Garage size is easy to overlook when planning a new build, and easy to get wrong once the footprint is locked in. Getting it right avoids losing space you needed elsewhere, or ending up with a garage that doesn’t actually work for how you’ll use it.
Standard door widths range from 950mm to 5500mm, with heights between 2100mm and 3000mm. The minimum sizes under Australian standards are 3m by 5.4m for a single garage and 5.4m by 5.4m for a double.
How many cars will you park?
A double garage doesn’t guarantee two cars will actually go in it. If you know one car will end up on the driveway or the street regardless, that changes whether you need a double garage at all.
Storage
Modern blocks are smaller than they used to be, which means many households rely on the garage for storage. Whether you go longer or wider often comes down to how much storage space you need on top of parking.
Garage door
Door openings vary significantly in size and style. A single panel lift, or two single doors matching your facade, are both common choices. Know the look you’re after early, since it affects both the layout and the budget.
Attached or detached?
A detached garage isn’t common, but if your block and zoning allow it, it opens up options a lot of homeowners don’t consider, including doubling as a home office, a studio or a teenager’s retreat.
