Printable

Garage shop planning checklist

Do these in order: measure the clear interior, decide which vehicle stays, list the machines with footprint and weight, count the circuits, then size heat, light and dust. Each step links to the calculator that does the math. Print this page; the site chrome hides itself.

By the GarageShopCalc editors · Updated 2026-10-13 · Researched from manufacturer specifications, code tables and verified owner reviews

1. Measure the bay

[ ] Clear interior width and depth in inches, wall to wall (not the slab size)
[ ] Overhead door width and the header height
[ ] Ceiling height and the lowest point (door tracks, opener)
[ ] Slab condition: cracks, slope to the door, any drain
[ ] Studs or block: where wall storage can bolt

2. Decide about the car

[ ] Vehicle length bumper to bumper, and width with mirrors
[ ] Which bay it parks in, and how far from the door
[ ] 30 in beside it for the doors; 18 in at each end
[ ] Run the park-the-car calculator

3. List the machines

[ ] Footprint (including fence rails and wings) and weight, from the listing
[ ] Voltage and amps from the nameplate
[ ] Which ones roll on a mobile base
[ ] Run the layout calculator or open the layout for your bay

4. Count the circuits

[ ] One dedicated circuit per large machine; 240V where a motor is over about 2 HP
[ ] Run the amps calculator and the 240V circuit calculator
[ ] Have a licensed electrician confirm the service, the panel space and the permit

5. Heat, light, air and dust

[ ] Heater, with a plan for combustion safety if it burns anything
[ ] Lighting: rows over benches and machines
[ ] Dust collector and air filter
[ ] Fire extinguisher by the door, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

6. Budget

[ ] Pick a tier with the budget planner
[ ] Buy the first two machines; wire for all of them

Email me this checklist

Get it as a note you can keep, plus a few short emails, then a couple a month at most.

Unsubscribe anytime. You can also just read the checklist on this site.

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.