Some of the first factors that you consider when designing your dream home are the sizes and the arrangement of the rooms. But did you know that the size of your garage and its location matter too? You may not have realized that the garage also plays an important role in your home’s layout.
If you overlook it and don’t inquire about the average garage sizes on time, you can end up with a space that is too small for your needs. But at that point, it will already be too late. You would either have to make do with what you’ve got or resolve to invest even more money into redesigning and expanding your garage.
Knowing the average garage sizes and other relevant properties of a functional garage doesn’t only matter when you are building a new house. You may be thinking about adding one to your existing home or mulling over renovating your old one. Either way, my tips on different garage dimensions and more will surely come in useful. But first, let’s pinpoint what you need your garage to deliver.
Factors to Consider When Deciding on the Size of Your Garage
When you think about it, a well-designed garage should serve for more than merely parking your vehicles. You can also use this space as a multi-purpose storage area, a workstation, a tool shed, and even as a room for celebrations.
Knowing upfront how you will utilize this area will help you determine how big or small it should be. For instance, you may not only keep your car in there but also some bulkier pieces of equipment, like a lawnmower or a bicycle. You will need enough space to accommodate all that and still have room to move about. If you plan to use this space for anything else, you’d need to keep that in mind too. Here are the most relevant considerations when deciding on the size of your garage.
Number of Vehicles
The first and the most obvious factor to consider when deciding on the size of your garage is the number of cars that will be stored there. Generally, people build garages for either one or two cars because that’s how many vehicles they currently have. But I would advise you to plan ahead. A garage is a permanent fixture to your property and it should be functional for the long run.
Are you likely to have more cars in the future? Is there a chance you would set up your own business that would have a vehicle of its own? These are important matters to consider. Alternatively, if you have children who are approaching driving age, someday they will have cars of their own. Think in advance and build a garage big enough to accommodate all those vehicles.
Vehicle Size
Your garage should correspond to the size of your car or cars. You may not end up having more cars than you do now, but maybe their size will change. If you plan on extending your family, one day you will have to exchange your compact car for an SUV or a minivan.
When calculating how much space you’ll need to fit your car in the garage, don’t forget to leave enough room for opening doors, the trunk, and freely moving around the car. Plus, there’s the equipment that comes with having a big family that will likely pile up in the garage as well.
See also: Average Car Length Guide
What Else You Will Store
A garage serves for more than just keeping your automobile safe. If you’re quite a handyman (or woman!), you will want to set up a workstation in the garage as well. And tool cabinets can take up quite a lot of space!
On top of that, the garage is the ultimate storage area for your outdoor equipment. You’ll want to consider storing garden table and chair sets in there during the winter, your kids’ bikes and other rides, a snowblower, a lawnmower, even fishing or camping equipment.
Will You Use It as a Living Space One Day
Garages frequently get converted into additional living spaces. They can be made into a bedroom, a home gym, or a safe haven for those precious poker nights with your buddies. Garages are excellent places to throw parties, set up an art studio, or even a home office.
Detached vs. Attached Garage
Before you start building your garage, consider its location. If you have a large yard, you may find a detached garage more convenient. This type of structure will give you more privacy. You will also be free to make as much noise as you like without disturbing the rest of your family. Detached garages can become fenomenal bachelor pads or home offices down the road.
On the other hand, an attached garage allows you to get straight from your car into your home. This is particularly useful when the weather is bad. It can also use the heating and cooling systems from the main house, which is useful if you plan to work in your garage and maintain your car yourself. You will have easier access to your stored belongings, and may even use it as a pantry. Since it’s already a part of the house, it can easily become an additional bedroom if the need arises.
Some people opt for having both. They use attached garages for storing equipment and hosting large gatherings. The detached garage protects their vehicles and allows for noisy handyman repairs.
Average Garage Sizes Explained
Now that you have a clearer idea of what you can expect from your garage, let’s look at average garage sizes. Typically, garages come in three sizes, according to the number of vehicles that can fit in them: one-, two-, or three-car garage.
One-Car Garage Size
Typically, one-car garages are large enough to accommodate one average-sized car and not much else. The standard dimensions are 12×22 feet. If you’d like some more wiggle room or storage space, or if you have a bulkier ride, the garage can be 14×22 feet, 14×24 feet, or 16×24 feet at the most. Even so, the garage can be turned into a small guest bedroom, a pantry, or a tool shed with ease.
Two-Car Garage Size
Apart from being able to snuggly feet two vehicles, a two-car garage is more likely used for one car and an assortment of other objects. This is the most common choice for many homeowners. They can store numerous devices, outdoor equipment, and all sorts of accessories alongside their vehicles. The standard dimensions range from 18×20 feet to 22×22 feet.
Three-Car Garage Size
Three-car garages are possibly the most convenient. Although not many people actually own three vehicles, if they have room to spare, they opt for a spacious garage. They are perfect for families whose children have their own cars, or for people who like to handle their own car repairs at home. Homemakers often put the washer and dryer machines in here as well. A large garage like this one can accommodate the cars, a workstation, outdoor equipment, and tool cabinets galore!
A Word on Garage Dimensions
So you’ve decided what you will use the garage for, and you’ve done your best to predict how you can use it in the years to come. You also know which size you are going to go for based on the number of cars and all the accompanying equipment you have. But let’s make sure that you have all the information you need before you make the final call.
Look at the dimensions of your garage from yet another perspective.
Height
Garages typically have lower ceilings than the rest of the rooms in your house. Generally speaking, anywhere between seven and eight feet is acceptable for a standard garage.
Think about the kind of garage door that you will install. There should be enough room for door clearance, overhead light fixtures, and headroom. Also, look at your car, as some models have particularly tall antennae or truck doors. If you or your family members are particularly tall, or if you’d like to have some ceiling storage space for hoses, cables, and the like, think about raising the ceiling level.
Width
You can easily fall into the trap of not having a garage that’s wide enough. Width is important because you want to have enough room to open your car door, not just enough to squeeze yourself out of it, but also open them wide to take sth out of the car. With that in mind, you need to have around 5–6 feet of space on either side of the car. Also, note that your car is as wide as its wing mirrors unfolded, which is instrumental when choosing the garage door.
Depth
This dimension is often underestimated and made to match the length of the vehicle. Remember that you need to, at a minimum, have enough room to walk freely all the way around your vehicle without bumping into any shelves or the bumpers of your car, for that matter. Also, having more depth allows you to place shelves, cabinets, and benches in front of your car. And in case you’re worried you’ll hit something when you’re parking your car inside, remember that you can always squeeze in a parking aid somewhere in there.
Garage Sizes: Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide has helped you decide what kind of garage would best suit your needs. Luckily, there are many options to choose from. Generally, when in doubt, I recommend going up one size if you can afford it and have room for it. Then, you will know that all your vehicles are stored safely, while also putting away equipment you don’t need. And who knows, at some point, you may decide to expand your house and convert your garage into yet another bedroom.
And in case you don’t own nor have room for a garage and reading about average garage sizes was just a way to pass the time, I have some options for you to keep your car safe even without one. Read about the best anti-theft devices, the best wheel locks, and car covers. Enjoy!
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