Parking Trends in Newly Completed Single-Family Homes, 2024

In 2024, 65% of newly completed single-family homes featured two-car garages, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census’s Survey of Construction data. The share of new homes with three or more car garages stood at 15%, continuing a downward trend from its peak of 24% in 2015 and decreasing 2 percentage points from 2023. On the other hand, one-car garages, which have been steadily increasing in recent years, reached 9% – their highest share in three decades. Shares of homes with carports and homes without any parking facility remained steady, accounting for 1% and 9% of completions, respectively. 

The 2024 data also show notable differences in parking facility shares across Census divisions. Two-car garages led in every region but ranged from 54% of completions in the East North Central to 72% in the West South Central. Three or more car garages were most common in the West North Central (33%), followed by the East North Central (28%) and Mountain (27%) divisions, but accounted for only 4% of completions in New England. One-car garages were most prevalent in the Middle Atlantic (19%) and South Atlantic (14%), compared with under 5% in several Midwest and Mountain divisions. “Other” parking options, including carports and off-street parking, reached their highest share in the East South Central (17%) and New England (14%), while making up only 5% in the West North Central. These figures illustrate how the second-most common parking type after two-car garages varies greatly depending on the size and density of the region.

Garage size also tended to grow with the house. Smaller homes – under 1,200 square feet – were most likely to come with “other” parking options, making up 70% of completions in that size category.  One-car garages were most common in homes between 1,200 and 1,599 square feet, at 20%. Two-car garages were the leading choice for homes between 1,200 and 4,999 square feet, with their share peaking at 82% for homes between 2,000 and 2,399 square feet.  Among the largest homes – those exceeding 5,000 square feet – three or more car garages were the most prevalent option, comprising 70% of completions.

Taken together, the 2024 figures show that the two-car garage remains the most common parking option for new single-family construction. They also highlight where shifts in shares have occurred. Larger garages, such as those with three or more spaces, have been gradually losing ground, while smaller one-car garages have inched upward to their highest share in decades.