FAQ/Tips - garageoverhaul

Many people wonder what a good size for a garage is. Truth is that garages come in many sizes and variations of those basic sizes. Let's take a look at average garage sizes. FEETSWidthDepthHeightDoor Width1 Car12-1620-247-128-102 Cars18-2620-247-1212-163 Cars30-3420-307-128-164 Cars36-4420-307-128-16 METERSWidthDepthHeightDoor Width1 Car3.5-56-7.52-3.52.5-32 Cars5.5-86-7.52-3.53.5-53 Cars9-106-92-3.52.5-54 Cars11-13.56-92-3.52.5-5 Knowing how big garages usually are. Gives you a great starting point when planning to build a new garage or purchasing a home. What will you be doing in your garage? When considering the garage's size, you need to ask yourself what you are using it for. Like how many cars you or family members own. Also, you gonna need some storage space beside the cars—a stuff-like workbench and cabinets. Maybe you have a Lawnmower. Or perhaps you need additional living space or a gym. It all depends on what you want to do with your garage. One popular way to use a garage is to throw parties or use it as a man cave. A bigger garage is always better for many reasons. The Average Garage Dimensions Once you've chosen how you want to use your garage, it's time to select a size. Many people think it's as simple as picking a one, two, or three-car garage, but there's a lot more to it. Knowing the space, you'll need is crucial before making a choice. Average 1 Car Garages One-car garages are the smallest options. They're made to fit one car and can be used as a shed or extra storage. For single car garage dimensions, there's not a ton of variation. The majority come in at the following dimensions: Width: 12-16 feet Depth: 20-24 feet Door Width: 8-10 feet That said, you have other options. Other common sizes are 14 x 22, 16 x 24 and 14 x 24. Those are regular sizes that are offered almost anywhere. The bigger sizes allow for more storage while still allowing you to fit a car inside. Average 2 Car Garages A two-car garage is bigger. That doesn't mean you need to own two cars. It's perfect for a homeowner with one car and a lot of outdoor equipment such as a lawnmower etc. 2 car garage sizes have quite a bit of variation due to it being the most popular garage size. Here are your average ranges: Width: 18-26 feet Depth: 20-24 feet Door Width: 12-16 feet Most experts say the minimum recommended dimensions for a two-car garage is 20x20. This size two-car garage will give space for two small vehicles. You won't have adequate space for storing extra stuff, but it should get the cars inside. There are several other standard sizes, including 22 x 22 and 20 x 22. Some of these sizes make it far more convenient to open the doors of your car. Average 3 Car Garages The largest of the standard garage types is a three-car garage. These are ideal for families with children who drive. These garages are also best for large living or workspaces. 3 car garages become attractive because they need to have a post between the 2-3 doors. There can be three separate garage doors. Usually, there's a double-width door and a single-car door. Width: 30-34feet Depth: 20-30 feet Single Door Width: 8 feet Double Door Width: 16 feet Three car garages are usually 32 feet wide by 22 feet deep. Your other, larger options include 36 x 25 feet, 38 x 26 feet, and 40 x 30 feet. Average 4 Car Garages. Typical garage sizes pale in comparison to these giants. Usually only found in luxurious homes, a 4-car garage can be anywhere from 36 x 22 up. Garages this big is almost always detached from the rest of a home and usually feature various upgrades and custom features, such as insulated garage doors and raised ceilings. Customization is frequent here, but there are still averages you can expect to hover around: Width: 36-44 feet Depth: 20-30 feet Door Width: 8-16 feet each These almost always have two garage doors at 16 feet in width, each with a post between them. They'll often have the largest depth to allow for cabinets, bike storage, and other extras you won't find in smaller garages. Standard Garage Height Not counting the attic, bonus room, or apartment above garages, the typical height for a garage comes in at 7 feet at least and usually 8 feet. Those with vaulted ceilings still come in at the 7 to 8 feet range before the roof's pitch starts turning inward. Standard Garage Depth Let's take a look at the standardized depth of garages, despite the width, since this will translate over to all the various widths: Standard Depth Range: 20 to 24 feet Minimum Garage Depth: 20 feet Depth of Storage Cabinets: 1 foot to 1.5 feet Why does this matter? You have to have enough depth to fit your whole car into the garage while estimating for cars being different lengths. Plus, you need enough room to not make mistakes like closing the garage door down on the trunk of your car. And you'll still need space to walk around in the garage, room for cabinets, etc. Garage Door Dimensions As you'd expect, this is another area where there are ranges of sizes allowing for customization. There are even tiny garage doors for vehicles like golf carts, motorcycles, and ATVs. But in general, here's what you can expect: Width: 8 feet for single car garages plus 8 feet for each additional car Height: 7 feet Thickness: 1 to 1.5 inches Even among the custom sizes, there are still standardizations. For instance, there are 9 feet wide garage doors to offer a bit more space on each side as you pull in. There are also 8 feet tall garage doors, and of course, any other custom height you want. The thickness varies, but it's usually half an inch for two plates sandwiching half an inch of insulation to manage energy transfer. Let's look at the most typical car sizes so you can consider them as you make your designs. Compact Cars & Sports Cars: Length: 14 -16 feet Width: 5-7 feet Height: 4-6feet These refer to the typical 2-door cars and most sports cars, while the newer tiny cars with the shortened lengths will be even shorter, around 10 to 12 feet. Larger Cars & Luxury Cars: Length: 16-18 feet Width: 6-7 feet Height: 4-6feet These refer to 4-door cars and the larger luxury models that are more spacious in the trunk, seating areas, and dashboard. Vans, SUV's, & Trucks: Length: 16-19 feet Width: 6-8 feet Height: 5-6 feet Full-Size Trucks Length: 19-20 feet Width: 6-8 feet Height: 6-7 feet These refer to your average large family cars, like vans, average SUVs, and typical 2-door trucks. Bigger trucks and those with dual wheels will be much wider and longer. Leave at least 3 feet between your cars (in the width direction). You need room to walk between them, open their doors, and climb in, all without hitting another car or the wall. Important Note About Vehicle Widths: Keep in mind that when you're trying to determine your optimal garage size, don't forget to add an additional 5 to 6 feet to the width of a vehicle to account for doors open on both sides. Sports cars, longer cars, coupes, and heavy-duty trucks will be wider than economy cars, shorter cars, sedans, and standard pickup trucks. Carports Carports are another matter entirely. These parking spaces with only a roof make it easy, as you only need to know dimensions and don't have to worry about storage or living space. Base the size of your carport on your vehicle's clearance requirements using your car size. You will want to factor another 6 feet width to have both doors open at the same time. And give a little extra leeway off-center parking. The average carport is about 12 feet tall to allow plenty of clearance and the option of lighting. Some extra-large vehicles, such as RVs, will need a higher roof. Attached or Detached Garage It is necessary to consider whether you want an attached or detached garage. If you want an attached garage, it comes with the residence. It has the advantage of sharing the same heating and cooling system. But, if you're looking for little privacy, detached garages are the way to go. Since they're not connected to your home and are a stand-alone building, you don't have to worry about making too much noise. It's like having your own private room. Many owners use their garages as additional space to live or work. Detached garages make ideal workspaces, as you're less likely to wake the family. Attached garages often double as another room for your friends and family, presenting an excellent place for a pool table, home gym, or your weekly get-together. Zoning Regulations on Garage Sizes Another factor, especially if you're planning on building a garage, is to make sure you're meeting the regulations set out by the country, city, or state. Each has building codes, usually requiring specific ranges, or at least minimum dimensions, for nearly everything, including garages. Do You Want an Average-Sized Garage? Custom-built garages can be made in any size or shape to fit your requirements. That means there is no average garage size with those. Having a custom-built garage also means you can do some pretty exciting things with your garage. You can get a three-car garage with only one opening or even have a 4 car garage built. Or anything you wish. The height of your garage is also essential to consider. With a custom garage, you can make it very tall, allowing you to build a loft. This loft will enable you to design usable space while still parking your cars in the garage. A Standard Garage Size Isn't Standard! It would be helpful for there to be a specific standard garage size instead of "kind of" standards with ranges of variations. As you see, dimensions vary greatly. Get the Perfect Size Garage for Your Home Knowing the average garage size of a 1,2 or 3 car garage is essential in deciding how much space you'll need for your new garage. The amount of space you'll need is defined by how you'll use your garage. Creating a custom garage is always a good option. It allows you to make a garage that suits your needs. It's ideal if you want to use your garage as something other than vehicle and equipment storage. Plan Ahead Your vehicle isn't a constant fixture. You may trade your full-size truck for something smaller and more fuel-efficient. Furthermore, you may need to exchange that small 2-door for a minivan as your family grows. Finally, think about any older children in your home. If they're nearing driving age, will they have their own car? If so, make sure you have space for it ready when the time comes. It's also becoming a trend to get a double garage size with extra space for toys for the big boys, a recreational room, and a place for DIY projects. Since everyone's needs are different, go as big as needed to suit your need. One of the most frequent comments people make about garage size is, "I wish it were bigger." I've never heard anyone complain that their garage is too large! Think about going larger than a typical two-car garage; it will give you extra space. The most critical mistake made is in underestimating the amount of space needed.