Detached garage cost in Virginia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (576 sq ft)
- $27,800 – $55,900
- Per sq ft
- $48 – $96
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $43,500
- Metros covered
- 8
Across Virginia, a detached garage costs about $27,800 to $55,900 for 576 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 4% below the US figure of $43,500. Carpenters earn a median $26.77 an hour in Virginia (US: $29.12).
Inside Virginia, the metros we cover range from $38,400 (Lynchburg) to $41,300 (Charlottesville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Virginia (statewide), standard level
$36,300 to $47,500
About $62.50 to $81.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,800 | $24,600 |
| Labor | $17,200 | $22,500 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $400 |
| Total | $36,300 | $47,500 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Virginia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,500 | $21,700 | $28,900 | 52% |
| Labor | $13,200 | $19,900 | $26,500 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $330 | $510 | 1% |
| Total | $27,800 | $41,900 | $55,900 | 100% |
Virginia versus the states around it
Virginia ranks 31 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. Virginia sits at $41,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $30,900 – $62,000 | $46,500 | +11% |
| Maryland | 150 miles away | $29,700 – $59,700 | $44,700 | +7% |
| Delaware | 170 miles away | $28,300 – $56,700 | $42,500 | +2% |
| North Carolina | 180 miles away | $26,400 – $53,000 | $39,700 | −5% |
| Pennsylvania | 210 miles away | $29,100 – $58,500 | $43,800 | +5% |
Detached garage cost by metro in Virginia
0 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $41,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $27,500 – $55,100 | $41,300 | −1% |
| Richmond, VA | $26,600 – $53,400 | $40,000 | −4% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $26,500 – $53,100 | $39,800 | −5% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $26,500 – $53,100 | $39,800 | −5% |
| Winchester, VA | $26,300 – $52,900 | $39,600 | −5% |
| Blacksburg, VA | $26,100 – $52,400 | $39,300 | −6% |
| Roanoke, VA | $25,900 – $51,900 | $38,900 | −7% |
| Lynchburg, VA | $25,500 – $51,200 | $38,400 | −8% |
Quality levels and sizes in Virginia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Virginia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$27,800 to $39,100
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$36,300 to $47,500
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$44,700 to $55,900
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $11,700 – $16,400 | $15,300 – $20,000 | $18,800 – $23,600 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $27,800 – $39,100 | $36,300 – $47,500 | $44,700 – $55,900 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $34,800 – $48,800 | $45,300 – $59,200 | $55,700 – $69,700 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $43,400 – $60,900 | $56,500 – $74,000 | $69,600 – $87,000 |
Detached garage: what moves the price in Virginia
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).
Related projects, priced for Virginia
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Virginia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, garage door comes out highest (−1%) and concrete driveway lowest (−6%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $690 – $3,650 | −1% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,450 – $8,650 | −6% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $36,100 – $73,300 | −5% |
Weather windows across Virginia
Season matters for detached garage. For each Virginia metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Virginia Beach has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Virginia at 8 months (April through November); Harrisonburg has the shortest at 6 (May through October). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Harrisonburg to 48 inches in Charlottesville.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 32 | 87 | 47 | 8: April through November |
| Richmond | 29 | 90 | 46 | 6: April through June and August through October |
| Roanoke | 29 | 88 | 43 | 7: April through October |
| Charlottesville | 28 | 84 | 48 | 7: April through October |
| Lynchburg | 25 | 85 | 44 | 7: April through October |
| Blacksburg | 22 | 82 | 43 | 6: May through October |
| Winchester | 24 | 86 | 41 | 7: April through October |
| Harrisonburg | 23 | 86 | 39 | 6: May through October |
Wages behind the Virginia number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 5 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.92 for Virginia.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $29.49 an hour. BLS counts 20,460 of them working in the state, 49.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $20.94 an hour, 8% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.80 and $22.86 an hour. About 25,830 work in the state. That is 62.9 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 $24.49 an hour, which is 11% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $21.45 and $29.31 an hour. BLS counts 4,020 of them working in the state, 9.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.24 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.76 and $37.59 an hour. About 23,630 work in the state. That is 57.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.28 an hour, which is 13% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.00 and $27.69 an hour. BLS counts 2,070 of them working in the state, 5.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($29.49 an hour) would add about $910 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.34) would take off about $1,500. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,109,320 jobs across Virginia (May 2025), which is 2.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $22.34 | $26.77 | $29.49 | $29.12 | 0.92 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $21.45 | $24.49 | $29.31 | $27.41 | 0.89 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.80 | $20.94 | $22.86 | $22.66 | 0.92 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.76 | $30.24 | $37.59 | $30.38 | 1.00 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $22.00 | $23.28 | $27.69 | $26.65 | 0.87 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
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Detached garage in Virginia: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Virginia?
$27,800 to $55,900 for 576 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Virginia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Virginia is cheapest for detached garage?
Lynchburg at about $38,400 (midpoint, 576 sq ft). The priciest is Charlottesville at $41,300.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Virginia than the US average?
It is 4% cheaper: $41,900 against $43,500 for 576 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Virginia?
About 47% ($19,900). Materials are 52%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.92x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Virginia?
The BLS statewide median is $26.77 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.34 to $29.49.
+Where does Virginia rank for detached garage costs?
31st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $41,900 for 576 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Virginia?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $27,800 to $39,100 and premium work $44,700 to $55,900. 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 Virginia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Virginia metros we cover, Virginia Beach has the most comfortable months (8 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 Virginia
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).