 – $89,900 |
How Fargo compares
Same job, same size (576 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Minneapolis is the priciest of the group at $50,000. Sioux Falls is the cheapest at $39,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, NDthis page | $28,800 – $57,700 | $43,200 | |
| St. Cloud, MN150 miles | $30,100 – $60,400 | $45,300 | +5% |
| Bismarck, ND190 miles | $27,700 – $55,600 | $41,600 | −4% |
| Minneapolis, MN215 miles | $33,300 – $66,800 | $50,000 | +16% |
| Duluth, MN215 miles | $30,500 – $61,200 | $45,900 | +6% |
| Sioux Falls, SD235 miles | $26,500 – $53,200 | $39,900 | −8% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $28,300 – $56,900 | $42,600 | −1% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fargo ranks #119 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fargo is 1% above the North Dakota figure.
Elsewhere in North Dakota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $27,700 – $55,600 | $41,600 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fargo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen, TX | 150,580 jobs | $25,100 – $50,500 | $37,800 | −13% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $25,600 – $51,300 | $38,400 | −11% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $25,900 – $52,100 | $39,000 | −10% |
| Vallejo, CA | 144,130 jobs | $33,000 – $66,300 | $49,600 | +15% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fargo bid
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.
Related projects, priced for Fargo
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fargo wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (level) and garage door lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −2% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $690 – $3,600 | −2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,200 | level |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $37,400 – $75,800 | −2% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $37,400 to $49,000 for Fargo, ND is attached.
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Detached garage in Fargo: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Fargo?
For 576 sq ft, expect $28,800 to $57,700 in the Fargo area. A standard-spec job lands at $37,400 to $49,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Fargo?
About $49.50 to $99.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $140 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Fargo or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 150 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $45,300, which is 5% more than Fargo ($43,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fargo?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $22,300 out of $43,200. Materials are 48% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Fargo?
$35,900 to $72,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Fargo?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $450 for fees in the Fargo area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fargo expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Fargo is 1% above the North Dakota statewide estimate ($42,600 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Fargo?
The BLS median is $28.34 an hour in the Fargo area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.34 to $31.06.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Fargo?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $28,800 to $40,300 and premium work $46,100 to $57,700. 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 Fargo?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. August 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 Fargo
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).