3 May 2008 · Sharon Winson
What size garage do I need?
Getting the size right is the one decision you can't cheaply undo. Here's how to work out the garage size you need — and avoid the classic mistakes.
The right garage size is your car's length and width with the doors open, plus everything you'll store, plus a margin for the future. Getting it right first time matters, because resizing a garage later is expensive — after 45 years of supplying garages, the regret we hear most is "I wish I'd gone bigger", almost never the reverse.
How do you make sure the garage is big enough?
Work through these before you pick a size:
• Measure your car — and think about the next car, which may well be bigger. • Allow room to open the car doors fully inside; a garage you can park in but not get out of is a common and miserable mistake. • List what else will live in there: bikes, mower, tools, ladders, the workbench. • Check the height as well as the footprint — roof boxes, vans and 4x4s need headroom. • Think five years ahead: children's bikes and hobby kit have a way of multiplying.
Our building sizes guide lists the standard sizes across every range so you can match your list to a real building. If headroom is the constraint, Extra-Height garages exist for exactly this reason; if it's width, a double garage costs less than most people expect compared with a single.
Can a garage be too big?
Yes — the opposite mistakes are rarer but real. Check the building fits your budget, not just your garden: bigger means more panels, more base, more money. Then check it fits the plot politely. Mark the footprint out with pegs and string, or boxes, and live with it for a few days; a footprint that looks modest on paper can dominate a small garden. And talk to your neighbours before you order — a building that towers over their fence or blocks their light is how disputes start, even when no planning permission is needed.
What garage sizes are available?
Because Nucrete garages are built from standard concrete sections, sizes run in regular increments across eight ranges — from compact garden stores to long double workshops — with larger combinations available. Once you have a shortlist, our concrete garage prices page gives exact prices for your postcode area, with VAT, delivery and installation included in every figure. Still unsure between two sizes? Ring us on 0800 849 9036 — we size garages every day and we'll tell you straight.
What size garage do I need for one car?
Enough to park the car and still open its doors fully — measure your car with doors open and add your storage. Check your measurements against the standard sizes in our building sizes guide before ordering.
Should I buy a bigger garage than I need?
Usually, yes — within budget. Adding a size step at order time costs far less than replacing an undersized building later, and storage needs almost always grow.
How do I check a garage will fit my garden?
Mark the footprint out with pegs and string and live with it for a few days. It shows you the real size, the access around it, and how it looks from the house and next door.
What if my vehicle is too tall for a standard garage?
Nucrete's Extra-Height range is designed for vans, 4x4s, campervans and car lifts — same sectional construction, more headroom.