Calculator
Workbench Size Calculator
In a 12 x 20 ft one-car garage with a sedan parked inside, no bench fits with a 30 in aisle: only 3 ft is left behind the front bumper. With the car outside, a bench the full 12 ft width fits along the back wall. In a 22 x 22 ft two-car garage a 16 ft bench fits even with a sedan parked. The calculator tries every length against your garage and the parked vehicle and reports the longest that fits.
Workbench size for a garageUpdates as you type
No bench fits with that vehicle inside
- 24 in deep bench
- does not fit
- 30 in deep bench
- does not fit
- 36 in deep bench
- does not fit
- Garage and vehicle
- 12 x 20 ft, mid-size sedan parked inside
The plan shows the 30 in deep bench where it fits best. Two people need about 8 ft of bench; one person is comfortable at 5 to 6 ft. A wall-mounted fold-down bench changes the answer: check its depth when folded.
Benches by length
Matched to this result.
Prices change often; the button shows today's price on Amazon.
Both ways to buy: Amazon and direct from Grizzly
Each card shows an Amazon pick and a Grizzly Industrial pick for the same job, with one line on when to choose which.
4 ft adjustable workbench
Pick the Amazon bench for the lowest entry cost; pick the Grizzly bench if you want outlets built into the bench and a direct parts line.
6 ft adjustable workbench
Choose the Amazon bench to keep spending down; choose the Grizzly bench when you run power tools on it every weekend and want the built-in outlets.
Hardwood-top workbench
The Amazon bench is a height-adjustable hardwood top; the Grizzly bench is a fixed heavy-duty oak top on steel legs for a bench that never moves.
Prices change often and Grizzly runs sales, so the buttons show current prices.
How the longest bench is found
The calculator tries a bench every 6 in from 2 ft up to the width of the garage (or 16 ft), at three depths. A bench only counts if it sits against the floor plan without overlapping the parked vehicle's walk-around and keeps a clear aisle in front of it. The answer is the longest that works at each depth, with the plan drawn for the 30 in bench.
What to do when the answer is "none"
A one-car bay with a car in it often has no room for a 24 in bench. The workable options are a wall-mounted fold-down bench, a bench on locking casters that rolls out when the car leaves, or moving the car and the shop on alternating days. The workbench section covers each, and the park-the-car calculator shows exactly how much strip is left.
Get the garage shop planning checklist
One printable page: measure the bay, count the circuits, list the machines, check the floor. Plus a few short emails, then a couple a month at most.
Unsubscribe anytime. You can also just read the checklist on this site.More garage shop calculators
- Layout and what fits
- Space left with a car
- Workshop amps and subpanel
- 240V circuit sizing
- 240V outlet install cost
- Voltage drop and cords
- Compressor CFM
- Dust collector and duct size
- Garage heater BTU
- Mini-split BTU
- Shop lighting
- Air filtration ACH
- Workbench height and depth
- Mobile base sizing
- Shop budget planner
Frequently asked questions
How long should a garage workbench be?
Five to six feet suits one person, eight feet suits two. In a one-car garage the space, not the preference, usually decides.
What aisle do I need in front of a bench?
About 30 to 36 in to stand and work. The calculator lets you choose from 24 to 48 in.
Is a fold-down bench strong enough?
Check the load rating and the wall structure: a bench that folds against studs can be rated for hundreds of pounds, but not every wall can take it.
This page is researched guidance, not professional electrical, engineering or safety advice. Circuits, loads and clearances depend on your house, your service and your town: have a licensed electrician confirm any wiring, and check local code and each manufacturer's manual before you act.
