| Type | Typical size | 2026 Ontario range | Per square foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached single car | 14×22 ft (308 sf) | $38,000–$58,000 | $125–$190 |
| Detached two car | 20×24 ft (480 sf) | $55,000–$95,000 | $115–$200 |
| Detached three car | 30×24 ft (720 sf) | $78,000–$135,000 | $108–$188 |
| Attached two car | 20×24 ft (480 sf) | $45,000–$78,000 | $95–$163 |
| Detached with loft or suite above | 480 sf footprint | $140,000–$260,000 | $145–$270 |
Ontario 2026, built and finished to a standard unheated garage spec unless noted. Excludes permits, HST, driveway work and any electrical service upgrade.
| Component | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation and site prep | 8–14% | Access and soil drive it |
| Footings, foundation and slab | 22–30% | The biggest single package |
| Framing and sheathing | 18–25% | Trusses, walls, roof deck |
| Roofing, cladding, soffit and fascia | 15–22% | Matching the house costs more |
| Overhead door and opener | 6–10% | Insulated doors cost noticeably more |
| Electrical | 5–9% | Sub-panel, lighting, outlets, EV rough-in |
| Permits and drawings | 4–8% | Municipality-dependent |
A garage is mostly a concrete project with a building on top. The slab carries vehicle loads, so it is thicker and more heavily reinforced than a shed floor — typically 100 to 150 mm with mesh or bar. And because a detached garage is unheated, its footings go deeper than the footings under your house, not shallower: frost protection for an unheated structure typically means at least 1.2 m below finished grade and often more.
Two details that change the number and are easy to miss when comparing quotes:
Our concrete takeoff guide covers how volume is measured element by element, and the foundation cost guide has current per-cubic-metre pricing by mix.
Attached is cheaper per square foot for three reasons: one wall is shared, the foundation run is shorter, and the roof ties into the existing structure instead of standing alone. It is also more constrained — zoning setbacks, the existing roofline, and the fact that a wall between an attached garage and living space needs a fire separation and a gas-tight seal under the Ontario Building Code.
Detached costs more but is usually easier to permit, easier to place on the lot, and simpler to build without disturbing the house.
A loft, office or secondary suite above a garage is not a garage with a bonus room. It is a two-storey building with a garage on the ground floor, and the rules change:
At that point the economics look like a garden suite rather than a garage, and so does the budget.
A detached garage over 10 m² (about 108 sf) requires a building permit in Ontario. Zoning controls maximum size, height, lot coverage and setbacks from property lines, and those limits are municipal — they vary between Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville and everywhere else. If your design exceeds them you need a minor variance, which adds several thousand dollars and several months. Confirm with your municipality before designing.
Once you have a drawing, the quantities are all there: footing dimensions and length, slab area and thickness, concrete volume by mix, framing lumber, roof area, cladding area, door schedule. Give Me The Cost reads the set and returns measured quantities division by division with an Ontario Building Code check, so you can see what your garage actually needs. If you are earlier than that, the permit drawings guide explains what you will be looking at.
How much does a 2 car garage cost in Ontario in 2026?
A detached two-car garage of about 20 by 24 feet runs $55,000 to $95,000 built, or roughly $115 to $200 per square foot. Attached is generally 15 to 20 percent less per foot because it shares a wall and a shorter foundation run.
Do I need a permit to build a garage in Ontario?
Yes, for any detached structure over 10 square metres, about 108 square feet. Zoning also controls size, height, lot coverage and setbacks, and those limits are set by your municipality. Exceeding them requires a minor variance.
How deep do garage footings need to be?
Below frost, and because a garage is unheated that usually means deeper than the footings under your house — typically a minimum of 1.2 m below finished grade in southern Ontario, and more in some municipalities. Confirm locally.
What concrete should a garage floor be?
A garage floor sees chlorides from road salt, so it is normally specified as a chloride exposure mix, commonly 32 MPa C-2, rather than the 25 MPa N used for an interior slab. Thickness is typically 100 to 150 mm with mesh or bar reinforcement to carry vehicle loads.
Is it cheaper to build a garage or a carport?
A carport is substantially cheaper — no walls, no overhead door, a lighter foundation and often no enclosed slab requirement. Expect roughly a third to half the cost of a comparable garage, with none of the security or storage.