Detached garage cost in Dallas, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $27,300 – $54,800
- Per sq ft
- $47 – $94
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #169
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a detached garage in the Dallas area: $27,300 to $54,800 for 576 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 6% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $23.44 an hour in the Dallas area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Dallas, TX, standard level
$35,500 to $46,500
About $61 to $80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $19,300 | $25,200 |
| Labor | $16,000 | $20,900 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $410 |
| Total | $35,500 | $46,500 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Dallas, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,800 | $22,200 | $29,600 | 54% |
| Labor | $12,300 | $18,500 | $24,600 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $340 | $520 | 1% |
| Total | $27,300 | $41,000 | $54,800 | 100% |
Where the Dallas price comes from
Labor is 45% 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 Dallas the blended ratio comes out at 0.86.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Dallas is at 102.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $22,200 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.1: $150 to $520.
What nearby projects cost in Dallas
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dallas wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, garage door comes out highest (−2%) and home addition lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,050 | −4% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $670 – $3,650 | −2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,450 | −8% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $34,400 – $69,800 | −9% |
Is Dallas cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (576 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Dallas is the priciest of the group. Longview is the cheapest at $37,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TXthis page | $27,300 – $54,800 | $41,000 | |
| Waco, TX90 miles | $25,100 – $50,300 | $37,700 | −8% |
| Tyler, TX105 miles | $24,700 – $49,700 | $37,200 | −9% |
| Killeen, TX125 miles | $25,100 – $50,500 | $37,800 | −8% |
| Longview, TX135 miles | $24,700 – $49,600 | $37,100 | −9% |
| College Station, TX145 miles | $24,900 – $49,900 | $37,400 | −9% |
| Texas (statewide) | $26,300 – $52,800 | $39,600 | −4% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dallas ranks #169 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dallas is 4% above the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $26,800 – $53,700 | $40,300 | −2% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $26,200 – $52,600 | $39,400 | −4% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $25,500 – $51,200 | $38,300 | −7% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $24,000 – $48,100 | $36,100 | −12% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $23,900 – $48,000 | $35,900 | −12% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $25,500 – $51,200 | $38,300 | −7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dallas against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $35,500 – $71,100 | $53,300 | +30% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $26,800 – $53,700 | $40,300 | −2% |
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $33,000 – $66,200 | $49,600 | +21% |
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $30,100 – $60,500 | $45,300 | +10% |
Who does the work: Dallas trade wages
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 Dallas the blend is 0.86.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $23.44 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.98 and $27.40 an hour. About 9,480 work in the metro. That is 23.4 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 $21.14 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.19 and $22.79 an hour. BLS counts 29,670 of them working in the area, 73.3 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 $23.45 an hour, 14% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $21.31 and $27.15 an hour. About 7,920 work in the metro. That is 19.6 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 $28.37 an hour, which is 7% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.85 and $34.32 an hour. BLS counts 20,930 of them working in the area, 51.7 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 $22.59 an hour, 15% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.54 and $27.29 an hour. About 2,180 work in the metro. That is 5.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,300 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $820. That is a swing of roughly 2.0% to 3.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has 4,049,800 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 4th 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% | $20.98 | $23.44 | $27.40 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $21.31 | $23.45 | $27.15 | $27.41 | 0.86 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.19 | $21.14 | $22.79 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.85 | $28.37 | $34.32 | $30.38 | 0.93 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.54 | $22.59 | $27.29 | $26.65 | 0.85 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
The best months for detached garage in Dallas
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Dallas Love Fld (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 Dallas are February through May and October through November: 6 of 12. Outside them, January and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and June, July, August and September 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 June, July, August and September, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Dallas gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 2 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and October (4.8 inches in October). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 108 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 | 58 | 38 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 62 | 42 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 57 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 74 | 3.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 97 | 78 | 1.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 77 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 70 | 3.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 59 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 48 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 40 | 3.2 | Cold |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Dallas
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).
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: detached garage pricing in Dallas
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dallas. 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
$27,300 to $38,300
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$35,500 to $46,500
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$43,800 to $54,800
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,500 – $16,100 | $15,000 – $19,600 | $18,500 – $23,100 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $27,300 – $38,300 | $35,500 – $46,500 | $43,800 – $54,800 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $34,100 – $47,800 | $44,300 – $58,000 | $54,600 – $68,300 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $42,500 – $59,600 | $55,400 – $72,500 | $68,200 – $85,300 |
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Detached garage in Dallas: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Dallas?
For 576 sq ft, expect $27,300 to $54,800 in the Dallas area. A standard-spec job lands at $35,500 to $46,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Dallas?
About $47 to $94 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $150 to $520 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Dallas or Waco?
Waco is 90 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $37,700, which is 8% less than Dallas ($41,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dallas?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $18,500 out of $41,000. Materials are 54% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Dallas?
$34,100 to $68,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Dallas?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $520 for fees in the Dallas area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dallas expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Texas?
Dallas is 4% above the Texas statewide estimate ($39,600 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Dallas?
The BLS median is $23.44 an hour in the Dallas area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.98 to $27.40.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Dallas?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $27,300 to $38,300 and premium work $43,800 to $54,800. 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 Dallas?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through May and October through November. February and November 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 Dallas
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).