Most Common 3 Car Garage Size

[Kusto]

I am in a bit of a quandary wondering what is the most common size of 3 car garage as I am going to be building in the spring and am unsure what is best size to go with. I know the old adage that you never have enough space, but I only have limited space.

 

[wmonroe]

My garage is 28' deep by 30' wide with 2 8'x10' doors. I consider it a two car. A buddy of mine though has a 30'x30' and has a 9'x7' and a 16'x7'(?) garage doors and he parks three cars in it. I park two 3/4 ton long bed trucks in mine and want to be able to work in there without pulling the trucks out. So putting a third vehicle in mine is not an option. My buddy though only parks cars in his and doesn't really do much other than park his cars in there so it works fine for him.
I would say depending on how many vehicles and what size you want to park inside and if you want to be able to work inside with the vehicles in there would determine your size.
That seems about as clear as mud.

Will

 

[Kusto]

Will - Is there a chance you could post some pictures of your garage. I am planning on going with 12-14' walls and will have one 10x12 (or 10x10) and one 10x16 so I'm thinking 36 wide. Is 28 feet deep plenty deep enough to accommodate your trucks, benches and still have room to work off the ends of the trucks? I am planning on putting in a two piece bath as well in the one corner.

 

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Mine is 40 across by 30 deep with 3 8x8 doors with a 10' area on one end for work space. Also 12' walls for a lift in the bay with the extra 10'. Just breaking ground. Hope to have walls and roof up by .

 

[flesburg]

Most attached garages these days are too small. We had a house with a 20x22 garage called "2 car". It was a no car garage.

I suggest minimum of 24' deep, (28' better, 30' best) x 12' to 15' width for each space you want to park a car. So minimum 24' x 36' and ideal 30' x 45'. With a 30 foot depth you will have room in front of the cars for a work area or for tools, and with 15' for each car you will have room to open the doors and room between them for other stuff. If your lot space will allow it you will not be sorry you went for 30x45, and it will not cost that much more than a small 24 x 36 building.

 

[SteveL]

Mine is 38' x 22' and I rally like having the extra width. You can park with enough space between the cars to not worry about door dings etc., plus I can have one on jack stands for a while and not interfear with normal parking. I wih it was a little deeper, but I could not go any furthur. One 16' and one 9' door. The 16' door is about 7' from the side wall and the 9' door is about 2' from the other side.

 

[Bull]

I have a 24x32, with parking for two cars on the front gable end and a third bay on the southeast eave.

 

[Falcon05Dad]

Mine is 42'x32' with 18'x9' and 10'x10' doors in the front and an 8'x8' rollup utility door on a gable end.

 

[DynoDave]

Mine is 26' deep, and 36' wide.

 

[Thomarann]

Planning a 30 x 32 with 11' ceilings to be breaking ground in the next few weeks. It is a one car garage/shop.

Marc

 

[1320stang]

I vote 80'x120' as a good size for a 3 car garage.....

 

[boiler7904]

I am in a bit of a quandary wondering what is the most common size of 3 car garage as I am going to be building in the spring and am unsure what is best size to go with. I know the old adage that you never have enough space, but I only have limited space.

I guess it depends on what has to fit in the garage. I'd say that you want to be at least 26 or 28 feet deep to allow for a vehicle, workbench, and walking space at both ends. Width would be at least 12 feet per bay plus 2 feet on each end for storage or 40 feet total. If you'll end up with kids bikes / toys or lawn equipment, you might want to go with 4 or 6 feet on the ends for a total of 44 to 48 feet. If you want interior stairs (not a pull down) that will affect either length or depth.

The other variable is what size will physically fit on the lot. You'll have to find out what the lot setbacks, utility and other miscellaneous easements, and building seperation distance (if its detached from the house). You may also have lot coverage requirements to contend with - don't forget to factor in the coverage of the new, larger driveway as well. The other item to start thinking about now is that you will likely have a maximum building height to abide by if it is detached. The bigger you get, the taller it has to get with a pitched roof.

 

[bmwpower]

To this day I'm pissed I made my attached garage as small as I did (listened to the wife...never again). Make it big. You never know when you might buy an Expedition or a Suburban or worse.

 

[aarcuda]

i made mine 30x50 but if I had to do it again, I would have made it some ultiple of 4 (ie 28x48, 32x48, 32x52). I was initially thinking of getting a steel building and picked out the size. then the size stuck as I went with the wood. duh.

oh ya, its plenty big

 

[Kusto]

Thanks for all the input so far I really do appreciate it. Boiler7904, those are all very good points and I will have a look at my lot plan to see what the maximum building width that the lot will allow. I'm thinking 38 or 48 feet for some reason.

I do want to try and keep costs down as much as possible and was wondering if there is any significant difference in costs for floating slab versus a footing as I am in an area that will require a 4' footer unless I go with the floating slab.

Oh yeah, pictures would have been nice too.....

 

[79schaefer]

28 is barely deep enough for a full size truck, and bench in front. I have 28 x 56 attached to the house, and let me tell you, putting on my plow frame on my extend cab long bed truck sucked. The rear bumper had about an inch clearance on the door, and I had about 3 feet in front of the truck. The bench in that area is only about 18" wide. Bigger is better.

Steve S.
To many to list.

 

[Kusto]

Looks like my maximum width is 38 feet. So now Im thinking I should stick with the original dimensions that I was thinking 38x32...Need some Ideas now for layout planning.

 

[rcatank]

What about single 3rd car garages? It's very popular now in Georgia for new construction...

 

[johndeereman]

Mine is 30' wide x 36' deep it work's for now until i put up the new shop, (45' x 66')

 

[Justanoldguy]

I vote 80'x120' as a good size for a 3 car garage.....

******. Mines only 40 x 80.

 

[matt_i]

30x40 would be a nice size. I'm building a 25 x 40 currently. I'd go larger simply due to your location, guessing winter is long/cold there and its not that much fun to work outside on stuff.

 

[JamesW84]

What about single 3rd car garages? It's very popular now in Georgia for new construction...

surely he has figured it out in the past 7 1/2 years

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Isn't 3 cars the most popular size for 3 car garages?? I mean, I never hear of 2 car, 3 car garages...

Tommy

 

[C2 Turbo]

Mine is 28'x42' with 3 doors at 10x8. Ceiling is at 12' the two on the sides and 13'5" the one in the center for a lift

 

[ilovevocs]

My "3 car" was 24 deep and 28 wide. My current "2 car" is 24 x 24. Personally would have no less than 4' from side of garage door to the wall. Anything less is useless space.

 

[Zapp Branigan]

Mine is 24' deep x 36' wide. If I didn't have another 30x36 pole barn behind it, it would be way too small.

 

[DonPowers]

I have a 32d x 48w with two 12w x 10h doors. In the winter it houses 2 boats using a four post lift, 2 cars and my truck. There's still room around the perimeter for storing stuff.

 

[Nick DL]

I just realized that this is an old thread. So I wonder if the OP built his garage??