One of the biggest mistakes when building a garage is underestimating the amount of space you need. Parking an extra vehicle outside is fine. But you won’t have to if you got the ideal garage size dimensions that can fit a car or more, with extra room for things besides cars, like your lawnmower.
The ideal garage size is enough to fit the number of vehicles you have and has enough space to work around the sides. Let’s take a look at the recommended garage dimensions for one, two, and three-car garages.
One Car Garage Size
Minimum dimensions for a one car garage: 12 ft. x 20 ft.
The most conservative size for a one car garage is 12 feet wide and 20 feet long. This single car garage dimensions will comfortably fit compact and mid-sized cars as well as crossover SUVs. But if you have larger vehicles, you need a much bigger size than the minimum.
For instance, a 14 feet x 22 feet one car garage will be a more comfortable size to fit vehicles like trucks and mid-and full-size SUVs or minivans. Aiming for something much bigger will also open extra space if you’re thinking of using your garage as additional storage or parking other tools and equipment like a lawnmower or golf cart.
You can get away with a 7-feet tall single-car garage for most vehicle types when it comes to garage height. But an extra headroom with an 8-foot door or garage ceiling or more will give you enough clearance for full-size trucks and SUVs. The extra headroom will also provide enough space for installing at least a foot tall overhead racks for additional garage storage space.
Two Car Garage Size
Minimum dimensions for a two car garage: 20 ft. x 20 ft.
The minimum recommended garage dimensions that can fit two vehicles are 20 feet by 20 feet. It has enough space to park two smaller cars and comfortably open doors without banging into each other whenever you open the door. But it won’t offer extra space for storing other items and equipment inside the garage.
Ideally, when parking two cars in a garage, you want to leave at least 3-feet between them so you can avoid hitting the next car when opening the door.
To keep your garage space looking nice and a little less cramped, with extra space for storing knick-knacks, consider going a bit wider. Going at least 24 feet wide will give you additional garage space to play with. Extending the length of a 2-car garage to 24 feet will also allow you to fit longer vehicles.
To sum it all up, the minimum garage dimensions for a double car garage are 20 feet wide and 20 feet long. But the average size would be 24 feet wide and 24 feet long, although it still depends on what you want to put inside your garage.
In terms of height, the recommended height dimension for a two car garage is at least 8-feet. But you might want to consider going a bit higher if you’re going to fit an overhead storage system. You can get the garage equipped with a double-wide door between 12 to 16 feet, depending on what type of vehicles you have.
Three Car Garage Size
Minimum dimensions for a three car garage: 20 ft. x 30 ft.
The minimum length for a garage is 20 feet, and if you have three cars, the bare minimum width should be 30 feet. It’s the best bet for a triple-car garage if you have a limited land area or budget for building the space. However, it’s best to remember that the 20 x 30 feet dimension is the minimum for parking three smaller cars or two small cars with extra space for squeezing in small equipment.
If you add an SUV or a truck in the mix, you’ll have a more comfortable garage space aiming for at least a 30 x 30 feet area. A 24 x 36 feet area will make the best garage for three average-sized cars with enough space between your vehicle and the walls to avoid any accident. If you have space and the budget, you can go with higher garage dimensions and most probably won’t regret it.
In terms of the ideal door clearance, a minimum of 10 feet works best. You can either have three regular 8-ft or 10-feet doors, one for each vehicle, or a combination of one standard garage door and one double-wide 16-feet door.
FAQs:
Can an SUV fit in a one-car garage?
The minimum dimensions for a one car garage are 12 x 20 feet, so a crossover SUV with an average size of 6.0 x 15 feet should be able to fit insider a one car garage. But if you’re thinking of a full-size SUV like a Ford Expedition or a Chevy Suburban with an average dimension of 6.0 x 15 feet, a one car garage is a bit too tight.
Still, you can get an oversized single-car garage to fit larger vehicles or have extra space to work on your car. Its dimension is between the standard one car garage and a two car garage.
How Big Is an Oversized 1-Car Garage?
Typical garage lengths for a single-car ranges from 20, 22, to 24 feet, while the widths most often measure 12, 14, or 16 feet.
A 16 x 24 feet one car garage is oversized enough to comfortably fit larger vehicles, especially those that need extra rear-loading clearance like SUVs and minivans. An oversized one car garage, or a 1.5 size garage, is a good fit for homes that need dedicated car storage and extra room for storing other stuff, equipment, or for a small workshop.
How many cars can fit in a 30 x 30 garage?
A 30 x 30 feet garage is an average garage size that can fit three vehicles, although it depends largely on what types of cars you have. If you are parking compact or mid- and full-sized vehicles in this garage, you should have enough space to work with.
But if you’re planning to park three full-sized trucks inside a 30 x 30 feet garage, you might want to think again. Although it seems that it has enough space to fit three 7-feet wide trucks, remember that you have to allow enough space between cars to avoid hitting the next vehicle when opening the door.
How Many Square Feet Is a Single Car Garage?
There are minimum, average, and oversized dimensions for a single-car garage. To sum it up:
- Minimum garage dimensions: 12 x 20 feet
- Average garage dimensions: 14 x 22 feet
- Oversized garage dimensions: 16 x 24 feet
The bottom line is the ideal size for a single-car garage will depend a lot on what you want to park inside. After all, the average car size differs depending on the type of vehicle.
For instance, a compact vehicle like a Toyota Corolla has an average size of 6 x 15 feet. So, it would comfortably fit inside a minimum-sized single-car garage. But it wouldn’t be the same if you have a full-sized SUV like a Chevy Suburban that is nearly 18 feet in length plus the rear-loading clearance.
