If you want quick clarity without sales talk, here is the short version. A prefab steel garage kit typically runs 15 to 25 dollars per square foot, while a fully installed or turnkey steel garage with slab, erection, and basic finishes often lands around 24 to 43 dollars per square foot for the shell. Many homeowners planning a complete garage project budget closer to 35 to 60 dollars per square foot once you include common add ons like slab, doors, insulation, and electrical rough in.
TLDR
- Kit only: about 15 to 25 dollars per square foot
- Installed shell: about 24 to 43 dollars per square foot
- Typical homeowner all in target: about 35 to 60 dollars per square foot
- National averages for garage projects often show totals around the high twenty thousands to low forty thousands, with wide swings by size and finish.
What affects the price the most
Think of your cost as a stack of layers. Size sets the baseline. Then design choices push the number up or down. Add site work and local labor rates on top. The kit is only one slice of the pie.
- Size and height: larger footprints and taller eaves add steel and time
- Roof and wall system: standing seam and insulated panels cost more than through fastened and single layer fiberglass
- Openings: wider doors, glass, and framed openings add steel and trim
- Foundation choice: slab thickness, reinforcement, and local concrete rates matter
- Location: labor, wind and snow design loads, and permit rules vary
- Finish level: insulation, liner panels, electrical rough in, and interior build out change the total
Price by size: kit vs installed vs turnkey
Use these ranges as planning guardrails. Numbers assume rectangular buildings with typical wind and snow loads and a standard door package. Your local quotes will vary.
Table 1 — Steel garage cost by common sizes
| Size (ft) | Area (sq ft) | Kit only (15 to 25 psf) | Installed shell (24 to 43 psf) | Turnkey target incl slab and basics (35 to 60 psf) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 x 20 | 400 | 6,000 to 10,000 | 9,600 to 17,200 | 14,000 to 24,000 |
| 24 x 24 | 576 | 8,640 to 14,400 | 13,800 to 24,800 | 20,160 to 34,560 |
| 24 x 30 | 720 | 10,800 to 18,000 | 17,280 to 30,960 | 25,200 to 43,200 |
| 30 x 40 | 1,200 | 18,000 to 30,000 | 28,800 to 51,600 | 42,000 to 72,000 |
| 40 x 60 | 2,400 | 36,000 to 60,000 | 57,600 to 103,200 | 84,000 to 144,000 |
Ranges reflect recent kit and installed averages for metal buildings and typical homeowner budgets for complete garages.
Where the money actually goes
The fastest way to control budget is to see the pieces. Below are planning ranges you can take into vendor calls. Slab numbers reflect national averages for 2025.
Table 2 — Line item budget map
| Line item | What it includes | Typical planning range |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 4 to 6 inch slab, base prep, reinforcement, pour and finish | 6 to 12 dollars per sq ft depending on thickness and region |
| Steel garage kit | Frames, purlins and girts, roof and wall panels, trim, fasteners | 15 to 25 dollars per sq ft |
| Erection labor and equipment | Crew time, lifts, cranes if needed, hardware and sealants | 8 to 18 dollars per sq ft depending on height and complexity |
| Doors and windows | Two overhead doors, one man door, a few windows | 2,000 to 8,000 plus total based on sizes and brands |
| Insulation options | Single layer fiberglass or basic roof system | 1.50 to 4.00 dollars per sq ft of building area for entry level systems |
| Electrical rough in | Panel, outlets, lights, code minimum rough in | 3,000 to 8,000 plus for simple garages, more if heavy power |
| Permits and design | Permit fees, basic engineering as required | Highly local, budget a contingency line |
| Site work and access | Drive, grading, trenching to power or water | Highly site specific, get local quotes |
Concrete slab averages of about 6 to 12 dollars per square foot are consistent with 2025 national guides. Kit and installed shell ranges align with current metal building price references.
Add ons that change the total quickly
Small choices can shift the final number more than you expect. Use this menu to plan or trim.
Table 3 — Popular upgrades and typical adders
| Upgrade | Why owners choose it | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|
| Standing seam roof | Fewer penetrations, better movement, weathertight warranty options | Adds 2 to 5 dollars per sq ft of roof area vs through fastened in many markets |
| Heavier insulation or liner panels | Comfort, condensation control, brighter interior | 2 to 6 dollars per sq ft of building area depending on system |
| Oversize or glass doors | Daily use and daylight | Adds hundreds to several thousands per door |
| Snow and wind design bumps | Code or exposure needs | Increases steel weight and bracing, get a stamped load summary from vendor |
| Interior framing for shop use | Storage loft, partitions, basic drywall | Very project specific, get local quotes |
| Epoxy floor | Cleanups and looks | Often 3 to 7 dollars per sq ft of slab for basic systems |
| Solar ready conduit and panel space | Future proofing | Minor electrical adder now, saves rework later |
Two sample budgets you can sanity check
These are story style walk throughs to help you pressure test your plan. Numbers below are based on the tables in this guide and common choices in many regions. Always confirm with local quotes.
Scenario A — 24 x 24 two car steel garage, mild inland climate
- Area 576 sq ft
- Slab at 8 dollars per sq ft: about 4,600
- Kit mid range at 22 dollars per sq ft: about 12,700
- Erection labor at 12 dollars per sq ft: about 6,900
- Doors and windows: 3,500
- Basic insulation at 2 dollars per sq ft: about 1,150
- Electrical rough in: 4,000
- Permits and design plus small site work: 2,000
Working total: roughly 34,800
Scenario B — 30 x 40 shop garage with standing seam and better insulation
- Area 1,200 sq ft
- Slab at 9 dollars per sq ft: about 10,800
- Kit mid range at 22 dollars per sq ft: about 26,400
- Erection labor at 13 dollars per sq ft: about 15,600
- Two 10 x 10 overhead doors and glass walk door package: 6,500
- Higher R insulation and partial liner: about 4,800
- Electrical rough in with more lighting: 6,500
- Permits and design plus modest site work: 3,000
Working total: roughly 73,600
Concrete and general garage cost references for these planning scenarios come from current national guides and metal building pricing overviews.
Ways to save without creating headaches
- Keep the footprint simple, avoid many framed openings, and choose a standard eave height
- If your climate allows it, use through fastened roof with tight detailing instead of standing seam
- Group electrical needs near the panel to shorten runs
- Pour the slab after careful subgrade prep to avoid future leveling or slab repair costs
- Stage deliveries so the crew spends time building, not hunting for parts
Frequently asked questions
Is a steel garage cheaper than wood?
Often yes for the shell, and steel usually erects faster. National garage cost trackers still show a wide range because finish level drives totals.
What is the cheapest size for a two car steel garage?
The footprint that fits your vehicles with minimal extra space is usually 24 x 24 or 24 x 25. Cost per square foot drops as you get larger, but the total still rises with area.
How much should I budget for the concrete?
For most garage slabs, many owners plan between 6 and 12 dollars per square foot depending on thickness and region.
Do insulated panels pay off?
If you plan long work sessions or you live in a climate with big swings, better insulation reduces condensation and improves comfort. Energy savings add up over time, and comfort is worth a lot on day one.
Are the online kit price charts realistic?
They are useful for ballpark planning. Final quotes move with freight, loads, door packages, and local labor, so always get an itemized written quote.
Final take
You can think of a steel garage budget in three tiers. Kit numbers set the floor, installed shell numbers set the midline, and your finish choices set the ceiling. If you collect quotes against the tables here and track slab, kit, labor, openings, and electrical as separate lines, you will have a clean negotiating picture and fewer surprises during the build. If you want, I can tailor these ranges to your exact footprint, door sizes, insulation goals, and local labor market, then turn the result into a one page PDF estimate you can share with vendors.