Car enthusiasts often take pride in storing their prized vehicles in their garages. However, a growing number of people are finding that their cars no longer fit in these spaces. This issue is not just a matter of inconvenience; it reflects broader trends in housing and vehicle design.
Only about a third of people with garages actually use them to store a car, according to surveys. This statistic might seem surprising, but it becomes more understandable when considering the changes in both vehicle sizes and garage dimensions over the past 30 years.
The expanding vehicle, the shrinking garage
The most obvious factor contributing to this dilemma is the increasing size of vehicles. The typical Ford F-150 SuperCrew with a 5′-5″ bed measures 230 inches, or just over 19 feet in length. To fit such a vehicle comfortably, a garage needs to be about 22 feet deep, allowing for some walking space around the vehicle. However, the average attached garage in many parts of the country measures only 20 feet by 20 feet, making it a tight fit for larger vehicles.
Even compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 require significant space. A midsize truck like the Toyota Tacoma is nearly 18 feet long, which can fill up a standard garage quickly. This size discrepancy is particularly evident in newer suburban developments where property values are high, and lots are subdivided to maximize single-family real estate.
The economic and construction factors
The shrinking garage size is not just a matter of design preference; it’s driven by economic and construction factors. Real estate near urban centers is at a premium, and local building codes often prevent expanding the home’s footprint. Developers respond by cannibalizing garage space to create more livable square footage, which can increase the property’s value.
Attached garages often require steps up to the main house, further compromising the actual interior space. A garage that measures 20 feet on paper might only provide 17 or 16 feet of usable space in reality. Additionally, modern construction methods have reduced the availability of traditional storage spaces, such as attics and basements, exacerbating the storage crisis.
Old-school, high-pitched roofs have largely been replaced by low-pitch, colonial-revival, and ranch-style roofs, which limit attic configurations. Modern roof trusses are often engineered to support only the roof, drywall, and insulation, making them inadequate for supporting an attic load. The popularity of slab-on-grade construction, rather than traditional basements, further reduces storage options.
The personal storage struggle
With traditional storage spaces vanishing, homeowners are turning to their garages to store seasonal and bulk items. This trend is evident in the author’s own experience. A 1920s house with a 1940s garage in an urban neighborhood has seen its attic and knee walls encapsulated, and its basement was built before modern water-tight standards. As a result, the garage has become a repository for various items.
The author is planning to build a new, larger garage but is limited to just 800 square feet by local code officials. Most three-car garages designed with this footprint are 32 feet by 25 feet, providing just enough depth for larger pickup trucks. However, for those inclined toward low-slung, two-door coupes and roadsters, this space might feel cramped.
The author opted for a wider garage, aiming for 12 feet per bay, resulting in a 36 feet by 22 feet structure. This design is a foot shallower than the existing garage but will have thinner walls, maintaining a similar interior depth. While it may be small by Super Duty standards, it is designed specifically for the author’s automotive use case, not just to tick a box in a real estate listing.
Garage space is yet another thing at a premium in the modern economy. Don’t feel guilty if your car doesn’t fit into its designated spot. The shrinking garage trend is a reflection of broader economic and construction challenges.
So, how about you? Does your daily driver fit in your garage, or are you also grappling with the pressures of stuff creep?
