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2026 Price Guide · GaragesWhat It Costs to Build a Garage
What It Costs to Build a Garage
in Ontario in 2026
A garage looks like the simplest building on the lot until you price it. Here are honest 2026 numbers for detached and attached garages in Ontario, wood frame and ICF, by size, plus the permit and site costs that catch people out.
The Short Answer
In Ontario in 2026, a basic wood-frame detached garage costs about $60 to $100 per square foot, so a 24 x 24 two-car garage runs roughly $35,000 to $58,000. An ICF garage costs about $95 to $150 per square foot, or $55,000 to $86,000 for the same size. Heated slabs, a loft, power, long driveways and engineering add more. Most garages over 10 square metres need a building permit.
Garage Cost by Size (2026)
| Garage | Wood frame | ICF |
|---|---|---|
| Single, 14 x 24 (336 sq ft) | $22,000–$34,000 | $34,000–$50,000 |
| Two-car, 24 x 24 (576 sq ft) | $35,000–$58,000 | $55,000–$86,000 |
| Oversized two-car, 24 x 28 | $40,000–$67,000 | $64,000–$100,000 |
| Three-car, 32 x 24 | $46,000–$77,000 | $73,000–$115,000 |
| Garage and shop, 30 x 40 | $72,000–$120,000 | $120,000–$180,000 |
These include the slab, walls, roof, overhead doors and basic electrical. They match our detailed ICF garage cost guide.
Wood Frame or ICF?
Wood makes sense when
It is a cold garage for cars and storage, the budget is tight, and you are not going to heat it.
ICF makes sense when
You will heat it, work in it, store something valuable in it, or put a living space above it. It is also quiet, which your neighbours will appreciate if it is a shop.
More on that choice in ICF detached garages: pros, costs and fit.
Pricing a Garage or Shop?
Send us the size, the door sizes and whether you will heat it. We will price it in ICF and tell you honestly whether it is worth it for your use.
Extras That Add Up
| Extra | Typical add |
|---|---|
| Radiant in-floor heating (two-car) | $8,000–$15,000 |
| Insulated slab instead of basic | $3,000–$6,000 |
| Loft or bonus room above | $140–$200 / sq ft for the two-storey building |
| 100-amp sub-panel and trenching | $3,000–$8,000 |
| Insulated overhead doors and openers | $4,000–$10,000 |
| Engineering and drawings | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Rock, fill or a sloped site | $5,000–$25,000 |
Permits in Ontario
Under the Ontario Building Code, a building over 10 square metres (about 108 sq ft) generally needs a building permit, and every garage worth parking in is bigger than that. Zoning sets the height, setbacks and how much of your lot you can cover. Garages with living space above need extra fire separation and code work. Your township’s building department will have the details.
How to Save Without Regret
- Keep it a simple rectangle with a simple roof.
- Use standard door sizes.
- Put the radiant tubing in the slab even if you do not hook it up yet. It is cheap now and impossible later.
- Do the ICF on the walls, and keep the roof conventional.
- Bundle it with the house foundation if you are building both.
Get a Real Number for Your Project
Send us your plans or a rough sketch. We price the ICF work from real wall areas, not guesses, and tell you straight if ICF is not the right fit.
Free 30-second estimate
What Will My ICF Walls Cost?
Punch in rough sizes. You get a real 2026 Ontario range for installed ICF walls, plus what conventional walls would cost for the same job. No phone call, no sales pitch.
Your estimate
Fill in the boxes and hit Show My Estimate. Rough numbers are fine. A tape measure off the drawings is plenty.
Installed ICF walls
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- Wall area-
- Conventional walls, same job-
- Real ICF premium-
Turn this into a full line-by-line budget: the ICF Build Budget Guide ($29.99) →
Email Me This Estimate
Keep a copy for the bank, your spouse or your designer. I'll send it once, with the numbers and what they include.
Questions We Get
How much does a 2-car garage cost in Ontario?+
In 2026, a 24 x 24 wood-frame two-car garage typically costs $35,000 to $58,000. In ICF it runs about $55,000 to $86,000.
How much does it cost per square foot to build a garage?+
About $60 to $100 per square foot for wood frame and $95 to $150 for ICF, including the slab, walls, roof, doors and basic electrical.
Do I need a permit to build a garage in Ontario?+
Yes, almost always. Buildings over 10 square metres generally need a building permit, and zoning rules set the size, height and setbacks.
Is an ICF garage worth it?+
If you will heat it, use it as a shop, or build living space above it, often yes. For a cold garage used only for parking, wood frame is usually the better value.