How Much It Costs to Build a Garage in the UK

Typical Costs by Garage Type

Building a new garage can vary a lot in cost depending on its size, materials, design, and whether it’s detached or attached. For a modest single garage with a flat roof, prices often start around £20,000 to £25,000. A single garage with a pitched roof tends to cost more—commonly £30,000 to £45,000. Double garages, especially with pitched tiled roofs and higher specification materials (good roofing, insulation, quality doors), often fall into the £30,000 to £60,000+ range. Detached brick garages with high‐end finishes are at the top of that band.

Prefab or modular garages are significantly cheaper, and you might find simpler versions (small size, minimal finishes) for less than standard builds. However, durability, thermal performance and finish will generally be lower for these.

Cost per Square Metre

A useful way to estimate cost is by thinking in cost per square metre. In more affordable cases, building a garage might cost ~£1,200 to £1,500 per square metre when using good quality materials and standard finishes. If you want a higher specification—better roofing, more insulating walls, nicer doors/windows, finer finishes—the cost can rise, in some builds exceeding ~£2,000–£2,800 per square metre. Region and labour availability make a difference too.

What Affects the Total Cost

Many elements push the cost one way or another. The kind of garage (single or double, attached or detached) is a major factor because of how much external wall, roof area, and materials are required. The roof design also matters: flat roofs are usually cheaper than pitched tiled roofs, but flat roofs might need more maintenance. Foundations and groundworks can add expense, especially if the site is sloped, needs excavation, or drainage adjustments.

Materials make a difference: bricks vs blocks, quality of roofing tiles, insulation, windows and doors, garage door type (manual roller, automatic sectional, etc.), and whether you include electrics, lighting, plumbing or heating. Labour cost is another major factor. Labour rates vary across the UK, and in major urban areas or the Southeast you’ll generally pay more.

Regulatory costs also must be considered: Building Regulations compliance, structural engineering, planning permission (if needed), designing, inspection. All of these have monetary and time costs.

Examples to Give Perspective

If you have a single detached garage of modest size, say around 20-25 square metres, with standard materials, minimal extras (basic door, minimal windows, standard roof), you might be able to build for somewhere in the  £25,000 to £35,000 range.

If you increase specification better roof materials, higher insulation levels, automatic door, better windows, possibly an attached garage or one with more architectural detail—you could be looking at ~£40,000-£60,000 or more.

Things to Remember in Your Budget

Besides the build itself, include costs such as site preparation (clearing, levelling), foundation and slab, gutters/downpipes, electric supply, possibly water or drainage if required, finishing touches like plastering, decorating, flooring, etc. Also allow for unforeseen costs—ground conditions, late design changes, weather delays. VAT should be included if the builder isn’t able to zero-rate your project.

Summary

Building a garage is not a small job; realistically expect from £20,000 up to £60,000+ depending on size, quality, and functionality. The cheapest builds (small, simple, detached, flat roof, basic materials) will be at the lower end, higher-spec or larger garages are expensive.