The garage becomes a somewhat essential room for all car owners. Proper vehicle maintenance implies its correct storage and safety, so you shouldn’t postpone building a garage if there is such an opportunity.

At the same time, many owners of rented houses and apartments with garages point out the inconvenience and narrowness of many facilities of this kind. They connect all the problems with using the space for the car with the mistakes in the garage sizes, and they all need to be borne in mind if you plan to build your garage. Let’s talk about the standard garage dimensions and its competent layout that will allow you to store your car or do the things you need in this room with no obstruction.

Key Factors of Garage Size Selection

When determining the dimensions of the car storage, you are to consider some details. Indeed, there are generally accepted standard garage sizes that discipline, but a personal approach should be present to some extent. Below, we offer a list of factors that will help you build a garage of appropriate spaciousness.

Number of Cars

This is the first thing you should start with. With a one-car garage, everything is more or less clear, but if there are more of them, you have to think a little longer. A separate garage for each car is the dream of every car enthusiast, but if this is not possible, you will need a larger facility. However, we will talk about it in detail a bit later.

The Size of Your Vehicle (Or Vehicles)

A subcompact needs much less space than an SUV, which is quite clear. Still, the car’s dimensions remain one of the key aspects for calculating the size of your garage. However, do not get carried away with saving space, and do not build a garage to fit the size of your car if you drive something small and compact. You may want to switch to a larger model, but the garage will not match it.

Act with a margin; it won’t be superfluous, anyway.

Garage Usability

Some consider the garage to be nothing more than a place to park and store a car. However, it often performs the functions of a workshop, and fans of laid-back relaxation even equip a living space there. Consider your expectations and determine what else it should accommodate besides a car; a workbench, a tool cabinet, a sofa with armchairs, and a pool table are the most common options.

Detached or Attached?

Depending on whether your garage will be attached to the house or planned as a separate facility, you will also determine its dimensions. You have more room for maneuvering with a separate garage, while the attached garage’s height, width, and depth still need to be correlated with the characteristics of your home.

Zoning Codes in Your Area

The minimum dimensions of the garage, as well as the requirements for the type of garage door openers, door hardware, and alarm systems, may vary for different states. Find out the legal regulations for garages in advance to avoid problems and additional expenses in the future.

Standard Garage Dimensions

Properly selected measurements of the garage structure will ensure both reliable storage of the car and comfortable use of the facility as a whole. Let’s consider ways to determine the main dimensions to arrange an ergonomic and valuable space.

Width

The estimated garage width is influenced by two parameters – its filling and the width of a car. To define this parameter, open all your vehicle doors, measure it, and add another 1.5-2 feet on each side. This way, you will get the perfect width, letting you open the car’s doors in the garage without fear and move around it when cleaning or repairing.

Workshop, workbenches, and tool storage utilities also matter. Consider their dimensions if they are located on the side of the machine and add the resulting figure to the measurement above.

Height

It may seem to you that the garage’s height is the easiest parameter to calculate, but be careful. Don’t forget to consider garage door openers, doors clearance, headroom, lighting, and even your own height and comfort. Also, make sure that you remember the antenna on the car’s roof when planning the garage’s height; this is a common and rather annoying miscalculation.

Depth

You are to determine this parameter based on the length of your car, as well as the size of the workbench or cabinets if they are located on the back wall of the garage. The depth of the building should let the garage doors close freely without risk to the car and bypass the vehicle and open the trunk freely, especially if you prefer to park backward.

Garage Doors Dimensions

Garage door measurements are another critical point for the construction’s convenience, safety, and even aesthetic look. You can define standard parameters based on the following indicators:

• Width. Focus on the standard figure of 8-9 feet for single doors. The size of 14 feet is the minimum for double doors, so you’d better stop at doors 15-16 feet wide.
• Height. A door of 7-8 feet for a typical detached garage is ok. However, if we are talking about a garage attached to a house, you must proceed from the ceiling height of the ground floor. In some cases, you have to add some space that can be used to store sports equipment or tools.

You may be afraid of making mistakes when measuring a car, furniture, and garage equipment. However, you can refer to the chart below, where the average values of the garage’s length, height, and width for cars of different types and sizes are collected so you can rely on them. Do not forget to add 5-6 feet to the width to ensure that the doors open and you can freely move around the car in the garage.

	Width, ft	Depth, ft	Height, ft
Compact Cars (Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda 3, Kia Rio, etc.)	5-6	15	4-5
Mid-Size Cars (Audi A4, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord)	6-7	15-16	5-6
Full-Size Cars (Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Genesis G90)	6-7	16-17	5-6
SUVs (Crossovers) (Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V)	6-7	15,5-16	6-6,5
SUVs (Mid-Size) (Kia Sorrento, Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner)	6,5-7,5	16,5-17	6,5-7
SUVs (Full-Size) (Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition)	7-8	17,5-18	6,5-7
Minivans (Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Sedona, Toyota Sienna)	7-8	17,5-18	6-7

How Many Vehicles Are There in Your Garage?

Now let’s move on to the size of a garage based on the number of cars in your fleet. Just in case, we would like to warn you that these indicators imply internal measurements. Add 6-7 inches to the thickness of the walls if you need exterior dimensions.

One-Car Garage Size

The standard garage dimensions for a single car, considering the car’s size, the required free space, and basic storage systems, imply 20-22 feet deep, 12-16 feet wide, and 5-7 feet high. Do not make the garage too small, even if you drive a compact car; leave a reserve for a more solid car.

Two-Car Garage Size

The owners of two vehicles will have to calculate the place so that both feel free to park and get out of the car. Experts recommend focusing on the area; 288-300 square feet is needed to accommodate a vehicle. Multiply this figure by the required number of cars and get the desired parameter; for this case, it is 400-600 square feet.

However, let’s go back to the two cars in your garage. Take care of a minimum width of 22 feet and a depth of 20 feet to feel comfortable. Make sure there is at least 7.5 feet of space between the doors of your cars. As for the height, focus on the size of the tallest car of the pair; it looks pretty logical.

You also need to think about the size of the garage doors. Entry and safe storage can be provided by either one large door 16-18 feet wide or two separate doors 8-9 feet wide each.

Three-Car Garage Size

Three cars for one garage is a rare case. However, the issue of such a construction remains relevant for dedicated enthusiasts or families with adult children.

The standard three-car garage is 32-34 feet wide and 22 feet deep, although these figures may vary slightly depending on the size of the models you own. This is also enough to install three separate garage doors 8 feet wide or one large double by 16-18 feet. Thus, the internal area of the building can vary from 576 to 864 square feet.

Four-Car Garage Size

The need to build a garage for 4 cars may arise both from ardent fans of vehicles and from owners of any farmland machinery or dimensional equipment. Be prepared to allocate a space of 1150-1300 square feet spread out to a width of at least 34 feet and a minimum depth of 22 feet. You can ensure a free entry with four separate 8-foot doors or two large doors of 16 feet each.

Tandem Garage Size

Tandem garage is a particular type of facility for several cars, where the owners store their vehicles in a line behind each other. It can accommodate two or more cars, but it is necessary to take care of sufficient depth in this case.

A range between 36 and 40 feet is usually enough for secure parking and storage and workbench placement. The width and the height correspond to the standard for a regular garage.

For more convenience, refer to the chart of average garage dimensions depending on the number of cars below.

Cars	Width, ft	Length, ft	Height, ft	Door Width (for separate doors or one large door), ft	Door Height, ft
One	12-16	20-24	4-7	8-10	7-8
Two	22-26	20-24	4-7	8-10 or 16-18	7-8
Three	31-34	20-24	4-7	8-9 or 16-18	7-8
Four	34-44	20-24	4-7	8-9 or 16-18	7-8
Tandem	12-34	36-40	4-7	8-16	7-8

Carport Dimensions

Many car owners consider carports as the better option because of the lower costs and the construction simplicity. Although they provide less protection for the car, the choice in their favor seems reasonable in many cases.

To build a carport, you need to focus on standard dimensions as 21-26 feet in length, 10-12 feet in width, and 12-16 feet in height. The resulting space is enough to protect your vehicle from precipitation and the sun, even if its doors are open. Double the width if you need a place for two cars.

Conclusion

It is very important to calculate the size of the garage before construction. Measure your vehicle and determine what and how exactly you will place in the garage beside the car. Accurate dimensions and a straightforward layout will allow you to arrange a perfect ergonomic space for the storage and maintenance of your vehicle, as well as for your own hobbies and equipment.