If you’ve finally decided to take the leap and build your own garage, you may not know where to start. While you may have builders ready to go, they need some sort of outline of what you want done. The entire process can seem overwhelming at times, but if you have a plan, it won’t be nearly as difficult. Of course, you can consult acquaintances who have built their own garages, talk to a construction professional, or check with a materials dealer, as all of these people will be knowledgeable and able to help you with your plan. However, a great alternative option is to obtain a plan from a website that offers plans for building a garage. It’s impossible to give a definitive price for these, as they can range from hundreds of dollars into the thousands based on what you want and need, but garage plan websites can give you a great idea of what your garage may ultimately look like. After all, building your own garage is much cheaper than buying one online. Let’s take a look at three of the best online garage plan stores.
Architectural Designs
Architectural Designs is an industry leader and offer nearly 30,000 unique house and garage plans for purchase. They offer a wide variety of styles including Farmhouse, Craftsman, Country, Modern and more.
Unlike the two options outlined below, Architectural Designs also sells plans for homes, barns, pool houses, chicken coops, dog houses, and more, but the company offers over 950 – yes, 950 – garage plans. Options range from 1-car garages to 5+-car garages and you can filter your search in many different ways using the simple filters on the right-hand side. This includes filtering by style (e.g., colonial, modern, ranch, etc.) as well as different options for the walls and the garage location in proximity to your home (e.g., front, side, or back). Best of all, if you find a plan that is almost exactly what you’re looking for but you need it modified a bit, you can do so on the website.
Most orders come with a foundation plan, a floorplan, exterior and interior elevation plans, building cross sections, roof plans, and notes and details. A materials list does not automatically come with the plans, but is available for purchase with select plans. You can also purchase readable reverse plans and mirror reverse plans, should these be helpful to you and your builder. Basic electric information is also normally included.
You’ll need to make sure you have all the tools you’ll need to build your new garage. Architectural Designs provides information on what may be needed to comply with code where you are placing your garage. If you’re unsure about any of the specifications for permits, you can consult with a contractor, building, or engineer. Architectural Designs uses independent designers who usually have various shipping fees, but ground shipping (7-10 business days) is always free. Priority shipping (3-4 business days) and express shipping (2-3 business days) are also offered. As with most garage plan companies, you can also opt to receive a digital plan set as a CAD or PDF file, which normally gets sent to you within two business days of placing your order.
The Garage Plan Shop
The Garage Plan Shop is one of the most well-known websites to find blueprints for your future garage, and the options are endless so customers can find what they are looking for or get an idea of what they may want. The website offers two searches – Quick Search and Advanced Search – which allow you to put in the dimensions and other specifications you want for your garage. The website offers basic 1-door, 2-door, and 3-door garages but also offers more sophisticated options like garages with lofts, apartments, tandem garages, RV garages, and drive-thru garages.
Blueprints from The Garage Plan Shop contain a cover sheet, foundation plan, floorplan, basic electric plan, simple plumbing plan, interior and exterior elevations, details, and garage sections. For some plans, customers also have the ability to purchase a materials list, which could be very helpful for your builder and provide some extra guidance. If you decide you want to make modifications to your ultimate garage plan, the company recommends purchasing a reproducible master blueprint so your builder can make small adjustments without needing to redo the entire plan.
Customers in the U.S. typically receive their completed blueprints within 8-12 business days. International orders are welcome as well, but extended shipping times and rates may apply. The company also offers the option to receive plans via a CAD or PDF in an email, therefore saving you time and shipping costs. Be sure to check the bottom of the page before you make a purchase, as there is usually some sort of “Current Special” available for customers.
Just Garage Plans
Another highly respected company you can purchase a garage plan from is Just Garage Plans. The website is very easy to use, and features a simple search as well as the option to browse through each garage type the company has plans for. Of course, you can find your typical garage sizes and layouts on the website, but Just Garage Plans also has unique options for things like auto lift garage plans, 4+ car garage plans, and garage apartment plans. While details vary from garage-to-garage, in general most garage plans come with a plan for the foundation, a floorplan, elevation plans, wall section plans, stair details, and a basic electrical plan.
One major upside about choosing Just Garage Plans for your garage is that the company will provide you with what you need to obtain most building permits. Note that building codes and requirements vary by location, so your area may require something more specific and in-depth than what they provide; however, the basics are usually covered or at least identified in your plan. Garage plans also come with a materials list but, as with building permits, you may need more or less depending on your specific needs and desired specifications.
Plans can be mailed or sent by CAD or PDF over email. If you decide later on that you would like a local store such as FedEx to print out your large blueprint, the files are print-ready. Just Garage Plans offers two shipping options, including priority (3-5 business days) and ground (8-10 business days) shipping. PDF and CAD files can be emailed to you within a day of placing your order.