20x30 Carport and Metal Garage: Real Prices and What Fits

A 20x30 metal building gives you 600 square feet under one roof. That is wide enough for two cars side by side and long enough to leave room for a workbench, a mower or a trailer at the back. It is also the size where you have to make the biggest decision: leave it open as a carport or close it in as a garage. This guide uses the two 20x30 buildings we actually install, with their real prices, so you can compare both options with numbers instead of guesses.

20x30 prices: carport vs. garage

These are the starting prices listed on our site in fall 2026. They include delivery and installation. They are estimates: prices vary by location, exclude sales tax and change over time, so use them as a guide and get a quote for your address.

• 20' x 30' x 9' carport: from $6,205. Both sides fully paneled, ends left open. View model
• 20' x 30' x 10' metal garage: from $8,060. Horizontal wall panels with a wainscot accent, a 10' x 10' roll-up door and a walk-in door. View model

The difference is about $1,855. That money buys the two closed ends, the roll-up door, the walk-in door and one extra foot of height. In exchange you get a space you can lock, keep dry from blowing snow and use as a shop all year.

Both buildings are framed with 14-gauge galvanized steel tubing and covered with 29-gauge steel panels, and both are engineer-certified for your county's snow and wind loads.

What fits in a 20x30

• Two cars or small SUVs side by side, with about 10 feet of length left over at the back for storage or a bench.
• One full-size pickup plus a boat or utility trailer parked in tandem along the 30-foot side.
• A compact tractor, implements and hay, which is exactly what the enclosed 20x30 garage was configured for.
• A covered work bay for materials or equipment, where the open carport is usually enough.

If you only need to park two cars and nothing else, a smaller footprint may do. Our 2 car garage size guide explains the minimum widths. If you need more length for a truck and trailer, compare with the carport sizes guide.

Open carport or enclosed garage?

Choose the carport if you mainly need roof cover for vehicles or equipment and want the lowest cost per square foot. The paneled sides already block sun, rain and a good part of the wind.

Choose the garage if you want security, a space you can heat or insulate, or a shop you can use in a Wisconsin January. A carport can also be enclosed later; we explain how in how to enclose a metal carport into a garage.

What changes the price of a 20x30

• Height: taller legs add steel to every wall.
• Roof style: Regular, A-Frame Horizontal or A-Frame Vertical. The vertical roof sheds snow best.
• Doors and windows: each roll-up door, walk-in door or window is priced separately.
• Frame upgrade: 12-gauge framing instead of the standard 14-gauge.
• Insulation: see the metal building insulation guide.

Delivery and installation are included, and most structures are assembled on site in a single day once the lead time of 2 to 5 weeks is over (weather permitting). Financing and rent-to-own are available on most carports and garages.

Price your own 20x30

Every building is built to order, so a 20x30 can have the doors, height and colors you need. Design it in 3D to see the price change as you go, or request a free quote and a design consultant will price it for your address.