Homeowner's Guide To Standard Garage Sizes & Dimensions (2024)

If you’re planning out your dream garage or building a new house, you might wonder how big a “standard garage size” is.

I’ve measured my garage a few times since I started my garage transformation. I figured I couldn’t be the only one with bad short-term memory, so I created this ‘cheat sheet’ with many common garage dimensions.

Even if you’re not doing major projects like adding drywall or installing one of the best garage floor finishes, knowing roughly your garage’s dimensions and square footage can be really helpful when you’re at your local home improvement store.

In this article, we will cover the standard garage sizes for homes in the US and Canada. We’ll also cover some differences between attached and detached garages and give you a rough estimate of the size of different types of cars.

That way, you’ll know just how much extra space you have for those new cabinets you want to buy.

Ready?

Let’s get started.

How Big is a Standard Garage? [1, 2, 3, & 4-Car Garages]

I don’t like burying the lead, so let’s answer the question immediately.

A standard one-car garage is between 12′ and 16′ wide and between 20′ and 24′ long, for a total of between 240 sq ft and 384 sq ft, on average. A standard two-car garage is between 22′ and 26′ wide but still between 20′ and 24′ long, giving it an area of between 440 sq ft and 624 sq ft. In both cases, the average ceiling height is usually 10′ high.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 65% of all new homes constructed in the United States come with two-car garages. This makes the average garage size in America between 440 sq ft and 624 sq ft.

We’ll get into 3-car and 4-car garages in more detail below. In a different article, I cover tandem garages, where one car is parked directly behind another.

To keep things simple, we consider that the “width” of a garage is the measurement from the left to the right when facing the garage door.

The “depth” or “length” is measured from the garage door’s threshold to the back wall.

You’ll notice that the standard depth doesn’t change from one size of garage to the next. Standard garages are designed for cars to pull in parallel, next to each other.

Unless you have an extended garage for long vehicles, when it comes to garage depth, one size usually fits all.

The garage door height is a standard 7 or 8 feet, while your garage ceiling is usually between 8′ and 10′ off your garage floor.

Why Are Garages So Much Wider Than Cars?

Before getting to the dimensions, I’ll address a quick question.

Garages are a lot wider than your car is.

At best, you might have a 16-foot wide spot for a 5.5-foot wide car. The average person isn’tthatbad at parking, although there are a LOT of home garage parking aids out there.

Cars have gotten larger over the years, and home builders are designing a little extra cushion, so you can get in and out of your vehicle comfortably.

Don’t forget, your car doors have to open, and you need enough space to get out!

The doors are around 5 or 6 feet long, and the garage needs to be wide enough to swing open your door and get out of your car comfortably.

Typical Garage Door Dimensions

A standard single garage door typically measures 8 to 9 feet wide and 7 to 8 feet tall. For a double garage door, the width is usually between 16 and 18 feet, while the height remains the same at 7 to 8 feet.

1-Car Garage Dimensions

A one-car garage is pretty straightforward. It’s usually large enough to fit a single car, with extra room for a tool chest or garage shelving.

The standard width is between 12 and 16 feet, with a standard depth of between 20 and 24 feet. This leaves enough room for a garage door between 8 feet and 10 feet wide and between 7 feet and 8 feet tall.

Single car garages don’t leave much room on either side of your vehicle to open your car door. Larger vehicles may not be able to park inside at all.

2-Car Garage Dimensions

These days, most homes in the United States are being built with two-car garages. The standard two-car garage is slightly less than double the width of a single-car garage, between 22 and 26 feet wide, and the depth stays at 20 to 24 feet.

Here, we see a little more variability in the average garage door size.

You can have two independent, single garage doors 8 to 10 feet wide or one double-wide door that’s 12 feet to 16 feet wide. In both cases, the door is typically 7 to 8 feet tall.

Three and four-car garages also have this variability with their garage doors.

A 2 car garage allows for extra storage space for shelves, lawnmowers, or trash cans. In some cases, two car garage dimensions may even allow you to store a motorcycle behind the parked cars.

3-Car Garage Dimensions

More cars mean a wider garage.

On average, the standard three-car garage ranges between 31 and 34 feet wide. Like two-car garages, the depth remains between 20 and 24 feet. That makes the square footage of a 3-car garage between 620 sq ft and 816 sq ft.

It can also feature single and double-wide garage doors ranging from 8 to 16 feet wide.

4-Car Garage Dimensions

Although still rare, we’re seeing four-car garages on more new homes.

4-car garages are usually between 40 and 44 feet wide but between 20 and 24 feet deep. Their doors range from 8 to 16 feet wide and come in various single- and double-wide options. That makes the square footage of a 4-car garage between 800 sq ft and 1056 sq ft.

Standard Garage Sizes at a Glance

Standard Car Sizes

It’s important to understand the standard dimensions of different vehicles.

This will help you know if your vehicle will fit in your garage before writing a big check to the repair shop.

Motorcycles

Many people don’t have to worry about squeezing a motorcycle into their garage. For reference, they are around 6 feet long, 4 feet high, and 2.5 feet wide.

Cars

You can expect compact, mid-size, and full-size cars to fall within specific average dimensions, between 14 feet and 17 feet. The width ranges between 5.5 feet and 6.5 feet. The height won’t be a problem. They can stand as tall as 6 foot 2 inches.

Trucks

Trucks are obviously bigger than cars.

They can be 17 to 20 feet long and 6 to 7 feet wide. Their height varies slightly due to how common lift kits are, but they usually stand around 6.5 feet tall.

SUV and Minivans

SUVs and Minivans have a little more variation in their measurements. On average, their length ranges from 16 feet to 18 feet, and their width is between 6 and 7 feet. Their height can be as low as 5.5 feet and as high as 7 feet.

Types of Garages

The best place to start is with some definitions. Let’s look at some types of garagesthat might interest you.

Detached Garages

As the name suggests, a detached garage is not connected to the rest of your home. Detached garages will have a garage entry door, so you can go in and out without opening the main garage door.

Pros:

• Isolated area to make noise without disturbing the rest of the home
• It can be built after a house is constructed
• A perfect option if there isn’t enough space in your home for as large of a garage as you’d like
• The garage can be prefabbed to save time and money on construction
• It can be designed in non-standard sizes

Cons:

• Walking to your car in the rain/snow
• Won’t look the same aesthetically as your home

Attached Garages

Most homeowners will have an attached garage. You pull in through the garage door and have immediate access to the rest of your home through a door.

Pros:

• Easy access to your car
• Safer option
• Matches the rest of the home aesthetically

Cons:

• It might be limited to standard sizes
• Needs to be built at the same time the house is

Garage w/ Loft

This option can be attached or detached, but it has a living area above the garage. It’s a great use of space, especially when family comes to visit.

Pros:

• Great use of vertical space
• Private quarters for guests

Cons:

• More expensive option
• Takes more planning and professional design

Carports

Finally, there are carports. These options are just garages with no walls, having only support beams and a roof at the top. This option can be attached or detached and can be as large as you’d like.

Check out my article here for more on the differences between carports and garages.

Pros:

• Inexpensive option
• It can be built relatively easily
• It can be placed anywhere and be as large as you wish

Cons:

• Cars are not protected from theft or vandalism
• No opportunity to add additional amenities
• Cars are still exposed to outside temperatures

Other Considerations for Garages

There are some key points to keep in mind as you’re finishing the design of your garage. These considerations are easier to incorporate when you think about them before construction starts.

The Size

Remember that your vehicle sizes might change, but your garage is a fixed size. Many people like to design some wiggle room in their garage and give themselves a chance to grow a little.

Designing a garage around a Mini Cooper makes it really tough to park a lifted pick-up truck in the future.

Our pro tip:never design your garage around your current car.

Extra Amenities

Do you want to have a living section in your garage?

You may want a hangout area. The different uses you’ll have for a garage should be factored in while designing. This means that you’ll be throwing some extra amenities into your space.

Accounting for a garage air conditioning unit, cable hookups, and power for a garage fridge might turn it into the perfect spot to relax.

Putting workbenches along the wall and extra lighting for your garage will let you to get your hands dirty on some projects.

Heated Flooring

If you want to keep your garage and car warm, you can treat yourself toheated flooring in the garage.

This is especially useful for people who get on their backs to work on their vehicles from time to time. These floors must go in before the concrete is poured into your garage.

The Right Size Garage Depends On How You Use It

A garage isn’t just for storing a car. People across the world have unique uses for their garages. In many cases, there’s more room in a garage than required for parking cars.

Let’s take a look at some of the more popular uses.

Relaxation

Throw a TV on your garage wall and some couches, and you have a little relaxation corner. If you don’t have a designated Man Cave, the garage might be the perfect space for it.

Living Space

Whether or not you have a loft in your garage, you can still put together an additional room and create some living space. Using part of a garage for living space is usually cheaper than building another room in your home.

Workshop

A garage is a perfect place for a workshop for many people. Some large tables and overhead lighting along the back wall will give you more than enough space.

Work on DIY projects and have a designated space for your tools where you can get dirty.

Extra Storage Space

The most common use for a garage is storage. People pile up miscellaneous items that they have gathered over the years.

Carving out a section of your home won’t make sense if you have decorations or games you only use a few times a year. That’s why so many people use the garage for storage.

People with two-car garages might use half of the garage for storage and the other half for their car.

Car Repairs

Your car will already be parked in your garage. Why not get some tools and a jack to create a space for car repairs?

You can change your oil in your garage without waiting for a sunny day to do it outside.

Extra Parking Space for Vehicles

A garage can also shelter the other toys you have. 4-wheelers, electric scooters, and motorcycles can easily call the garage their home between uses.

Are Garages Worth it?

This answer is going to vary based on who you ask. For many people, a car is the most expensive item they own apart from their home. You want to keep it secure and away from the elements, so a garage is a perfect solution.

As you can tell by now, there are a ton of different uses for a garage.

As long as you have the space for a garage, it’s a no-brainer!

They are definitely worth the investment since they will keep your car in good shape for longer and give you room to do whatever you want.

Families with two cars might opt for a three-car garage. The extra slot in their garage can be used for any of the earlier uses.

Nothing is forcing you to park three cars in a three-car garage!

Alternatively, you can pick up more cars when you build a larger garage. Families with a young child might get a three-car garage with the expectation that their kid will have a vehicle they need to store one day.

Detached garages have more wiggle room for expansion. Still, you must be sure of the recommended minimum size when assembling an attached garage.

Picking the Perfect Garage Dimensions

This is a lot of information to sift through, but hopefully, this helps you plan your garage transformation. It’s even more important when considering custom built garages.

Even if your home’s garage is an odd size, knowing the standard garage dimensions can help save time planning for your garage upgrades.

In my mind, the bigger garage you can afford, the better. Even if you don’t have enough cars to fill it just yet, you’ll have enough space to convert one of the bays into a workshop or extra storage for tools and seasonal items.

There’s nothing wrong with getting a larger garage than you need. It’s easier to fill the extra space than it is to find cheap long-term car storage.