Detached garage cost in Tennessee
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $26,600 – $53,300
- Per sq ft
- $46 – $92
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 8
Tennessee prices for detached garage: $26,600 to $53,300 for 576 sq ft, or $46 to $92 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 8% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $24.44 an hour.
Inside Tennessee, the metros we cover range from $38,800 (Johnson City) to $41,100 (Nashville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your detached garage cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Tennessee (statewide), standard level
$34,600 to $45,300
About $59.50 to $78 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $23,600 |
| Labor | $16,400 | $21,400 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $34,600 | $45,300 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Tennessee
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,900 | $20,800 | $27,700 | 52% |
| Labor | $12,600 | $18,900 | $25,200 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $460 | 1% |
| Total | $26,600 | $40,000 | $53,300 | 100% |
When Tennessee weather lets you build
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Tennessee 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.
Memphis has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Tennessee at 7 months (March through June and September through November); Jackson has the shortest at 5 (April through June and September through October). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Johnson City to 57 inches in Jackson.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 30 | 91 | 51 | 5: April through June and September through October |
| Memphis | 33 | 92 | 55 | 7: March through June and September through November |
| Knoxville | 30 | 88 | 52 | 7: April through October |
| Chattanooga | 32 | 91 | 55 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Kingsport | 27 | 87 | 45 | 7: April through October |
| Clarksville | 28 | 90 | 54 | 5: April through June and September through October |
| Jackson | 27 | 91 | 57 | 5: April through June and September through October |
| Johnson City | 26 | 86 | 44 | 7: April through October |
Other Tennessee jobs that often go with detached garage
Each project weights the trades differently, so Tennessee's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, garage door is −6% and home addition −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $650 – $3,500 | −6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,300 | −10% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,800 – $68,600 | −11% |
Tennessee metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $40,000, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $27,300 – $54,900 | $41,100 | +3% |
| Memphis, TN | $26,600 – $53,500 | $40,000 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | $26,600 – $53,400 | $40,000 | level |
| Knoxville, TN | $26,500 – $53,100 | $39,800 | level |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,200 – $52,500 | $39,300 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | $26,100 – $52,300 | $39,200 | −2% |
| Kingsport, TN | $26,000 – $52,100 | $39,000 | −2% |
| Johnson City, TN | $25,800 – $51,800 | $38,800 | −3% |
Tennessee versus the states around it
Tennessee ranks 40 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. Tennessee sits at $40,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 170 miles away | $26,900 – $53,900 | $40,400 | +1% |
| Alabama | 190 miles away | $25,600 – $51,300 | $38,500 | −4% |
| Georgia | 210 miles away | $26,400 – $52,900 | $39,600 | −1% |
| Indiana | 300 miles away | $29,100 – $58,300 | $43,700 | +9% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,700 | −3% |
Why two Tennessee 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).
Wages behind the Tennessee number
Tennessee'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 0.87 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $24.44 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.36 and $28.80 an hour. About 8,200 work in the state. That is 25.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.64 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.11 and $23.78 an hour. BLS counts 26,250 of them working in the state, 80.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 15% of the weighting: a median of $23.04 an hour, 16% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $20.92 and $25.38 an hour. About 3,920 work in the state. 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 $29.37 an hour, which is 3% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.26 and $36.57 an hour. BLS counts 17,070 of them working in the state, 52.1 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 $21.97 an hour, 18% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.33 and $23.53 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 6.4 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 ($28.80 an hour) would add about $1,450 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.36) would take off about $690. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,278,760 jobs across Tennessee (May 2025), which is 2.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $22.36 | $24.44 | $28.80 | $29.12 | 0.84 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $20.92 | $23.04 | $25.38 | $27.41 | 0.84 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.11 | $21.64 | $23.78 | $22.66 | 0.95 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.26 | $29.37 | $36.57 | $30.38 | 0.97 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.33 | $21.97 | $23.53 | $26.65 | 0.82 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Tennessee 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
$26,600 to $37,300
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$34,600 to $45,300
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$42,600 to $53,300
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,200 – $15,700 | $14,600 – $19,100 | $18,000 – $22,500 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $26,600 – $37,300 | $34,600 – $45,300 | $42,600 – $53,300 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $33,200 – $46,500 | $43,200 – $56,600 | $53,200 – $66,600 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $41,500 – $58,100 | $53,900 – $70,600 | $66,400 – $83,100 |
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 $34,600 to $45,300 for Tennessee is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Tennessee: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Detached garage in Tennessee: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Tennessee?
$26,600 to $53,300 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Tennessee can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Tennessee is cheapest for detached garage?
Johnson City at about $38,800 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Nashville at $41,100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Tennessee than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $40,000 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Tennessee?
About 47% ($18,900). Materials are 52%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.87x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Tennessee?
The BLS statewide median is $24.44 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.36 to $28.80.
+Where does Tennessee rank for detached garage costs?
40th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $40,000 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Tennessee?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $26,600 to $37,300 and premium work $42,600 to $53,300. 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 Tennessee?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Tennessee metros we cover, Memphis has the most comfortable months (7 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 Tennessee
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).