Metal Garage Size Guide: Every Standard Size Explained (With Use Cases) [2026]

Here is a scenario most buyers know well: you spend 45 minutes browsing metal garage options online, and every page gives you a list of widths and lengths with no real explanation of what actually fits inside each one. You are left doing mental math, second-guessing yourself, and not sure whether the 24×30 is too small or the 30×40 is overkill.

This guide fixes that. Below you will find every standard metal garage size — from compact single-car units to large commercial structures — mapped to exactly what fits inside, who each size is built for, and what you can expect to pay. By the end, you will know your size with confidence.

What Size Metal Garage Do I Need? (Start Here)

The right size depends on three things: what you are parking or storing, how much working room you need around those items, and whether your needs are likely to grow. Most buyers who come back to us wishing they had ordered bigger made the same mistake — they sized for today and forgot about tomorrow.

Before you look at dimensions, work through these three questions:

Step 1: Know Your Vehicle Dimensions

Every inch of clearance matters when you are pulling a full-size truck into an enclosed building. Here are the real-world dimensions of common vehicles you should measure against before choosing a garage size:

Vehicle Type	Typical Width	Typical Length	Typical Height
Compact car (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla)	5.8 – 6.1 ft	14 – 15 ft	4.5 – 4.8 ft
Mid-size sedan (Camry, Accord)	6.0 – 6.2 ft	15 – 16 ft	4.8 – 5.0 ft
Full-size SUV (Tahoe, Expedition)	6.6 – 6.9 ft	16 – 18 ft	5.8 – 6.3 ft
Full-size pickup truck (F-150, RAM 1500)	6.7 – 7.0 ft	18 – 20 ft	6.2 – 6.6 ft
Lifted truck or heavy-duty pickup	7.0 – 7.5 ft	20 – 22 ft	7.0 – 8.0 ft
Class A or Class C RV / motorhome	8.0 – 8.5 ft	25 – 45 ft	11 – 13.5 ft
Travel trailer (fifth wheel)	8.0 – 8.5 ft	20 – 40 ft	10 – 13 ft
Boat on trailer (average recreational)	8.0 – 9.0 ft	18 – 30 ft	9 – 11 ft

The rule of thumb used by our building specialists: add at least 2 feet to each side of your vehicle for comfortable door swinging and walking room, and add 4 to 6 feet to the length for maneuvering space. If you are storing multiple vehicles, add those buffers for each.

Step 2: Account for Storage, Workspace, and Future Use

Parking alone rarely stays parking. A workbench along one wall takes 2 to 3 feet of depth. A tool chest takes another foot. Shelving units along both side walls can consume 3 to 4 feet of total width. If you plan to use any portion of the metal garage as a workshop, add a minimum of 10 feet to your length beyond what you need for the vehicle alone.

The most common regret we hear from buyers: ‘I wish I had gone one size bigger.’ Upsizing from a 24-wide to a 30-wide typically costs less per square foot and avoids an expansion project later.

Step 3: Check Local Codes and Lot Setbacks

Before finalizing your size, check with your county or city about setback requirements — most jurisdictions require structures to sit a minimum distance from property lines, typically 5 to 15 feet depending on the zone. A building that is technically available might not be buildable on your lot at its full footprint. Our building specialists can help you navigate permit requirements by state. Call (704)-741-1587 for a free pre-purchase consultation.

Standard Metal Garage Size Guide at a Glance

Use this table to find your size range quickly. Detailed breakdowns for each width follow below.

Width Range	Best For	Vehicles It Fits	Recommended Min. Length	Approx. Starting Price
12′ – 18′	Single car, motorcycle, tight lots	1 standard car or 2–3 motorcycles	21′ – 30′	From ~$1,095 (base)
20′ – 22′	2 compact cars, small workshop	2 compact sedans side by side	20′ – 30′	Call for current pricing
24′	Most popular residential size	2 full-size vehicles or 1 SUV + storage	30′ – 40′	Call for current pricing
30′	3 cars, serious workshop, small farm	3 vehicles or 2 + large workspace	30′ – 60′	Call for current pricing
40′	4–5 cars, commercial, multi-bay	4–5 cars or commercial / agricultural	40′ – 80′	From ~$69K (60×24 model)
50’+	Industrial, multi-span, large-scale	6+ vehicles or full commercial operation	60′ – 100’+	Call for current pricing

12′ to 18′ Wide Metal Garages: Single Car, Motorcycles, and Compact Storage

This width range is the entry point for metal garage ownership. At 12 feet wide, you have the minimum clearance to pull in a single standard sedan with a couple of feet on each side. At 18 feet wide, you gain meaningful extra room — enough for a small workbench or a pair of motorcycles alongside a car.

What fits in a 12×21 metal garage?

A 12×21 is the smallest practical single-vehicle garage. It fits one compact car or sedan with roughly 3 feet of clearance on each side. There is enough room to walk around the vehicle but not to open doors wide. If you drive a mid-size SUV or pickup truck, step up to at least 14 feet wide.

What fits in a 14×22 or 14×24 metal garage?

This is the sweet spot for a single car with a little room to breathe. A 14-wide accommodates most mid-size sedans and smaller SUVs comfortably. A 14×24 gives you an extra couple of feet in length, enough for a tool shelf along the back wall.

What fits in an 18-wide metal garage?

An 18-foot width unlocks a couple of practical options: one full-size truck with comfortable side clearance, or two compact vehicles parked very closely. The 18-wide is also popular for a single car plus a dedicated motorcycle area or a small workbench setup. Browse our 18′ wide garage buildings for available configurations.

Eave Height Recommendation for This Range

For standard passenger vehicles, a 9 to 10-foot eave height is sufficient. If you own a taller SUV or a van, go to 12 feet. The eave height is the height of the wall at its lowest point — the peak of the roof is always higher, depending on the roof style you choose.

20′ to 24′ Wide Metal Garages: The Most Popular Range for Homeowners

If there is a sweet spot for residential metal garages in America, it is somewhere between 20 and 24 feet wide. This range fits two vehicles side by side while leaving enough room on either side to open car doors without hitting the wall. It is also the range where a proper workshop becomes possible.

The 20×20 Metal Garage: Minimum for Two Cars

A 20×20 is the absolute minimum for two standard cars parked side by side. Both vehicles will fit, but clearance is tight — about 2 feet between the cars and less than 2 feet to each wall. This works if both vehicles are compact sedans and you have no interest in workspace. It is tight for anything larger.

The 20×30 Metal Garage: Two Cars Plus Storage

The extra 10 feet of length changes everything. A 20×30 comfortably fits two mid-size vehicles and still leaves a 10-foot bay at the back for storage shelving, a workbench, or lawn equipment. This is the configuration we recommend for most two-car households who want a usable, organized space.

The 24×24 Metal Garage: The Standard Recommendation

A 24-wide is the single most recommended residential size we sell. The extra 4 feet compared to a 20-wide sounds modest, but it is the difference between tight clearance and genuinely comfortable use. Two full-size vehicles fit side by side with room to open doors, walk around each car, and still have wall space for shelving. The 24×24 is the standard we quote most homeowners as a starting point. Browse all 24′ wide metal garages we offer.

The 24×30 Metal Garage: Two Full-Size Trucks

If you own two full-size pickup trucks — or a truck plus an SUV — the 24×30 is what you need. The longer footprint gives each vehicle enough nose-to-wall clearance to park without feeling squeezed, and there is still room for a small tool area at the back. Many of our customers use a 24×30 as a two-vehicle garage with a dedicated 6-foot workbench bay.

The 22′ Wide Range

22-foot widths are a useful middle option when a 20′ feels too tight but lot setbacks prevent a 24′. Our 22′ wide garage buildings are a good fit for two smaller vehicles or one full-size vehicle with a comfortable side workspace.

Eave Height Recommendation for This Range

A 10-foot eave is the practical minimum for two-car garages. If either vehicle is a full-size truck or SUV, go to 12 feet. Taller eave height also makes the interior feel less cramped and opens the door to overhead storage lofts in the future.

Quick decision helper: Own two vehicles and want room to actually use the space? Start at 24×30. If budget is a concern, a 20×30 works but plan for it to feel tight within a year or two.

30′ Wide Metal Garages: Three Cars, Serious Workshops, and Small Farm Use

Step up to a 30-foot width and the garage stops being just a parking space and becomes a proper facility. This is the most popular size for homeowners who want three-car capacity, a full workshop, or a combination of both. It is also the entry point for most agricultural and light commercial applications. Explore our 30′ wide metal garage buildings.

The 30×30 Metal Garage

A 30×30 gives you 900 square feet of clear-span space. Three compact to mid-size cars fit comfortably across the width. Alternatively, two full-size trucks park side by side with a third bay reserved entirely for workshop use — a workbench, tool storage, and a floor-mounted lift if needed.

The 30×40 Metal Garage: A Community Favorite

The 30×40 is one of the most searched and most purchased configurations in the metal building industry. At 1,200 square feet, it is large enough to handle genuine multi-purpose use without becoming an overwhelming build or budget. Three vehicles park with comfortable clearance, and you still have a 120 to 200-square-foot bay left over for storage or workspace. For small farms, a 30×40 houses a tractor, an ATV, and multiple implements under one roof.

The 30×60 Metal Garage

When depth matters as much as width — think boats, RVs, or extended vehicles — a 30×60 provides a 1,800-square-foot footprint that handles most residential and light commercial scenarios. A 30-foot-wide structure can accommodate RVs up to about 28 to 30 feet in length with room for walk-around access, though most RV buyers step up to at least a 12-foot eave height.

Eave Height Recommendation for This Range

For vehicle-only use, 12 feet is comfortable and handles most trucks and SUVs. If you plan to store an RV, boat on a trailer, or use a lift, jump to 14 feet minimum. Many buyers in this size range choose a 14-foot eave as a future-proofing decision even if their current vehicles do not require it.

40′ Wide Metal Garages: Four or More Cars, Commercial Shops, and Agricultural Use

At 40 feet wide, you have crossed into territory where the building starts serving commercial and agricultural purposes as readily as residential ones. Four to five vehicles park comfortably across a 40-foot width. For a working auto shop, this is the minimum practical width for two side-by-side service bays. See our full range of 40′ wide metal garage buildings for current configurations.

The 40×40 Metal Garage

A 40×40 gives you 1,600 square feet of clear-span space. Four mid-size vehicles park with comfortable clearance and some room to spare. On the agricultural side, a 40×40 is large enough for most mid-size farm equipment — tractors, skid steers, and hay storage — in a single structure.

The 40×60 Metal Garage

The 40×60 is one of our most popular commercial-leaning configurations. At 2,400 square feet, it handles two full service bays with room for a dedicated parts or storage area. It also accommodates small fleet storage, large equipment sheds, or a combination garage and warehouse layout. Our catalog includes a fully-enclosed 40x80x14 prefab garage with lean-to starting at $96,839.

Eave Height Recommendation for This Range

Most 40-wide commercial and agricultural builds use a 14-foot eave as the standard. If you need to move large agricultural equipment, commercial vehicles, or oversized loads, 16 feet is worth the marginal cost increase. For vehicle lifts, 14 feet is typically sufficient; for two-post lifts with full extension, 16 feet provides comfortable clearance.

50′ Wide and Larger: Industrial, Multi-Span, and Large-Scale Commercial

Buildings at 50 feet wide and beyond serve industrial storage, large commercial operations, multi-bay service centers, and agricultural facilities where scale is the primary requirement. These structures are typically engineered to specific wind and snow load requirements and may need certified plans for permitting in most jurisdictions. See our 50′ wide garage buildings and our commercial steel buildings for available configurations at this scale.

At 50 feet wide, six or more vehicles park comfortably with full bay separation. For fleet operations, equipment yards, or large farm storage, this footprint provides the space to operate efficiently without vehicles or equipment blocking one another. Our 60x80x16 steel warehouse building is an example of a ready-to-customize structure at this scale, starting at $81,295.

Buildings 50 feet wide and larger typically require engineered drawings for permitting in most US counties. Our team handles engineering certification and works directly with local building departments. Call (704)-741-1587 for a commercial or large-scale project consultation.

Metal Garage Sizes by Use Case: What We Actually Recommend

Width and length matter, but use case is the real starting point. Here is what our building specialists most commonly recommend for each buyer type:

Best Metal Garage Size for Two Vehicles

Start at 24×24 as the practical minimum for two cars with comfortable clearance. If either vehicle is a full-size truck or SUV, move to 24×30. For two full-size trucks, 24×30 is the minimum and 30×30 is ideal. See our full two-car garage guide for a detailed breakdown.

Best Metal Garage Size for a Workshop

A workshop needs width to position equipment and depth to move around it safely. For a basic woodworking or mechanic’s workshop alongside one vehicle, a 24×30 works. For a dedicated workshop with no vehicle storage, a 20×30 gives you 600 square feet of floor space to work with. For a serious multi-station workshop, start at 30×40.

Best Metal Garage Size for RV Storage

RV storage is driven by height first, then length. Most Class A and Class C motorhomes require a 14-foot eave height minimum — some taller models need 16 feet. For length, measure your RV from tow hitch to rear bumper and add 8 to 10 feet for walk-around access. A 30-foot wide building accommodates most RVs with comfortable clearance. See our dedicated RV garage page for configurations built specifically for motorhomes and fifth wheels.

Best Metal Garage Size for Boat Storage

Boat storage follows the same height-first logic as RV storage. Measure your boat on its trailer from bow to stern and add clearance. For a typical recreational boat in the 18 to 25-foot range, a 24-wide with a 30-foot length and 12-foot eave handles most situations. Larger vessels may need 30-wide with 12 to 14-foot eave height.

Best Metal Garage Size for Farm and Agricultural Use

Agricultural use is driven by equipment dimensions. A full-size tractor with a front loader bucket can exceed 14 feet in height. Round bales of hay may need a structure 30 feet wide with no internal obstructions. For most small to mid-size farm operations, a 30×40 with a 14-foot eave covers the majority of use cases. Larger operations benefit from 40-wide configurations with lean-to additions. See our metal livestock shelter and metal barns pages for agricultural-specific configurations.

Eave Height vs. Peak Height: Understanding What These Numbers Mean

One of the most common points of confusion for first-time buyers is the difference between eave height (also called leg height) and peak height.

Eave Height (Leg Height)

The eave height is the height of the building’s wall — where the wall meets the roof. This is the critical measurement for clearance, because it determines whether a tall vehicle can enter through the garage door and whether you have headroom for a vehicle lift. When we quote a building as ’12-foot eave,’ that means the wall is 12 feet tall at its lowest point.

Peak Height

The peak height is the total height of the building at its highest point — the ridge of the roof. The peak is always higher than the eave, and by how much depends on the roof style and the width of the building. On a 30-foot wide building with a vertical roof, the peak may be 5 to 7 feet above the eave.

Eave Height	Best For	Garage Door Max Height (Typical)
9′ – 10′	Standard sedans, compact SUVs	8′ tall garage door
12′	Full-size trucks, large SUVs, standard pickups	10′ tall garage door
14′	Lifted trucks, most RVs, equipment	12′ tall garage door
16′	Large RVs, heavy equipment, commercial vehicles	14′ tall garage door

When in doubt, order more eave height. Adding height at the time of construction is inexpensive relative to the total cost. Adding it after installation is not possible — you would need to rebuild. This is the one specification where being conservative can cost you significantly more in the long run.

How Garage Size Affects Price: What to Expect

Metal garage pricing is driven by steel tonnage, which scales with the overall square footage of the structure. Wider and longer buildings cost more in absolute terms, but they typically cost less per square foot than smaller ones — meaning upsizing usually delivers better value than it might appear at first glance.

Several factors beyond dimensions also affect your final price: roof style (vertical roof costs more than regular but handles weather better), steel gauge (12-gauge vs. 14-gauge), eave height, number and size of doors, insulation, and local certification requirements for wind and snow load. Steel prices also fluctuate with the commodity market — our building specialists can tell you if a price change is on the horizon. Read our analysis of metal building price changes in 2026 for current market context.

If upfront cost is a concern, we offer both financing plans (24 to 72 months, up to $50K) and a rent-to-own program with no credit check and same-day approvals. Both programs are designed to make the right building accessible without compromising on the size you actually need.

Ready to Find Your Size? Here Is What to Do Next

If you would rather talk through your use case with someone who knows metal buildings inside and out, our building specialists are available at (704)-741-1587. We can walk you through size selection, local code considerations, and your best financing option in a single call.

You can also browse our full catalog by size at metal garage sizes, or check current pricing at our metal garage prices page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular metal garage size?

The 24×30 is the single most commonly purchased residential metal garage size. It fits two full-size vehicles with comfortable clearance on both sides, leaves room for a small workbench or storage wall, and fits on most residential lots without setback issues. The 20×30 is the next most common for buyers with tighter budgets or smaller lots.

What is the minimum metal garage size for two cars?

The technical minimum for two standard sedans parked side by side is 20 feet wide by 20 feet long. However, that leaves very little clearance for opening car doors comfortably. We recommend a 20×22 as the practical minimum and a 24×24 as the standard recommendation. For a more detailed breakdown, see our two-car garage dimensions guide.

How tall should my metal garage be?

For most standard cars and mid-size SUVs, a 9 to 10-foot eave height is adequate. Full-size trucks and large SUVs need 12 feet. If you plan to store an RV, travel trailer, or boat on a trailer, 14 feet is the minimum and 16 feet provides a comfortable margin. For vehicle lifts, check the maximum raised height of the lift you plan to install and add 2 feet above it.

Can I customize a metal garage to a non-standard size?

Yes. All Viking Metal Garages structures are built to your specification. If your lot or use case calls for a dimension that falls between standard widths — say, 26 feet wide or 35 feet long — we can accommodate that. Custom dimensions may carry a slightly different price than catalog sizes, and engineered drawings may be required for some custom configurations. Call (704)-741-1587 to discuss your specific dimensions.

What size metal garage do I need for an RV?

RV storage requires a minimum of 14-foot eave height for most Class A and Class C motorhomes. For width, a 30-foot wide building provides comfortable clearance for RVs up to about 8.5 feet wide with walk-around room on both sides. For length, measure your RV bumper to bumper and add 8 to 10 feet. See our dedicated RV garage page for configurations built specifically for motorhome storage.

Does a bigger metal garage cost significantly more?

In absolute terms, yes — more steel means a higher price. But the cost per square foot typically decreases as size increases, meaning you get more usable space per dollar when you upsize. The difference between a 20×30 and a 24×30 in price is usually smaller than buyers expect, and the additional 120 square feet of usable space is meaningful. When in doubt, our building specialists can run a side-by-side price comparison for two sizes in a single call.