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How to Calculate the Cost of a Carport

Garages are a convenient place to park cars and store some extra belongings. However, they aren’t for everyone. Many people gravitate towards getting a carport instead of building a garage to gain extra living space in the house.

While getting a carport may not be as expensive as building a garage (if you didn’t previously have one), it does come with a cost high enough for you to need budgeting for it. Calculating the cost of a carport is straightforward so long as you know your desired specifications.

This article will give you a step-by-step breakdown of the calculation to help you estimate how much you need to put aside for this expenditure.

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Calculating the Cost of a Carport

Five main factors determine the total cost of your carport, and we will take you through all the choices to give you an idea of the cost breakdown of each one. Below are the factors you will consider when calculating the cost of a carport:

  • Custom-built carport or kit carport
  • Carport size
  • Roof options
  • Material options
  • Additional features

Custom Built or Kits

When you start considering getting a carport, you will need to decide whether you want to get a kit or a custom-built one depending on your needs. Both have their respective merits. Even the most premium kits are often less expensive than custom-built; however, unlike custom-built carports, you cannot make any changes to kits.

The average cost of a kit carport ranges from $1,100 to just over $5,000, depending on how premium you want the kit to be. In contrast, the starting cost of a typical custom-built carport is $6,000, and it can go up to $20,000.

Size

Carports come in two sizes for both kits and custom-built options, single and double. The idea behind the sizes was to give people the chance to adjust two cars under the same carport if needed instead of getting a new carport for each.

The size costing is different for both kit and custom-built. So, you will need to look at the cost of your preferred base. Below is a cost breakdown:

Type of Carport Single Double
Kit $1,100 – $5,000 $2,200 – $10,000
Custom Built $6,000 – $20,000 $11,000 – $40,000

Roof Options

Like houses, carport roofs are meant to protect cars against the onslaught of heat and UV rays. Therefore, there are several roof options to choose from base on how sturdy or premium you want the roof to be.

You can also choose from two different roof styles depending on your preference, with each option having a higher cost for custom-built compared to the kit.

Type of Carport Size Skillion Gable
Kit Single $1,100 – $5,000 $2,200 – $10,000
Custom Built Single $6,000 – $20,000 $7,000 – $21,000
Kit Double $2,200 – $10,000 $3,200 – $12,000
Custom Built Double $11,000 – $40,000 $12,500 – $42,000

For the gable roof style, you will also have the option to choose between horizontal style roof and vertical style. The vertical roof has a ridge at the top and vertically oriented tiling. The horizontal roof does not have a ridge and has horizontal tiling.

If you live in an area that receives heavy rainfall or snowfall, getting a vertical roof is better for you. It is more effective than its counterpart for removing snow and water from the top, thus preventing water damage.

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Materials

Your choice of material largely dictates how durable your carport will be. A steel carport kit has medium durability and will cost you around $1,100 on average for a single size. Conversely, a Colorbond kit will cost upwards of $3,500 for the exact specifications.

Wooden kits are also highly durable, with the timber kit costing around $3,000 for a single size. The double size costs are double the amounts for a single size, and the custom-built ones are proportionally higher.

Additional Features

If you want any additional features like lighting, base, etc., you will need to incorporate the costs for those features into your budget. You will also need to check your district rules to see if you will need to pay a fee for installing a carport.

If there is a council fee, you will need to pay it and get a permit before installing.

Wrapping Up

To sum up, calculating the cost of a carport is a matter of determining which options you want to opt for and how premium you want yours to be. We hope you found this article informative and will use the information when budgeting for this addition to your home.

Gail P
I am a beachy type of person, living in Newport Beach, and oftentimes I’ll go for a swim with my daughter. When I’m bored, I’ll help make package boxes for my little girl’s sticker company on Etsy.