Detached garage cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $29,800 – $59,900
- Per sq ft
- $51.50 – $103
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 1
Across Rhode Island, a detached garage costs about $29,800 to $59,900 for 576 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% above the US figure of $43,500. Carpenters earn a median $29.25 an hour in Rhode Island (US: $29.12).
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$38,800 to $50,800
About $67 to $87.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,200 | $23,800 |
| Labor | $20,400 | $26,700 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $400 |
| Total | $38,800 | $50,800 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,000 | $21,000 | $28,000 | 47% |
| Labor | $15,700 | $23,500 | $31,400 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $330 | $510 | 1% |
| Total | $29,800 | $44,800 | $59,900 | 100% |
Why two Rhode Island 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).
Rhode Island against its neighbors
Rhode Island ranks 13 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. Rhode Island sits at $44,800. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $32,400 – $65,100 | $48,700 | +9% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $30,200 – $60,600 | $45,400 | +1% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $29,000 – $58,200 | $43,600 | −3% |
| New York | 160 miles away | $32,700 – $65,600 | $49,200 | +10% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $28,800 – $57,700 | $43,200 | −4% |
Detached garage cost by metro in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $30,100 – $60,300 | $45,200 | +1% |
When Rhode Island weather lets you build
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Rhode Island 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.
Providence has 6 comfortable months (May through October), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 22 | 84 | 48 | 6: May through October |
Rhode Island labor market for detached garage
Rhode Island'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 1.09 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $29.25 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.14 and $36.42 an hour. About 2,580 work in the state. That is 51.5 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 $27.52 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $37.25 an hour. BLS counts 2,110 of them working in the state, 42.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 15% of the weighting: a median of $30.26 an hour, 10% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $28.69 and $35.39 an hour. About 250 work in the state. That is 5.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $35.62 an hour, which is 17% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $28.08 and $46.01 an hour. BLS counts 2,420 of them working in the state, 48.3 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 $29.63 an hour, 11% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.72 and $36.81 an hour. About 360 work in the state. That is 7.2 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 ($36.42 an hour) would add about $2,400 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($25.14) would take off about $1,350. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (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% | $25.14 | $29.25 | $36.42 | $29.12 | 1.00 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $28.69 | $30.26 | $35.39 | $27.41 | 1.10 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.51 | $27.52 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $28.08 | $35.62 | $46.01 | $30.38 | 1.17 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $23.72 | $29.63 | $36.81 | $26.65 | 1.11 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
Other Rhode Island jobs that often go with detached garage
Each project weights the trades differently, so Rhode Island's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, concrete driveway is +8% and garage door −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,400 | +4% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $700 – $3,700 | −1% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,900 – $9,950 | +8% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $38,700 – $78,500 | +2% |
Basic, standard or premium: Rhode Island 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
$29,800 to $41,800
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$38,800 to $50,800
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$47,800 to $59,900
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $12,500 – $17,600 | $16,300 – $21,400 | $20,100 – $25,200 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $29,800 – $41,800 | $38,800 – $50,800 | $47,800 – $59,900 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $37,200 – $52,200 | $48,500 – $63,500 | $59,700 – $74,700 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $46,500 – $65,200 | $60,500 – $79,200 | $74,500 – $93,200 |
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Detached garage in Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Rhode Island?
$29,800 to $59,900 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for detached garage?
Providence at about $45,200 (midpoint, 576 sq ft).
+Is detached garage cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 3% more expensive: $44,800 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 52% ($23,500). Materials are 47%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.09x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $29.25 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.14 to $36.42.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for detached garage costs?
13th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $44,800 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Rhode Island?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $29,800 to $41,800 and premium work $47,800 to $59,900. 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 Rhode Island?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Rhode Island metros we cover, Providence has the most comfortable months (6 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 Rhode Island
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).