Thought your garage was too small for conversion? According to the experts, there are lots of ways to transform even tiny spaces into useful new additions

If you are considering converting your own garage, before getting too excited, it is important that you check it is big enough to make the whole project worthwhile – garages that came with older houses were often pretty compact and, in some cases, this could lead to difficulties.

For anyone who wants to add space to their home in a cost-effective way that doesn't involve the disruption of building a full-blown extension, a garage conversion is ideal. Not only does this type of project make fantastic use of what is often wasted space, it also adds value and usually won't require planning permission either.

That said, converting a garage isn't always straightforward. There are strict building regulations to adhere to and, if you plan on building above the garage to really maximise the new space, the foundations will need to be assessed.

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If you are unsure whether you have enough space within your garage to make a conversion viable, this is everything you need to know before deciding to go ahead, as well as advice on how to really make the most of your new addition.

How big does a garage need to be for a conversion?

If you are dealing with a pretty modest, single garage – as opposed to a sprawling double design – you may well be questioning how worthwhile the cost of a garage conversion will be – but how small is too small?

'There is no strict minimum size for a garage conversion but, practically speaking, anything under between 12–14m² becomes difficult to make habitable while meeting building regulations standards once you account for insulation, final wall finishes, and adequate circulation space,' explains Zaeem Chaudhary, director of AC Design Solution. 'That said, even a small single garage can add real value if used as a home office, utility room, or home gym – uses that don't require the same floor area thresholds as a bedroom or living room would.'

'If your garage is at least 15m² then you will be able to convert it into a usable space, although there is no legal requirement when it comes to minimum sizes,' picks up Angelo Patrizi, founder and lead fitter at Nuova Home Improvements. 'The average size of a single garage in the UK is between 16-18m² – the perfect size for converting. We would always complete a layout survey and plan before allowing our clients to commit to converting a small garage footprint.'

Zaeem Chaudhary

Zaeem Chaudhary is director of AC Design Solution, a multidisciplinary practice delivering architecture, structural engineering, and party wall services across London and the UK.

Angelo Patrizi

Angleo runs Nuova Home Improvements, a hands-on renovation company based in Berkshire, specialising in kitchens, bathrooms, extensions, loft conversions, and full home renovations.

How do you maximise space in a small garage conversion?

Providing your garage will give you enough space to meet the required building regulations, what you use it for is largely up to you – but finding ways to maximise the space you have available should still be a priority if you want to ensure you are getting the most out of the money you are spending as well as adding value to your home.

Zaeem Chaudhary has a great idea for using the vertical space within a petite conversion. 'For small garages, the key is maximising ceiling height. Incorporating some mezzanine ideas can effectively double your usable floor area within the same footprint (you'll need a ceiling height of at least 4m for this to work.) However, you will need to check that the structural frame and floor loading have been designed accordingly – something your chosen designer should assess (we do this on every conversion project we carry out.)'

Angelo Patrizi has some more thoughts when it comes to getting the most out of an attached garage conversion. 'The most effective way to create an impact when converting a garage is to create an open-plan living space by removing the wall separating the garage and the adjacent room, as this opens up all kinds of possibilities.'

Can you convert just part of a garage?

Where you have enough space to play with, it can be a good idea to convert just part of your garage to expand your home while retaining a portion for storage. One of the biggest garage conversion mistakes people make is to neglect to think through where they will store all the stuff that they once housed in this space.

'Converting just part of a garage is entirely viable and often makes sense where the homeowner wants to retain storage or parking,' explains Zaeem Chaudhary. 'A part-conversion also tends to be simpler from a planning perspective, as the external appearance changes less if you retain the garage doors rather than swap them for windows.'

This idea tends to be perfect where the garage conversion will be used for a utility or boot room, both spaces that benefit from having a door to outside.

Is it a good idea to add another storey to a small garage conversion?

Adding a storey on top of a garage conversion is the perfect way to extend without encroaching on garden space – ideal for anyone wanting to add a bedroom. It is actually very cost effective too when compared to extension costs.

That said, it will be more expensive than a simple single storey garage conversion, as Zaeem Chaudhary explains. 'In terms of cost, a two-storey extension above a garage is typically 40–60% more expensive than a single-storey equivalent, due to the additional structural requirements, staircase, and increased external envelope.

'However, the cost per square metre is often better value overall given the shared foundations and roof,' points out Zaeem.

FAQs

What are the best ways to use a small garage conversion?

There are lots of great ways to use a garage conversion – but in the case of smaller structures, in order to make a garage conversion worth it, do think through how the final space will work on a day-to-day basis, as well as how future buyers might view it.

'Compact garage conversions can be used for home offices, utility rooms or children’s playrooms,' suggests Angelo Patrizi. 'Many people think about converting a small garage into a separate dining room, but if you are considering this try to design the space so that it will still be useful to potential purchasers who might have no need for this kind of room – aim for a more multi-purpose space.'

When is a garage conversion a bad idea?

In some cases, garage conversions just don't make sense and it really does pay to consider this if you want to ensure you are not wasting money on something that won't truly add to your experience of living in your home – or appeal to potential buyers later down the line.

'Generally, you should not convert your garage into habitable space if you have no off-road parking and live in an area when on-road parking is already difficult – it could actually decrease the resale value of your house,' warns Angelo Patrizi.

'Additionally, if the garage structure requires a considerable amount of damp-proofing, extensive repairs or the ceiling height is less than 2.1m then the build costs will quickly escalate and your return on investment will become more unpredictable.'

While planning permission for garage conversions is not usually needed, there will be cases where you will need to make an application. If you live in a conservation area, in a listed building, have already used up your permitted development rights or are building a two-storey garage conversion, you may well need to get in touch with your local planning office before work begins.