How much does garage demolition cost?
Garage demolition costs start from about £2,000 and can be a great option if you're keen to rebuild an old structure or repurpose a dusty, unused garage into a new feature or extension of your garden!
A small, single garage demolition usually costs between £1,000 and £3,000. However, knocking down a larger triple garage costs closer to £5,000 as a rough average - we'll run through all the cost parameters shortly, so you have a clear idea of your required budget.
Need Quick, Reliable Garage Demolition Quotations? Complete our enquiry form with some basic details to receive pricing estimates from a range of approved local demolition experts! You'll receive up to four no-obligation quotations and can compare the pricing offered at your convenience.
Average UK Garage Demolition Costs
As we've mentioned, the primary factor in the cost to demolish a garage will be the size of the garage.
The below table sets out the cost ranges and average prices for a garage demolition, depending on the size - if you're unsure, it's well worth measuring up so you can provide accurate dimensions for your contractor to quote from!
Garage Type | Approx. Size | Measurements | Prices From | Prices To | UK Average |
Single | 18 square metres | 6 x 3 metres | £1,000 | £3,000 | £2,000 |
Single | 32 square metres | 8 x 4 metres | £1,760 | £5,280 | £3,500 |
Double | 30 square metres | 5 x 6 metres | £1,650 | £5,000 | £3,300 |
Double | 48 square metres | 8 x 6 metres | £2,640 | £8,000 | £5,320 |
Triple | 45 square metres | 5 x 9 metres | £2,475 | £7,425 | £5,000 |
Triple | 63 square metres | 7 x 9 metres | £3,465 | £10,400 | £6,930 |
The other sizing element is the height of your garage. Demolitions of two-storey structures will inevitably take more time, and incur a higher cost, than a standalone lean-to garage or a single-height garage.
Checkout this video showing a garage demolition from start to finish:
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Factors That Influence Your Garage Demolition Costs
Sizing is a key parameter because, along with labour hours, a contractor will need to know the dimensions of the garage to work out which equipment they will require.
Garages are normally manually demolished, with the roof removed first and the rest of the work completed from the top down.
However, a larger garage may require a wrecking ball or larger machinery, so the cost to demolish a garage will increase directly in line with the size of the building.
A contractor is likely to ask about several other aspects of your garage demolition before they can provide an accurate price estimate.
Location
If you live in London or the South East, you'll find that labour charges are around 10% higher than elsewhere - mainly because insurance, transport and waste disposal are more expensive than in other regions.
The proximity of your garage demolition to your selected contractor may also affect your budget.
If a demolition team needs to travel further, organise multiple trips to dispose of waste, or pay for parking, skip licences or congestion zone charges, they will add these to your price.
We ask for your location details in your initial quote enquiry, which helps us match your requirements with local contractors.
Accessibility
Garage demolitions at properties that are difficult to access or with connections to main utilities are more complex than a garage demolition which is easy to reach, and without any electrical wiring or plumbing.
Both factors will require preparatory works before the demolition can begin, such as:
- Calling out an appropriate contractor to disconnect and cap utility services.
- Organising alternative earthmoving vehicles if access is limited.
- Switching from a top-down demolition to a fully manual demolition if there is no access for lorries or heavy-duty equipment.
Sometimes, you may need to liaise with neighbouring property owners if your contractor requires access through a side return or cannot carry out the demolition without widening pathways or other entrance points.
Structure Type
Garages connected to another property (normally your home) take longer to demolish.
The contractor will need to carry out a careful demolition, with additional repairs to external walls and supports, to ensure that the demolition does not impact the structural integrity of interconnected buildings.
Materials within the garage are also a consideration because brick-built garages are heavier, and the waste transport and disposal costs will be higher than a wooden-frame garage or one built from blocks.
There may be opportunities to reduce your cost if the materials are salvageable and can be reclaimed or reused - a contractor may organise the sale to a salvage yard for you, or you could retain the bricks to sell on later.
A demolition specialist will also ask about the foundations underneath the garage and the potential for hazardous materials such as asbestos.
Demolishing a Garage With a Concrete Slab Foundation
Concrete slabs can be demolished, but require a little extra physical work. Your contractor will normally need to break the concrete into smaller pieces before removing the foundation.
This process will take additional time, incur extra waste disposal costs, and may command different equipment depending on the size and thickness of the concrete.
Demolishing a Garage With Asbestos
While asbestos is now recognised as a hazardous material and is not permitted in any building project, it was relatively common in the past.
Garages built before the 1990s often have asbestos within corrugated roof panels, and it may also be present in guttering, insulation and panelling.
If you are unsure whether there is asbestos within your garage, it is important to organise an assessment and site survey to determine the materials within the structure and in which parts of your garage building.
Any property built before 1999 must have an asbestos survey before demolition can begin, so if you do not have any records listing the materials within the garage, you will need to schedule this first.
Contractors must follow strict processes to remove, handle and dispose of asbestos, and the survey will generate an extra cost.
Some demolition crews have special accreditations and licences enabling them to handle asbestos. In contrast, others may need to subcontract asbestos removal if they do not have the training and health and safety equipment required.
Additional considerations that affect the cost to demolish a garage
Along with the garage demolition cost, there are other factors to consider before you decide to proceed or set a fixed budget.
- Security: if your garage is connected to your property with an internal door, you may need to replace the door with a secure external entrance, replace the locks, or install security locks.
- Groundwork: once your garage has been demolished, it will likely leave a rough patch of ground that requires groundwork or landscaping, depending on your plans. Concrete slab foundations will also require extra groundwork once the demolition has finished.
- Planning permission: most garage demolitions do not require planning permission, although that depends on the size of the outbuilding, your property and location, and whether the demolition will change the outward appearance of your home.
- Demolition accreditations: qualified demolition teams registered with a certified trade body such as the National Federation of Demolition Contractors tend to charge more than an inexperienced team. Still, this affiliation assures you that your contractor will meet high standards and have appropriate training in the demolition processes they offer.
An experienced demolition contractor can steer you through these factors and recommend the right course of action.
Understanding a Garage Demolition Quotation
After you have completed your quotation request, you will receive up to four estimates from approved demolition providers in your local area.
Quotations themselves vary, depending on the format and the amount of detail you have given your contractor to quote from.
You must understand what your quotation means to be able to compare two sets of pricing information like-for-like and choose the right demotion professional for your project.
- Additional costs, such as skip hire or parking licences, may be included in the quote. You should ask for an itemised breakdown if not provided, so you have clear oversight of those extra costs that have not been incorporated into the total price.
- Most garage demolitions require one to two full days of work, which will make up the chargeable labour hours. Some quotes will break this down into days or hours, multiplied by the number of tradespeople on-site. If your quote shows a day rate (usually between £120 and £200), you can ask for an estimate of how many days of work will be required and how many people will be working to calculate the final cost.
- Waste disposal can be relatively expensive, particularly if you have a large volume of waste materials or hazardous components such as asbestos. A contractor may include waste disposal in their estimate, or you may need to organise skip hire, waste disposal and transport separately from the demolition.
If any element of your garage demolition quote is unclear, please ensure you ask for clarity before proceeding so you know exactly what your garage demolition cost will be and what other services you need to handle. Learn more about wall demolition costs if your garage demolition also calls for a wall to be removed, average building and demolition costs and waste disposal costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Demolishing a garage can be an exciting opportunity to remodel your garden or extend part of your property - but we appreciate you may have lots of questions!
Below, our FAQs respond to our most common enquiries about comparing quotations for a garage demolition.
Can I Demolish a Garage Myself?
Although it might be possible to demolish a standalone garage with a lightweight timber frame, it is rarely advisable to attempt any demolition project - however small - yourself.
Demolition contractors have years of expertise and follow exact protocols to ensure each demolition is completed quickly, safely, and to the appropriate building standards.
Risks inherent within a demolition include:
- Falling items, such as roof tiles.
- Structural collapse.
- Risks of crush injuries.
- Dangers of working at height.
Even if your garage is small, a falling beam or collapsing brick wall can be extremely dangerous, so it is far safer to hire a contractor who will assess the structure and plan the demolition properly.
Professional demolition providers will also understand how to knock down your garage without damaging walls on either side and carry indemnity insurance so that you would not be liable for further costs if anything were to go wrong.
What Is the Easiest Way to Demolish a Garage?
Your contractor will recommend the most suitable approach, depending on the size and structure of your garage and proximity to neighbouring properties or connected walls.
Commercial garages or those within large open areas can be demolished with a wrecking ball, starting at the top of the structure and securing each level before the next stage begins.
Contractors can even demolish large garages with explosives - usually the most cost-efficient option for bigger structures such as multi-storey properties.
However, most garage demolitions are manual because this ensures there aren't any potential risks associated with falling debris or collapsing walls.
Whichever method your contractor uses, they will begin at the top of the building, remove the roofing or tiles, and work downward methodically until they reach the foundation.
Do I Need to Apply for Planning Permission to Demolish My Garage?
Probably not - but it's always important to check with your local planning office to ensure you don't inadvertently breach planning regulations.
However, if the garage will impact the structure of your home and you live in a conservation area or a building with listed status, you will need formal consent.
In some areas, the planning office will require you to apply for permission if they are concerned about the effects of noise and heavy-duty vehicles, particularly in busy urban areas and city centres with restrictions on traffic and parking.
You will need to ensure a building regulations inspector signs off your demolition (this is a separate requirement unrelated to planning permission).
However, some demolition contractors can self-certify that the work has adhered to all the mandatory requirements.
How Long Does a Garage Demolition Take?
Most garage demolitions take a day or two, but that depends on the size of the building, the material present and the complexity of the structure.
Multi-storey garages, those with asbestos, or outbuildings with connected external walls can take up to a week or so to be fully demolished.
Related Reading
- https://householdcosts.co.uk/how-much-does-garage-demolition-cost/
- https://tradesmencosts.co.uk/demolition/
- https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/demolition-cost/