Homeowners often wonder whether adding or upgrading a garage will pay off when it’s time to sell. Using Redfin real estate listing data from major U.S. cities, Alan’s Factory Outlet analyzed more than 42,000 single-family home sales from the past year to understand how garage availability and size influenced home value and market performance. By comparing median sale prices and days on market across various garage types, we can show how meaningful garage features can be for both buyers and sellers.
Key Takeaways
- In the past year, buyers paid 31% more for homes with a garage, a $115,000 premium compared to homes without one.
- Median prices climbed sharply with each additional garage space, from $335,000 for homes with 1-car garages to $1.1 million for 4+ car garages.
- Homes without garages stayed on the market 15% longer than homes with garages, averaging 71 days compared to 62 days.
- Boston, MA, Irvine, CA, and San Jose, CA, rank as the top 3 most expensive U.S. cities for homes with garages, with median prices of $3.15M, $2.3M, and $1.6M, respectively.
The Garage Premium
A well-designed garage can add convenience, storage, and peace of mind for buyers. These features translated into significant price advantages nationwide.
Homes with garages commanded noticeably higher prices over the past year. Buyers paid a 31% premium for properties with a garage, which equaled about $115,000 more than similar homes without one. This pricing gap highlights the strong preference among buyers for secure parking and additional storage.
The size of the garage also played a major role in value. Median home prices increased with every added parking space, rising from $335,000 for 1-car garage homes to $1.19 million for properties offering 4 or more parking spaces. Larger garages tend to accommodate more vehicles, equipment, or hobby space, which contributes to higher listing prices.
Convenience and accessibility likely contributed to the higher prices sellers achieved. Even when accounting for other amenities, garage presence remained consistently valuable, adding about $110,000 to homes without pools and about $37,000 to homes with pools.
Market timing offered another insight into buyer interest. Listings without garages stayed on the market an average of 71 days, while homes with garages sold in about 62 days. The shorter selling timeframe suggests that a garage helped attract buyers more quickly.
Where Garage Homes Cost the Most in the U.S.
Garage-equipped homes vary widely in price depending on the market. Some of the country’s largest coastal cities saw especially high premiums.
Boston ranked as the most expensive major city for homes with garages, with a median price of $3.15 million. California’s Irvine followed at $2.3 million, and San Jose came in third at $1.6 million. Other high-priced markets included San Francisco at $1.56 million, New York City at $1.47 million, and Los Angeles at $1.43 million. San Diego, Washington, D.C., Scottsdale, and Anaheim rounded out the top 10, each with medians above $1.1 million.
Several Midwestern cities offered far lower median prices for homes with garages. Detroit led the list at $80,000, followed by Ohio’s Toledo ($99,000) and Cleveland ($115,000). Wichita, Pittsburgh, Tulsa, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Louisville, and Columbus also featured median prices under $250,000. These more affordable markets provided significantly lower barriers to entry for buyers seeking a home with a garage.
These ranges show how location affects garage-related value. But even in lower-cost markets, buyers still favored homes that included a secure place to park and store belongings.
Thinking About Adding a Garage?
A garage is an influential feature for homebuyers across the United States. Properties with garages have sold for more money, attracted buyers faster, and benefited from higher demand regardless of market location. Whether homeowners are considering building a new garage or renovating an existing one, the findings suggest that these upgrades may enhance the resale potential and overall property appeal.
Methodology
This analysis examined how garage availability and garage size affect home prices and days on market across major U.S. cities. Using publicly available Redfin residential listings from the past 12 months, we compiled median sale prices and listing characteristics for homes with garages and without garages.
A total of 42,624 single-family home listings were analyzed. Only cities within the 100 most populous U.S. cities were included, and each city required a minimum of 30 total listings (garage and non-garage combined) to ensure data reliability.
All pricing figures represent median sale prices, unless otherwise noted. Dollar amounts have been rounded to improve readability. Data was collected in December 2025.
About Alan’s Factory Outlet
Alan’s Factory Outlet helps homeowners expand their storage space with durable metal garages, carports, and custom buildings designed for long-lasting value. With a wide range of customizable options, we offer practical solutions for protecting vehicles, equipment, and household items. Our structures provide the type of secure storage that adds appeal, functionality, and value to a property.
Fair Use Statement
Information from this article may be shared for noncommercial purposes only. Please provide proper attribution and include a link back to Alan’s Factory Outlet when referencing these findings.
