Although this wasn’t always the case, having an attached garage to the home is the norm. They provide security for your car, extra storage space, workbench, and more. When it comes to those house hunting TV shows, almost everyone wants to know about garage space, either for their cars or their toys.
But not all garages are created equally. For example, an 800-square foot Craftsman probably won’t have a three-car garage while a 3,500-square foot home will feature something more substantial than a one-car detached garage. Even in like-sized homes, garage sizes will vary depending on the size of the land and the footprint of the home.
If you are looking for a home with a garage, and size is important, make sure to bring a tape measure. If you have a king cab truck with a long bed, every inch counts! That’s why you see so many garages with a tennis ball hanging from the ceiling: this ensures your vehicle is in or ensures you don’t bump the wall with your bumper.
How Deep is a Standard Garage?
Although there is some wiggle room built in, the average depth of a standard-sized garage door is between 18 and 24 feet. That should fit just about any “regular” vehicle being sold today. The longest trucks on the market top out at around 250 inches, which is just over 20 feet.
So if your garage is 24 feet, you’re set for almost any vehicle being sold today. Most sedans come in at under 15 feet so even the low end of a standard garage depth (18 feet) will work for your needs. But we assume you’ll also want to get out of your car, so you’ll want to take a few more measurements.
Other Garage Sizes to Think About
A single-car garage is around 18-24 feet deep, eight feet wide, and seven feet high at the opening. For 2-car garage dimensions, you’ll be looking at a width of around 16 feet (the other sizes will remain the same). When considering three or 4-car garage sizes, remember you’ll probably be dealing with supports, which will cut down on the garage door size.
Especially if you’re driving around with two of those behemoth trucks. The width of the largest trucks is just under six feet, 3 inches. Add another 12 or 14 inches for the side mirrors and you start creeping towards that eight-foot garage door width range. Good thing many of those trucks have side mirrors that fold in!
But you still need to open the car door at some point, right? Add on another three feet for each door and, chances are, the average car garage size will be less than adequate. Again, these are averages, so if there is a concern, make sure to measure.
More Considerations
Now that you have an idea of how deep a standard garage door is, think about what you’re going to use your garage for. If it’s simply to keep your cars safe and secure, you know what to look for if your vehicle is a full-size sedan or an oversized truck. But if your cars are going to be sharing space with garage storage, a laundry area, or even an office, don’t put away that tape measure just yet.
Google “garage designing ideas” and you’ll get millions (billions in fact) of results. However, you probably aren’t installing lifts and other heavy-duty equipment no matter how cool they look. But a second refrigerator or chest freezer, cabinets, and a workbench aren’t out of the question.
Counters are around three feet deep while hanging cupboards come in at two feet. You still need to be able to open these doors as well and there’s something unsettling about having anything hovering over the hood of your car if you’re trying to maximize space. And how practical is it to move the car every time you want to access the Turtle Wax?
In most cases, however, homeowners will be able to use their garages to park their cars and still have room left over for storage or other features. But if you’re planning on using your garage for something other than a place to park your car, these dimensions can come into play.
Enhance Your Garage with a New Garage Door
No matter how big your garage is, you want to make sure the door works, it’s secure, and fits with the rest of the home. When you work with Ponderosa Garage Doors, we’ll discuss what you’re looking for in a garage door, the style you want, and even the color of the door. We have a wide variety of panel doors with windows, raised panels, carriage doors, and more.
Even the composition of your attached or detached garage door is important. If you’re thinking about using the garage for a living space, you’ll want to consider the R-value of the insulation in the door. This will help keep your garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
If you’re considering a new garage door, or just want to know what’s possible, contact Ponderosa Garage Doors. If you’re having problems with your garage door (the opener stops working, that awful grinding or squealing sound, or it refuses to stay open), let us know. We’ll fix the problem so you can enjoy your garage again–whatever you’re using it for.