Side Entry Garage vs Front Entry Garage (What Is Better?)

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Side Entry Garage vs Front Entry Garage (What Is Better?)

For an existing house the location of the attached garage is a given. Very little you can do about it. But are you planning to buy a house or build a new one? Then you need to evaluate the pros & cons of a side entry garage vs a front entry garage. What is better?

Between side entry garage vs a front entry garage, a side entry garage is expensive, takes more driveway space but enhances the curb appeal of your home substantially. 

The garage door is on the side of the house. The entire house facade is visible from the street. This gives the architect or you, a much larger canvas to present your house and front yard to a visitor. 

Most houses in the US have a front entry garage. Front entry garage plans have become the norm. However, this trend has emerged out of necessity & functionality rather than out of any aesthetic or design considerations.

The door of a front entry garage can take up as much as 30% of the house façade and add nothing to the curb appeal. If anything, it may diminish the beauty of your home.

DISCLAIMER: In this post I will showcase plans from eplans to illustrate my explanations. eplans is an excellent resource if you are interested in finding the plan for the house of your dreams. I am not an employee or affiliate of eplans and will not have any financial benefit, should you decide to use their services. My objective is purely to give you the best information on the topic.

What is a Front Entry Garage?

A front entry garage is the norm rather than the exception. The following features define a typical front entry garage:

• Both the front door of the house and the garage door face the street
• The front of the garage either aligns with the front of the house or protrudes by a few feet
• The walk from the garage door to the front door is short and therefore quite convenient for visitors
• The driveway can also be short and straight from the main street
•  The space requirement for driving up to a front entry garage is low

Here is an example of a Front Entry Garage House Plan from eplans (Plan 1066-12)

What is a Side Entry Garage?

Not everyone likes the idea of a large garage door taking up a significant portion of their house facade. 

The front entry garage does not present a pretty picture if the garage is somewhat messy, the door is open and the driveway leading up to it is short & straight. Does not leave you with much privacy.

A front entry garage is restrictive to the creativity & aesthetics that you could have brought to your house front. You are constrained to present an asymmetrical house front just to accommodate a front entry garage.

Of late the concept of a side entry garage has been gaining ground. The following features define a typical side entry garage:

• The front of the garage does not form a part of the house façade
• The garage is situated on the side of the house and the garage door is typically perpendicular to the street
• Even if the garage door is parallel to the street, it does not form a part of the house façade
• The driveway tends to be much longer
• The space requirement for driving up to and parking in the garage is much higher 
• Consequently, the walk from the garage door to the front door is longer and not as convenient for visitors

Here is an example of a Side Entry Garage House Plan from eplans (Plan 410-3612)

Pros & Cons of Side vs Front Entry Garages

The side entry garage is a relatively new trend. The front entry garage has been around ever since the concept of an attached garage was incorporated in house plans. So, when it comes to side entry garage vs front entry garage, what is better?

Here are the pros and cons of side vs front entry garages:

Side Entry Garage House Plans – Pros

• Enhances your home’s curb appeal
• You can be more creative with your home façade & landscaping
• Easier to design for larger garages (3 or 4 car garages)
• Shorter access to the backyard
• Allow for more guest parking due to longer & wider driveway
• Increases property value as the house looks bigger
• More privacy as not visible from the street

Side Entry Garage House Plans – Cons

• Needs a longer driveway
• Parking will be a bit more challenging, especially if you have larger vehicles
• Longer sidewalk from garage door to front door
• Inconvenient for guests
• Not workable for narrow lots
• Typically more expensive because of higher land use

Front Entry Garage House Plans – Pros

• Works well even with a short driveway
• Parking is more convenient, even for large vehicles
• Shorter sidewalk from garage door to front door
• Convenient for guests
• Ideal for narrow lots
• Less expensive as more efficient land use

Front Entry Garage House Plans – Cons

• The garage door takes up a lot of the house façade
• Larger the garage (3 or 4 cars), more of the façade it takes up
• Need to go around the house to reach the backyard
• Puts constraints on your home façade & landscaping
• Does not add much to property value
• Low privacy, especially when the garage door is open
• Your guests may need to park on the street due to shorter driveway

Side Entry Garage vs Front Entry Garage. What is better? It really depends on your lot, your needs and your lifestyle. Since both are attached garages, convenience of using the garage entry door to house will still be there!

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.