Best 1200 sq foot layout

[Milan]

I was wondering; What is the most efficient layout for a 1200 sq ft garage space. My goal is to be able to fit as many cars as possible into this space.

I dont mind having to move cars out to be able to do work. The current car count (for the hotrods) stands at 5 and will likely grow by 1 or 2.

Thanks in advance
Milan

 

[Kevin54]

What else do you want to have in this space? Bathroom, any other rooms, shelves, workbench, etc. Do you have a loft? If so, inside stairway? And that is assuming the building is 30'x40' or is it 20' x 60', or 24' x 50'. How high are the sidewalls? Cathredal ceiling or flat ceiling? Lift, more than one lift, or no lift? Really need a little more info as to size and wants.

 

[Milan]

I am in the planning stages, so any layout that would reach the goal. I have a height limit of 15 feet per code... Evantually a lift will find it's way in there but not very soon. No sub rooms inside..

My goal is to be able to fit as many cars as possible into this space.

Thanks
Milan

 

[hidollartoys]

1200 sq ft is not enough. I have a 25 x25 and can only fit two cars tight. If you use this as a pattern you will need 2200 sq ft for 7 cars

 

[Bigger Hammer]

Do what ever you have to do to ensure there are no supporting posts anywhere in the floor space. You will kick yourself later if you do have any. I could kick the guy that built my garage(Long before we bought the place) for having installed 3.

 

[Red Green]

To get the most cars in 8' wide by 150' foot long, but I doubt that would be very useful for working on the cars. I would recomend a 24'x50' and a couple of the parking lifts.

 

[Weedwaka]

You should look into those 4 post car stacker things. If you put a couple of those in the very back that would cover 4 cars right there

 

[brad d]

Mine is 1400sq.ft 35x40 you could fit 6 cars in it but im using one stall as a work area only, so 5 car max for me with no lifts... If you had lifts you could fit them all in there with some room to work.

 

[PurdueSD]

I too would look at 4 post lifts if you really need to store 7 vehicles. Thats the only way you will be able to use the garage for much other than storage.

 

[brad d]

If you have the extra cash for storage lifts.. i would go for this bendpac

 

[FunfDreisig]

I am in the planning stages, so any layout that would reach the goal. I have a height limit of 15 feet per code......

That is your principle limitation on layout (i.e. the floor plan). 15' does not leave much room for roof pitch AND ceiling height. So unless you live in an area where you can use a flat or very low pitch (e.g. 1 or 2 on 12) roof structure, you will be limited on the height of the walls, the "width" of the structure or both.

Funf Dreisig

 

[brad d]

A lot of the time the height code is not to the peak of the roof.. I was able to go higher with a hip roof then a open gable end style...

 

[Quiksilver]

Not sure if this is true for your area, but when I spoke with my zoning inspector I was told that the 15' height limitation was measured at the halfway point of the roof. Meaning that the 15' was half way between the top of the wall and the peak of the roof (halfway up the truss). Hope that helps, not sure if I described that well enough.

 

[Lloydthumper]

I have a 30x40 shop which is 1200 sq ft. I have a 96 mustang a 71 maverick grabber a John Deer 250 II skid steer (Big as the first two) A 01 Mercury Mountaineer a 02 ford focus wagon and a 2000 f350 crew cab dually that have all been in it at one time Now I will admit I was not going to work on any of them with them in there and I had to have spotters (Wife and son) to not hit anything But They were in there and That is with 2' on one side completely taken up with storage racks and toolboxes etc at the end of the building. So I know you can get 6 vehichles in there one of which is extremely long (MY TRUCK)

 

[HIRISC]

Here's how you do it.

Think of a square and a rectangle

The square is 20 x 20 or 400sq ft. That will fit two cars easily.

The rectangle is 20 x 40 or 800sq ft. That will easily fit 4 cars - 2 in front and 2 in back.

Put them together - That's 1200sq ft and 6 cars.

My garage is 1080 square feet - easily fits 4 cars, 2 cycles a bunch of yard **** - it it were 3' wider, I could fit 4 cars where my two fit now.

Of course, since I didn't build mine as wide as I should have, I went 'up' and put a 4 post lift in - problem solved another way.

Cheers

 

[luvmy356]

The dimensions depend on the length of the cars you collect and your lot. To maximize car storage with easy access to all the cars in 1200 square feet, I would also recommend the 24x50 foot garage and have 4 garage doors. If 15' was the absolute roof height, and style wasn't important, just put up 12' walls, and use a 3:12 roof trusses. That would get you 12' inside which is plenty of height for lifts.

My city limited me to 1000 sqft, and I built a 21.5x46' garage. Its a 4 bay garage with a bathroom tucked away in the corner. With three lifts (wired for a 4th in the future), I can store 7 cars with plenty of room for storage.

 

[DaveL.]

Here is my 1200 sq ft garage. I park 5 vehicles (full size pick-up,corvette,3 daily drivers)on a regular basis and have room for a 6th easily.

 

[Milan]

Thanks guys. I didnt realize the height was halfway up the truss that is good news. I might consider attaching it to the house. I would need to convince my wife if I chose to go larger. Any idea how to find Pictures of brick ranch homes with large garage additions to get some visual ideas?

Thanks Milan

 

[mdoolittle]

I just don't get it.... my garage is 1152 sq ft and I can barely get my wife's van in there.

 

[Gary S]

My garage is about 1200 sq ft. It is just right to park 4 cars and still be able to do light work on them.

 

[mustangmccance]

my shop is 40 x 60 but I have approximately 20 feet of that blocked off by a wall for my workshop. I currently park three mustangs along one of the 40 foot end walls and I still have room along that wall for my small "lounge area" if I got rid of that I could park a fourth. you can then park 2 more going in straight along the remaining 10 or so feet of the shop. so I think the 30 x 40 is the best use of the floor plan. this layout is using spaces of 7 feet x 16 feet for the vehicles. obviously larger vehicles such as extended cab trucks would have to go in straight.