Properly storing your RV is a critical aspect of maximizing its lifespan – with a garage being the most practical approach, but how much does it cost to build?
When you research the logistics of building an RV garage, you are likely to get a huge spread for cost estimations, as there are so many factors that can influence the final price.
However, you can end up spending considerably less depending on how you approach your build.
The cost to build an RV garage is generally between $44,000 and $90,000, with building costs averaging around $7.00 to $25.00 per square foot.
However, by taking a DIY approach and selecting affordable materials, you can spend as little as $9,000 to $12,000 to build an RV garage.
Buying an RV is a major investment and any responsible owner should be willing to go the extra mile to take care of their vehicle if they want to get as many years out of it as possible.
Whether you are storing your vehicle long-term for the winter season or simply parking it in between trips, a garage is an ultimate way to ensure that the integrity of your RV stays intact.
With that being said, building a garage is never a cheap venture and the costs are likely to go well into the tens of thousands.
The good news is that with the right planning and preparation for your build, you can save yourself a considerable amount of money by selecting specs and features based on your budget and storage needs.
To help you understand this further we are going to take a closer look at the costs associated with building an RV garage.
After extensively researching the costs involved in building an RV garage, I have been able to gather enough information to determine exactly how much you can expect to pay once construction is finalized.
RV Garage Types
Before you can begin assessing your costs, you should first try to determine the type of RV garage that you want to build – given that this can be a major factor that influences your budget, as well as the storage conditions of your vehicle.
The common types of RV garages that we see are classified as either attached or detached.
Both options will provide ideal storage for your vehicle but you may find that one is more financially viable and better suited for your needs.
Detached Garage
The approach that most RV owners take is opting for a detached garage. This garage type is separated from the rest of your home and is set up in a different area of your property.
A lot of people prefer this option because you are given a lot more freedom to design your garage the way you see fit.
Since a detached garage is independent of your home, you can design it with a variety of different types of materials based on aesthetics, durability, and most importantly – budget.
If you have a maximum price point in mind for your RV garage costs, you can cater the design of the project solely on this figure to ensure that you do not breach it.
In addition, a detached garage also enables you to select an area of your property that may otherwise be useless, so that you are not taking up space next to your home.
Attached Garage
An attached garage is going to become an extension of your home.
Most people build their attached RV garages alongside an existing garage or simply on the side of their house.
An attached option comes with its fair share of perks and drawbacks, which can ultimately affect the price of the build.
Unlike a detached garage, a lot of people prefer to have this kind of garage match the aesthetic of their home.
This implies that you will likely want to use a similar material to what your home is made out of, which can end up costing a lot more.
However, this is not mandatory and you can still go with an alternative material that is less costly if desired.
In addition, an attached garage can often provide better storage conditions for your RV.
Most detached garages are not insulated, whereas a lot of attached ones are, which can offer further protection to your vehicle, especially during the coldest times of the year.
RV Garage Costs
Building an RV garage can cost you as little as $9,000 or as much as $100,000 (or more) depending on how you approach your build.
These costs are influenced by the amount of protection that you want your garage to provide, as well as the size of the structure.
Typically, the price is between $7 and $25 per square foot for standard setups, but this can cost can increase a lot if you go with a fancier design.
On top of that, you need to decide whether you want to do the work yourself or hire a contractor to handle the build.
If you are handy with tools and are willing to roll up your sleeves and build your own garage, you can save yourself thousands of dollars on the project.
However, if you are not up to it, hiring a contractor is a great alternative, as you can rest assured that the job will be done properly.
Building Costs
The building costs of your RV garage are going to be the most critical factors that influence the final price of the project.
Given that you have total control of the style and design of your garage, you can mitigate the costs of your build to suit your budget.
If you are willing to be flexible with the characteristics of your design, you can save a considerable amount of money in the long run, with many people paying as little as $9,000 to $12,000 for building a standard detached garage.
These costs can increase dramatically if you want your RV garage to have additional features and be made with high-quality materials.
The current national average for building an RV garage is between $44,000 and $90,000.
However, if you use proper planning and are willing to cut some corners, you can mitigate this cost significantly.
Materials
There are so many different kinds of materials that you can choose from when building your RV garage.
Material costs can quickly add up, which is why you want to understand exactly how large you want your garage to be so that you can get an estimated figure before your make any commitments.
You can do this by measuring your RV or simply by checking your vehicle’s manual.
Generally speaking, it is best to add at least 10% more space for materials than what your vehicle requires so that you can have more convenient storage access.
However, if you are already building an RV garage, you can take advantage of this project by utilizing this space for other storage needs and even housing.
Depending on how much extra storage you want your garage to have, you should calculate this into your material cost estimates. You should consider material costs for the following parts of the structure:
- Roof
- Side walls
- Doors
- Additional structures & features (optional)
The majority of RV garages are made using metal materials such as steel.
This is a reliable and durable material that will last a long time and it’s relatively cheap – costing an average of $6.25 per square foot.
With that being said, if you want to have a more luxurious garage, your material costs can end up costing you a lot more than this.
This is common for attached garage types that are made with the same building materials as a standard home.
Site Set-Up
Depending on where you decide to build your garage on your property, you may need to prepare the site for the project before you can begin any kind of construction.
If you have a clean and even surface on your property, then the majority of your site up will already be taken care of.
However, if the condition of your building site requires a lot of work before you can begin development, then you may need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to prepare the area.
These are some of the factors that can influence the cost of your site setup:
- Surface leveling
- Drainage
- Utilities (optional)
If you have a relatively large property, you can save yourself a lot of money by selecting your site location carefully.
Ultimately, the less work that you need to do before the build – the lower your final costs.
Building Permits
One of the most tedious costs associated with building an RV garage is obtaining a permit.
Although you are pursuing development on your own property, you will find that your local county will still regulate the project.
Depending on the county that you live in, the building permit costs for your RV garage can fluctuate quite a bit.
This has to do with the region that you live in, as well as the size and specs of your RV garage.
Typically, a building permit for an RV garage costs anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
However, adding features such as plumbing and electricity will most likely require you to pay additional permit costs.
Building an RV Garage DIY vs. Contractor
The amount of money that you pay for building costs can greatly influence the final price of your project.
However, you can also mitigate the cost of your build by either doing the work yourself with a DIY approach or paying a contractor to handle the development.
If you do not have a huge budget for the project, then the DIY option is going to be the way to go. You can focus solely on building costs alone and finalize your budget relatively quickly.
Roughly 50% of the total costs that you spend on building an RV garage are going to go to a contractor.
A contractor will charge you an average of $35 per square foot for the build, which can be several times the amount that you pay for your materials per square foot.
When you calculate this for the entire development the labor costs will add up to $14,000 to $35,000.
These are costs that you can completely avoid by taking the DIY approach for your RV garage.
With that being said, doing the work yourself requires you to be competent with tools and basic construction.
Although the DIY route is going to save you a lot of money, you do want to approach it carefully, as making mistakes and miscalculations in your build can result in time and money wasted.
If you are not feeling up to the job, relying on a contractor to build your RV garage is going to be a safer option given that you have a guarantee that the development will be conducted properly.
When going with a contractor, we highly recommend that you contact a number of different companies so that you can make comparisons, as each business will have different prices for their labor costs.
Summing Up How Much an RV Garage Costs
Typically, building an RV garage through a contractor is going to cost anywhere from $44,000 to $90,000. This is often the safest and speediest way to get this done.
However, if you think you’re handy and can build one yourself, going the DIY route is much cheaper. Whichever way you decide to go, just make sure you do your research!
