How Many Square Feet Is A 2-Car Garage? (Find Out Now!)
Knowing the square footage of your garage is important because it determines many things. For example, the size of your garage dictates what you can do in it. And smaller buildings may not house as many cars as you need. So, here’s what you need to know.
The standard size of a 2-car garage has a depth of 20 feet from front to back. The width of the double garage door should be 16 feet while maintaining an interior width of 18 feet. To get the total square footage, you must multiply length x width.
The average square footage of a standard 2-car garage comes out to 18ft X 20ft = 360 Sq Ft.
Two-car garages are the most common types of garages in suburban homes in the U.S. If you’re thinking about having a 2-car garage added to your home, it’s important that you know what to expect.
What is the Ideal Size for a 2-Car Garage?
Garages come in all shapes and sizes. However, most of them measure somewhere around 18×20 feet. Other 2-car garages may be slightly bigger, measuring about 22×22 feet instead. It all depends on how much room you have on the property. Also, the size of your garage matters if you plan to do projects there. Ideally, you should try to keep a minimum of 2 to 3 feet between your vehicles in a 2-car garage.
Larger buildings are better for movement, storage, and working. That’s because the average 2-car garage can’t fit much more than two mid-sized vehicles inside. After parking, you may not have enough room left for workbenches, tools, and gardening supplies.
TIP: Store some of your tools and supplies in a small shed to make more room in a small garage.
What Can Fit Inside a 2-Car Garage?
What you can pack into your 2-car garage will depend on what size it is. Parking your vehicles inside is the first and most obvious thing to do with your garage. However, many people love having a little extra space for storage. You can also keep your lawn equipment, bikes, scooters, and sporting equipment in your garage as well. Additionally, many people like keeping their tools in their garage and even having a workbench.
Standard Sizing Options for 2-Car Garages
While an 18 x 20-foot garage equaling out to 360 square feet is the standard for 2-car garages, that’s not your only option. 2-car garages are also available in the following sizes.
- 20 ft long x 20 ft wide = 400 square feetÂ
Very similar in size and scale to the 18×20 garage, the 20×20 offers slightly more room on either side of your car for additional storage.
- 20 ft long x 22 ft wide = 440 square feetÂ
This size garage offers additional width for storage or for parking bikes or scooters.
- 24 ft long x 24 ft wide = 576 square feetÂ
It might not seem like you’re adding that much space since it’s only four feet in width and four feet in length. However, a garage of this size gives you many more options for storage as well as a workbench. You should also be able to comfortably park a pickup truck in a garage of this size.
- 24 ft long x 30 ft wide = 720 square feetÂ
This is typically the biggest 2-car garage outside of having something custom-built. The possibilities are endless with a 2-car garage of this size.
How Big is an Oversized 2-Car Garage?
The typical largest size for a 2-car garage is 24 x 30, which comes out to 720 square feet. Anything bigger than this will usually eat up valuable land space or square footage that could be added to your house. However, if space and money aren’t a problem, you can make your 2-car garage however large your heart desires. Keep in mind, however, that at a certain point it would be wiser to convert to a 3-car garage, rather than having an oversized 2-car garage.
Garage Sizing Considerations
There are numerous variables to consider when it comes to the design and construction of a garage. Let’s take a look at the basics:
Height
In regards to height, you’ll need to account for not only vehicle clearance, but also lighting, overhead storage, and the garage door mechanisms. If your vehicle has an antenna, this must also be considered as it is the tallest part of the car.
Width
Whether your car has a parking sensor or not, you’ll still need a reasonable amount of clearance in your garage. After all, no one wants to have to squeeze out of the door and risk damaging the paint. The proper clearance also makes it easier to perform necessary maintenance tasks on your car. Most people use their garages for storage as well, so think about this when you’re determining width.
On average, each garage door requires a minimum of 1.4 feet of wall between them. So, for a two-car garage, keep factor this into your measurements.
Depth
When parked in the garage, you should be able to walk around your car with ease. Depth is a commonly overlooked measurement when it comes to designing a garage. Also, keep in mind that you’ll likely want to use the far wall in front of your vehicle for storage.
Function
Garages are more than just a space for storing your vehicle. Many homeowners use their garage for other purposes like vehicle maintenance, metalwork, woodworking, and other hobbies. If you plan on using your garage for other tasks, make sure you account for the extra space you’ll need.
What is the Minimum Width for a 2-Car Garage?
You don’t want your garage to be too small. Even one foot can make a big difference inside that building. And if the space isn’t wide enough for two full-sized vehicles, you could do damage to your property.
It’s impossible to fit more than one car in a tiny garage, especially if you plan to open the doors. So, most 2-car garages measure at least 20 feet by 20 feet. This step helps homeowners store more than one vehicle without dinging their paint or standing sideways to get out.
Still, the size of your cars determines whether or not they’ll fit inside the garage you have. In other words, compact vehicles may fit nicely in the same space that large SUVs won’t. Measure the area of your existing garage to find out if it’s big enough for what you drive.
TIP: The average family sedan is around 15 feet long, but models like the Mini Cooper are only about 10 feet long.
How Do You Measure the Square Footage of a 2-Car Garage?
It’s time to find out if your garage cuts it or not. And measuring the size of your garage in square feet isn’t as challenging as you think. So, let’s go back to high school for a minute to review the formula for finding areas:
Area = Length (L) x Width (W)
To find the total area of your 2-car garage, plug your measurements into that equation. For example, if your garage is 14 feet wide by 18 feet long, the formula would look like this:
Area = 18 feet x 14 feet
So, this means the area of your garage is 252 square feet. And the equation works no matter what numbers you use. However, you must measure from wall to wall regardless of how much junk is in your way.
TIP: Clear some space to measure and start at the bottom of the wall where it meets the floor. This step will give you more accurate numbers.
What Is the Best Way to Park in a Small Garage?
If you have a small garage but need to park more than one vehicle at a time, don’t worry. You can make the most of your space by parking in a clever way. Widening your garage should be the last resort because it’s so expensive and time-consuming.
So, here are five clever parking tricks for small 2-car garages:
- Use a park and slide system.
- Park one car facing forward and back in the other one.
- Position your ride at an angle.
- Remove the debris from around your car’s doors.
- Build a tandem garage for the vehicles you drive the most.
You can also choose more compact automobiles. Or park your bigger cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs outside instead. Construct a carport on the outside to extend how much space you have for vehicles. Plus, that idea might give you back some storage space in your garage.
Good Garages Come in All Sizes
Just because your garage is small doesn’t mean you can’t still park two cars in it. Just be sure to carefully calculate the area by multiplying the length by the width. If you need help, ask a professional. And don’t expand your garage until you’re confident it’s too tiny.
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Tiffany Nichols specializes in aesthetics, design, marketing, and manufacturing. She's a copywriter and editor for several home renovation companies in the U.S. and works alongside some of the biggest names in the industry. Her hobbies include architecture, art, mental health, and fashion.
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