Carport Kits Compared: Steel, Aluminum, Wood and Fabric by Size
CarportBay Editorial Team Reviewed
Carport kits are prefabricated carports that ship as parts for you or a hired crew to assemble. Among permanent kits, steel tube-frame models cost least in the October 2026 listings, at $2.61 to $7.38 per square foot, while wood, polycarbonate and aluminum kits ran $8.17 to $22.83. Most listings leave out the foundation, permit and labor.
| Kit type | Kit-only price per sq ft | Roof |
|---|---|---|
| Steel tube frame | $2.61 to $7.38 | Metal panels |
| Wood, cedar frame | $8.17 to $11.00 | Steel panels |
| Steel frame, clear roof | $19.28 | Polycarbonate |
| Aluminum frame | $21.12 to $22.83 | Polycarbonate |
| Fabric canopy | $1.00 | PE cover |
On this page
What is a carport kit, and which kit types are there?
A carport kit is a set of prefabricated parts that you or a hired crew assemble on your site. Prefab carport kits and prefabricated carport kits name the same product.
- Steel kits use a tube frame under metal roof panels; Arrow lists a 15-gauge frame, and ProBuilt Steel says a lower gauge is thicker steel.
- Wooden carport kits and cedar carport kits use a cedar frame under a steel roof. See wood carport kits.
- Aluminum carport kits pair an aluminum frame with polycarbonate, a clear plastic roof panel.
- Fabric canopies, the tarp carport kits, use a polyethylene (PE) cover over a galvanized frame.
Portable carport kits are the fabric row. Pole barn carport kits are a separate build; Hansen Pole Buildings states $7,000 to $18,000 for its small size. Enclosed carport kits and carport enclosure kits add sidewalls. For the parts in the box, read what a carport kit includes.
Kit, built on site or dealer-installed: which fits?
The three paths differ in cost, assembler, delivery time and warranty.
| Criterion | Kit | Built on site by a contractor | Dealer-installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost as sources state it | Mueller 20x20 kit-only sale price $1,795, tax and freight excluded | Angi (September 22, 2026): installed average $6,372, typical $3,131 to $9,683 | Alan's 20x20 regular roof from $1,695, free delivery and installation in 21 states |
| Who assembles | The buyer or a hired crew, with Mueller's drawings and instructions | A contractor | The dealer's crew |
| Delivery time | VersaTube lists shipping in 5 to 10 business days | Not stated in sources read | ACE Steel lists 3 to 4 weeks; Alan's lists none |
| Warranty | Mueller: 45-year limited paint warranty; Arrow at Lowe's: 10-year | Not stated in sources read | No term read |
Carport extension kits and carport awning kits attach to a wall and are not priced here.
What do carport kits cost by type and size?
Steel tube-frame kits cost $2.61 to $7.38 per square foot in October 2026. Kit-only price means the listing price for the parts, before tax, freight, foundation, permit and labor.
For carports kits, cheap carport kits and inexpensive carport kits, the lowest total is the fabric canopy at $199.99; the lowest permanent kit is a Home Depot steel listing at $1,043.48.
Kit-only price per square foot by type
| Kit | Seller | Kit-only price | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel tube frame | |||
| Mueller 12x20 | Mueller | $1,095 | $4.56 |
| Mueller 20x20 | Mueller | $1,795 | $4.49 |
| Mueller 24x24 | Mueller | $2,595 | $4.51 |
| VersaTube 12x20x7 | Home Depot | $1,099 | $4.58 |
| VersaTube 18x20x10 | Home Depot | $2,299.99 | $6.39 |
| Arrow 20x20x9 | ShedsDirect | $2,701.95 (out of stock) | $6.75 |
| Arrow 10x20x9 | Walmart marketplace seller | $1,476.99 | $7.38 |
| 12 third-party 20x20 steel listings | The Home Depot | $1,043.48 to $1,999 | $2.61 to $5.00 |
| Wood, cedar frame, steel roof | |||
| amerlife 20x20x9.2 | Home Depot | $3,266.59 | $8.17 |
| Kingsport 20x20x8 | Home Depot | $4,398.99 | $11.00 |
| Steel frame, clear roof | |||
| Sunjoy Newville 20x14x10 | Home Depot | $5,398 | $19.28 |
| Aluminum frame, polycarbonate roof | |||
| Canopia Arizona Wave 10x16 | ShedsDirect | $3,379.95 | $21.12 |
| Canopia Oslo 20x30 | ShedsDirect | $13,699.95 (out of stock) | $22.83 |
| Fabric canopy | |||
| Outsunny 10x20 portable | Aosom | $199.99 | $1.00 |
Read October 5, 2026; prices change often. Two of the 13 named listings were out of stock at the read.
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The rows split by frame and roof material, not roof shape, so flat roof carport kits and single slope carport kits are not priced separately.
Kit-only price by size: 12x20, 20x20 and 24x24
For carport building kits, Mueller's kit-only price per sq ft is $4.56 at 12x20, $4.49 at 20x20 and $4.51 at 24x24.
| Size | Listing | Kit-only price | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x20 (240 sq ft) | Mueller kit-only price | $1,095 | $4.56 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | Mueller kit-only price | $1,795 | $4.49 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | 12 Home Depot third-party steel listings | $1,043.48 to $1,999 | $2.61 to $5.00 |
| 24x24 (576 sq ft) | Mueller kit-only price | $2,595 | $4.51 |
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For cheap carports kits and small carport kits, the 12x20 (240 sq ft) is the entry size here; for large carport kits, the 24x24 (576 sq ft). The 20x20 carport size guide covers that footprint.
What a 20x20 kit price leaves out
On a 20x20 (400 sq ft), the kit price is the first of five layers. For the parts in the box, read what a carport kit includes. Covered carport kits and carport garage kits sit on the same layers.
| Layer | Source figure, and total for 400 sq ft | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kit | Mueller 20x20 kit-only price: $1,795 | Mueller, Inc., read October 2026 |
| 2. Freight terms | Mueller excludes freight; ShedsDirect shows free LTL curbside shipping; HomeGuide says delivery is "included in most kit prices" (not summed) | Mueller, Inc., read October 2026ShedsDirect, read October 2026HomeGuide, January 2026 |
| 3. Foundation | Angi $4 to $8 per sq ft: $1,600 to $3,200; HomeGuide $5 to $10 per sq ft: $2,000 to $4,000 | Angi, September 2026HomeGuide, January 2026 |
| 4. Permit | HomeGuide $75 to $300; Angi $60 to $800 | HomeGuide, January 2026Angi, September 2026 |
| 5. Assembly labor | HomeGuide kit labor $3 to $5 per sq ft: $1,200 to $2,000; Angi labor $3 to $10 per sq ft (all carport types): $1,200 to $4,000 | HomeGuide, January 2026Angi, September 2026 |
Angi and HomeGuide scope their ranges differently, so no total is printed.
How do you read a carport kit's wind and snow rating?
A kit listing's wind or snow rating is the seller's figure. In ASCE 7, wind speed is a 3-second gust, per StructureMag. A psf is a pound per square foot of load.
| Listing | Wind | Snow | Standard named, and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrow 20x20x9 (ShedsDirect) | 100 mph | 35 psf | None on the listing. ShelterLogic's Arrow page cites ASCE 7-05; Lowe's labels the figures "for reference only".ShelterLogic pageLowe's page |
| Canopia Arizona Wave 10x16 (ShedsDirect) | 75 mph | 15.4 psf | None; concrete footings required. |
| Canopia Oslo 20x30 (ShedsDirect) | 75 mph | 10 psf with edge posts; 20 psf with posts 4 ft inside | None. |
| VersaTube 12x20x7 (Home Depot) | Not listed | 40 lb with the optional snow brace kit | None. |
| VersaTube 18x20x10 (Home Depot) | By quote | By quote | "Higher snow and wind loads require a Store Special Order quote." |
| Mueller kits | Not listed | Not listed | Mueller says it does not represent its kits as meeting a specific code or engineering criteria. |
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Heavy duty carport kits is a seller label, not a rating.
Who sets the design load for your site?
Your building department sets the design value for your address, and a seller rating does not replace it. Arrow's ratings assume a securely anchored frame, and the Arizona Wave needs concrete footings.
Who makes carport kits, and where are they sold?
Mueller says it makes the kits it sells; ShedsDirect, Home Depot and Lowe's sell kits that other companies make. Read maker versus dealer explained for the definitions.
| Company | Role as the company states it | |
|---|---|---|
| Mueller, Inc. | Says it manufactures all the prefabricated buildings it sells | Mueller 12x20, 20x20 and 24x24 |
| ShedsDirect | Names Arrow as the maker of the Arrow kits it lists; also lists Canopia | Arrow 20x20x9; Canopia Arizona Wave and Oslo |
| The Home Depot | Sells VersaTube, Sunjoy, amerlife, Kingsport and other brands | VersaTube, Sunjoy Newville, amerlife, Kingsport, 12 third-party steel kits |
| Lowe's | Sells Arrow and Canopia kits | Arrow 20x24x9 and 20x20x9; Canopia |
| Walmart marketplace seller | A third-party seller on Walmart's marketplace | Arrow 10x20x9 |
| Canopia by Palram | Sells under the Canopia by Palram name; ShedsDirect and Lowe's list its kits | Arizona Wave and Oslo |
| Alan's Factory Outlet | Calls itself an authorized dealer of Carolina Carports, a manufacturer in Dobson, NC per its page | Installed offers; no kit price used |
No page read confirms who owns the Arrow name or its link to ShelterLogic. The best carport kits depend on type, size, rating, maker and terms; boat carport kits and camper carport kits are not priced here.
Returns and freight terms by seller
| Seller | Return term as printed | Freight and delivery as printed |
|---|---|---|
| The Home Depot | Within 90 days of purchase, in store or online | Home freight delivery needs unloading capability |
| Lowe's | "Return it in store or ship it back for free", eligibility rules apply | Not read |
| ShedsDirect | Within 30 days, unused and resellable; 25 percent restocking charge on used or tested items | Free less-than-truckload (LTL) curbside shipping; Arrow 20x20x9 is six boxes, 1,229 lb; report damage within 48 hours |
| Mueller, Viking, Alan's, Eagle, Carport.com | No return policy found on the pages read | Carport.com lists free kit delivery in 40 or more statesCarport.com page |
Terms read October 5, 2026; they can change.
Which kit fits your site, vehicles and permit?
Your site, vehicles and city permit rule decide which kit to price. Attached carport kits, garage carport kits, retractable carport kits and solar carport kits are not priced here.
| Situation | Points to | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Two cars | A 20x20 kit (400 sq ft), Mueller's two-car size | A 24x24 (576 sq ft) for two large vehicles |
| Snow or high wind | A kit whose listing states a rating for the site | Ask the building department; Mueller lists none |
| Permanent carport on a slab | A steel or wood kit | Slab, permit and labor priced separately |
| Temporary or moving-friendly cover | A fabric canopy (Outsunny 10x20, $199.99) | No rating on the listing |
IRC R105.2 item 1, as printed by the City of Sioux Falls and Grant County, Washington (2021 edition), exempts one-story detached accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less from a permit and does not name carports. California uses 120 sq ft, per El Dorado County and the City of Berkeley. LegalClarity advises written homeowners association approval before purchase.
This page provides general information about permit and code requirements based on publicly available sources cited above. Building codes and permit requirements vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This is not a substitute for confirming current requirements with your local building department or consulting a licensed contractor or engineer for your specific project.
What this comparison leaves out
This guide compares kit types and sizes; assembly steps and engineering sit on their own pages.
- Prices are listing prices read October 5, 2026, and they change.
- Ratings are the sellers' figures; the building department sets local values.
- Five facts have no source on the pages read: return policies for five sellers, most code editions, delivery time and warranty for contractor-built carports, and the ICC text of R105.2.
Carport kit questions
Eight questions cover codes, cost, sizes, retailers, delivery and permits.
A kit rating does not replace your site's design value. Mueller says it does not represent its kits as meeting a specific code. Ask your building department.
Kit-only prices are lower, but they leave out freight terms, foundation, permit and labor. Mueller lists a 20x20 kit at $1,795; Angi's installed average is $6,372, updated September 22, 2026.
Mueller lists a 20x20 kit, 400 sq ft, as its two-car size and a 24x24 for two large vehicles. Check vehicle length and door swing against the stated dimensions.
Listings read in October 2026 priced steel kits at $2.61 to $7.38 per sq ft and aluminum kits at $21.12 to $22.83. The two aluminum kits state 75 mph wind; the Arrow steel kit states 100 mph.
Yes. Home Depot lists VersaTube and other brands, Lowe's lists Arrow and Canopia, and Walmart lists Arrow through a third-party seller. Home Depot allows returns within 90 days.
By freight. ShedsDirect lists an Arrow 20x20x9 as six boxes weighing 1,229 lb, delivered curbside by LTL carrier. Plan for unloading help.
Often yes. Local documents quoting the 2021 International Residential Code list a 200 sq ft permit exemption, so a 400 sq ft carport is above it. Ask your city's building department.
No single kit is best for every site. Compare type, size, listed wind and snow rating, maker, what the price includes and return terms against your local design values.
Where to go next
Each next page takes one decision from this guide further: a material, a size or the permit.
The form is at the end of this page.
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