Detached garage cost in Clarksville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $26,200 – $52,500
- Per sq ft
- $45 – $90.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #231
- 1 = most expensive
Clarksville homeowners pay roughly $26,200 to $52,500 to build a detached garage at 576 sq ft, or $45 to $90.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Clarksville is 10% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $23.60 an hour in the Clarksville area, 19% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Clarksville, TN, standard level
$34,100 to $44,600
About $58.50 to $77 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $23,600 |
| Labor | $15,800 | $20,700 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $34,100 | $44,600 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Clarksville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,900 | $20,800 | $27,700 | 53% |
| Labor | $12,200 | $18,200 | $24,300 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $450 | 1% |
| Total | $26,200 | $39,300 | $52,500 | 100% |
Why Clarksville prices look the way they do
Labor is 46% of the midpoint bill here, against 50% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (45%), cement masons and concrete finishers (15%), construction laborers (20%), electricians (10%), roofers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Clarksville the blended ratio comes out at 0.84.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Clarksville metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 576 sq ft comes to $20,800, compared with $21,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (90.9) and land at $140 to $450.
Data note: 10% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Clarksville. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Clarksville quotes can differ
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.
When to schedule detached garage in Clarksville
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Clarksville Wwtp (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through June and September through October are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Clarksville (5 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Clarksville gets about 54 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and December (5.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 4.3 inches. The station averages about 57 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 28 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 52 | 31 | 4.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 61 | 38 | 4.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 72 | 47 | 5.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 57 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 67 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 60 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 72 | 48 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 37 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 50 | 31 | 4.9 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Clarksville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Clarksville wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$26,200 to $36,700
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$34,100 to $44,600
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$42,000 to $52,500
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,000 – $15,400 | $14,300 – $18,800 | $17,700 – $22,100 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $26,200 – $36,700 | $34,100 – $44,600 | $42,000 – $52,500 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $32,700 – $45,800 | $42,500 – $55,600 | $52,400 – $65,500 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $40,800 – $57,200 | $53,100 – $69,500 | $65,400 – $81,800 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 5 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Clarksville is 0.84 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $23.60 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $28.68 an hour. BLS counts 290 of them working in the area, 28.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $20.17 an hour, 11% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.68 and $23.18 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 60.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 15%) the local median is $23.05 an hour, which is 16% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $19.92 and $23.05 an hour. BLS counts 130 of them working in the area, 12.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is about average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.21 an hour, 7% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.27 and $37.37 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 48.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Clarksville metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $21.97 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.33 and $23.53 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,700. At the 25th percentile ($21.48) it shrinks by about $710. The total moves by 4.3% or 1.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 103,220 jobs in the Clarksville area. That makes it the 200th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $21.48 | $23.60 | $28.68 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $19.92 | $23.05 | $23.05 | $27.41 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.68 | $20.17 | $23.18 | $22.66 | 0.89 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.27 | $28.21 | $37.37 | $30.38 | 0.93 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.33 | $21.97 | $23.53 | $26.65 | 0.82 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Clarksville
Because every project leans on different trades, Clarksville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, garage door runs −7% and home addition −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $640 – $3,450 | −7% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,150 | −11% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,000 – $66,900 | −13% |
Clarksville against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
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 $38,900 to $44,600 across Clarksville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TNthis page | $26,200 – $52,500 | $39,300 | |
| Nashville, TN65 miles | $27,300 – $54,900 | $41,100 | +5% |
| Bowling Green, KY70 miles | $26,600 – $53,400 | $40,000 | +2% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $29,700 – $59,500 | $44,600 | +13% |
| Jackson, TN95 miles | $26,100 – $52,300 | $39,200 | level |
| Huntsville, AL140 miles | $25,900 – $51,900 | $38,900 | −1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $26,600 – $53,300 | $40,000 | +2% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Clarksville comes in at #231 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $57,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $35,500 (midpoints, 576 sq ft). Statewide, Clarksville is 2% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $27,300 – $54,900 | $41,100 | +5% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $26,600 – $53,500 | $40,000 | +2% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $26,500 – $53,100 | $39,800 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $26,600 – $53,400 | $40,000 | +2% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $26,000 – $52,100 | $39,000 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $26,100 – $52,300 | $39,200 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Clarksville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Clarksville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $27,200 – $54,600 | $40,900 | +4% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $28,600 – $57,500 | $43,000 | +9% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $25,600 – $51,400 | $38,500 | −2% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $25,900 – $51,900 | $38,900 | −1% |
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 $34,100 to $44,600 for Clarksville, TN is attached.
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Detached garage in Clarksville: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Clarksville?
For 576 sq ft, expect $26,200 to $52,500 in the Clarksville area. A standard-spec job lands at $34,100 to $44,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Clarksville?
About $45 to $90.50 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 Clarksville or Nashville?
Nashville is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $41,100, which is 5% more than Clarksville ($39,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Clarksville?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $18,200 out of $39,300. Materials are 53% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Clarksville?
$32,700 to $65,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Clarksville?
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 Clarksville area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Clarksville expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Clarksville is 2% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($40,000 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Clarksville?
The BLS median is $23.60 an hour in the Clarksville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.48 to $28.68.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Clarksville?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $26,200 to $36,700 and premium work $42,000 to $52,500. 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 Clarksville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through June and September through October. September and October 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 Clarksville
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).