The average epoxy garage floor cost is $1,400 to $2,200, with prices ranging from $800 to $5,000. Depending on whether you choose to DIY an epoxy garage floor or hire a professional, several factors influence the cost of your project. We’re going over each aspect you should consider to find out if epoxy floors are right for your budget.
The Modern Appeal of Epoxy Garage Flooring
Epoxy has been around since the early 1900s. It surged into popularity in the middle of the 20th century, and today, exciting innovations and new technologies in epoxy coatings have made it possible for everyone to have an appealing, durable, and cost-effective floor in their garage.
Modern epoxy floor coatings are used in everything from garages and auto shops to warehouses and residential interiors. They are highly customizable, and as a DIY-friendly project, they offer an affordable and long-lasting flooring solution.
Factors in Calculating Epoxy Garage Floor Costs
The average epoxy floor coating cost is $3 to $12 per square foot, depending on several factors.
The installation process of different types and brands of epoxy flooring and the condition of your floor all play a role in determining the cost of your project.
Material Costs
Epoxy coating materials and equipment cost about $2 to $5 per square foot, not including installation.
Type of Epoxy
You can choose from many epoxy types and brands, and each type has pros and cons. Choosing the best type of epoxy floor coating for your project is often a matter of personal preference and knowing what will work best for your needs.
Here are the main types and the costs associated with each:
Type of epoxy | Cost | Pros and cons |
Water-based | $30 to $50 per gallon | Pros: Eco-friendly, low price Cons: Must be reapplied every few years |
Solvent-based | $45 per gallon | Pros: Durable and resistant to chemicals Cons: High VOCs |
Solid epoxy | $45 to $150 per gallon | Pros: Excellent adhesion, chemical resistance Cons: Expensive |
Quality and Brands
Recognizable brand names like Rustoleum, Sherwin-Williams, and Kilz offer various types of epoxy floor coatings. While top brand names usually reflect a higher price, some of these companies offer products at different price points, so it pays to do your research when it comes to both quality and brand.
Labor Costs
The cost of installing an epoxy garage floor varies depending on the scope of your project. The average cost per square foot is $1 to $7 just for labor.
Professional Fees
There are many benefits to hiring professionals to install your epoxy garage floor. Floor preparation is key and will cost an average of about $500 to ensure the concrete substrate is ready for coating.
Depending on the installation method and the type of epoxy used, professionals may spend another day coating, followed by a final sealing day. Their professional fees include their time, travel expenses, and equipment.
Duration of Installation
It usually takes 2 to 3 days to install an epoxy garage floor, including preparation and cleanup. The length of time it takes varies depending on the size of your garage, the scope of the project, and the type of epoxy used.
Floor Condition and Preparation
The floor condition significantly affects the cost of epoxy garage floors. Without proper preparation, there is a risk of poor adhesion, and many installers consider this stage to be the most critical.
Repairing Damages
Before installing an epoxy floor coating, you must repair the damages and eliminate cracks, pitting, and depressions. Depending on the extent of the damage, the costs of repairing your floor will vary, but they typically range between $25 and $250.
If you need to resurface your concrete floor, it will cost an additional $3 to $5 per square foot. Remember that if your garage floor is new concrete, it must be cured for at least 30 days before applying epoxy.
Surface Preparation
Surface preparation starts by clearing out your garage, so you may need to add the cost of a storage unit to your overall project.
You must remove all oil spots and clean and degrease the floor to remove residual chemicals. Then, it must be scrubbed and vacuumed to remove any loose particles or dirt.
One of the benefits of hiring a professional to install an epoxy floor is that they have all the equipment to prepare your floor properly, and they can do it in less than a day. If you’re working alone, preparing the surface properly could take a couple of days.
Additional Costs and Considerations
Here are some other costs and considerations to factor into your garage epoxy floor cost.
Customization and Design
Epoxy floor coatings are highly customizable. However, adding decorative options like special finishes, custom colors, and patterns will increase the cost of your project.
Decorative option | Uses | Cost |
Decorative flakes | Create a decorative pattern with mica, quartz, or metallic flakes. | $10 per 1-pound bag, which covers 250 square feet |
Metallic pigments | Create a metallic pearl or marble effect. May be included in a kit, or you can purchase pigments separately. | The average cost of metallic epoxy floor coatings is $9 to $12 per square foot. |
Rock or pebble epoxy | River rock or pebbles are sealed in clear epoxy. | $100 per gallon |
If you’re interested in a customized floor, ask your installer about various options and their costs during the initial planning phase.
Location and Accessibility
Your location affects epoxy garage floor costs. If you’re hiring professionals, there are geographical price variations in labor markets, and you may need to factor in travel expenses if you live in a remote location.
Also, if your floor is in an inaccessible location, installation will take longer, which will increase labor costs.
Epoxy Garage Floor Costs by Garage Size
How much does it cost to epoxy a garage floor? The size of your garage is a primary determiner of epoxy floor costs because the larger the floor, the more materials will be used and the longer it will take to install.
The average cost of an epoxy garage floor is $3 to $12, including materials and installation.
Small-sized Garages
The average size of a one-car garage is 12 feet wide by 22 feet deep, usually about 250 square feet. Here are some other common sizes of small garages and the associated cost of installing an epoxy garage floor:
Garage size | Square feet | Cost of epoxy floor |
12 x 22 | 264 | $800 to $3,200 |
14 x 22 | 308 | $925 to $3,700 |
14 x 24 | 336 | $1,00 to $4,000 |
16 x 24 | 384 | $1,150 to $4,600 |
Medium to Large-sized Garages
The most common size for a two-car garage is 18 feet by 20 feet. The 2-car garage epoxy flooring cost starts at $1,100 to $4,300. Larger garages can fit three cars and are typically 32 feet wide by 22 feet long.
Medium to large-sized garages are more labor intensive and have increased material demands, but the price may not be as high per square foot because of fixed costs like travel expenses and job setup fees.
Here are some average costs of epoxy floor coatings for two and three-car garages:
Garage size | Square feet | Cost of epoxy floor |
18 x 20 | 360 | $1,100 to $4,300 |
20 x 20 | 400 | $1,200 to $4,800 |
20 x 22 | 440 | $1,300 to $5,300 |
22 x 22 | 484 | $1,500 to $5,800 |
32 x 22 (3-car) | 704 | $2,100 to $8,400 |
When Do You Need an Epoxy Garage Floor?
Garage floors are attractive and durable and add value to your home. However, you may need an epoxy coating on your garage floor for other reasons.
Enhancing Durability
Increased durability is the main reason many people choose an epoxy garage floor coating. Although strong, concrete is porous, so it’s easily chipped, cracked, and stained.
Installing an epoxy garage floor coating makes your floor tough enough to withstand everything from heavy traffic to chemical spills. The increased wear and tear resistance that an epoxy coating gives your concrete floor will extend the useful life of your garage floor by many years.
Aesthetic Appeal
Visual upgrades made with epoxy coatings can drastically improve the appearance of your garage floor. The clean look of an epoxy garage floor will add to your home’s aesthetic. You can also use many decorative touches to personalize your floor.
If you own an auto shop or operate a business out of your garage, customized designs are a great way to add to your brand’s design by choosing decorative options like metallic marble epoxy.
Safety and Maintenance
Epoxy floor coatings can make your concrete floor safer by making it easier to clean up spills. Since concrete is porous, oils and other mechanical liquids can be tough to mop up. With an epoxy coating, it’s easy to wipe up spills.
Many people also add grit to their epoxy floor coatings to improve the slip resistance of epoxy, especially near entrances and areas prone to wetness.
DIY Epoxy Garage Floor Costs vs. Hiring a Professional
Epoxy garage floor installations are DIY-friendly projects as long as you research what needs to be done and follow the manufacturer’s directions. However, it’s a lot of work, so hiring a professional is preferred by many.
DIY Considerations
If you have the time and the skills for this project, installing an epoxy floor coating is simply a matter of finding the right materials and equipment. You may need to rent equipment for preparing the floor, but overall you can save a lot of money with DIY installation.
On the downside, there is a risk of improper installation, which can be expensive to fix. Consider practicing on a concrete floor in a smaller outbuilding if you can.
Professional Installations
The expertise and efficiency of professional installations are hard to beat. Professionals can get in and out within two to three days, and you can enjoy the benefits of a quality floor. Also, the warranty on some products may not be valid if you do the work yourself.
How to Save Money on Epoxy Garage Floor Costs
DIY installation of an epoxy garage floor is one of the best ways to save money, but there are other ways to lower your costs. If you’re hiring a professional, ask them how you can save.
Opting for Simpler Designs
Basic finishes are less expensive, and minimizing the amount of customization is one of the easiest ways to save on an epoxy garage floor.
Bulk Purchasing
You may be able to reduce your per-unit price if you’re installing multiple epoxy floors or if you go in with neighbors to get a volume discount.
Frequently Asked Questions About Epoxy Garage Floor Costs
How durable is an epoxy garage floor and is it worth the investment?
Epoxy floors will stand up to high traffic and chemical spills, and they are extremely resistant to cracking, chipping, and staining. They are one of the best investments you can make in your home. High-quality garage floor coatings can increase your home’s value by as much as $8 per square foot.
Can I apply epoxy to my garage floor myself?
Installing an epoxy garage floor is an easy DIY project that almost anyone can do themselves. The key is to thoroughly prepare your concrete floor and follow the manufacturer’s directions closely to avoid improper installation.
What are the maintenance costs associated with epoxy garage floors?
Epoxy garage floors are very low maintenance, and since they last up to 20 years before needing replacement, they also have very low replacement costs.
How does the cost of epoxy flooring compare to alternative garage flooring options?
Epoxy flooring is both cost-effective and durable, and compared to other types of flooring, it offers the best combination of these two benefits. Other cost-effective flooring options, like concrete paints and stains, aren’t as durable. Heavy-duty garage flooring options like stone flooring are much more expensive than epoxy.
Can I reduce costs by using lower-quality epoxy, and what are the trade-offs?
Using a lower-quality epoxy may save you money, but it’s not the best deal in the long run. Low-quality epoxies don’t adhere as well to concrete, aren’t as durable, and don’t offer the same amount of chemical resistance. If you’re DIYing an epoxy garage floor, use the money you save on labor to buy high-quality epoxy.