Garages make an excellent workspace, but not when they’re uncomfortably hot – especially if you live in a climate prone to extreme heat. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your garage cool. Why is my garage so hot? That is a popular question we’ve all contemplated when temperatures rise. Learning how to cool a garage is often necessary for the summer and has benefits beyond just keeping you cool

Best Ways to Keep Your Garage Cool This Summer

As the summer heat begins to kick in, you may wonder, what is the best way to cool a garage? A garage is a great asset for your home, but it can easily be wasted if the space is too hot.

Benefits of Keeping Your Garage Cool

Protects Personal and Seasonal Items

Like every homeowner, you store personal and seasonal items in your garage. Yet, doing this can be risky if your space isn’t insulated properly.

Multipurpose Space

Keeping your garage cool in the summer allows you to repurpose the space. You can turn it into a workshop, gym, man cave, or studio area, making it more practical and purposeful. In return, this helps maximize your indoor space, benefiting your daily life.

These tips make it easier to control the temperature inside your garage all year round.

Insulate: Use insulation materials like foam board, fiberglass batts, or spray foam to prevent heat transfer from outside. You can also insulate your garage door to keep it 22–26°F cooler in the summer.

Use fans: Place fans throughout your garage to help circulate cooler air. Ventilation fans are inexpensive, reliable, and use less electricity than air conditioners. You can also use an attic fan to vent hot air out and draw in cool air from outside.

Use a dehumidifier: A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air, especially if you live in a humid area.

Use air conditioning: Install an air conditioning unit to keep your garage cool. Portable A/Cs Don’t need ducts to function.

Open doors and windows: Allow airflow by opening doors and windows.

Park your car outside: Let it cool off outside instead of parking in your garage.

Leave your vehicle parked outside after driving it on a hot day if you plan to use the garage after getting home. Heat will radiate from a car long after it’s been shut off, which can add a few degrees to your garage’s temperature.

Use your garage wisely: Avoid going in and out of your garage all day, as this can trap hot air inside.

Paint Your Garage in Light Colors

Dark colors absorb heat from the sun. In the summer, a garage painted dark may be warmer and more uncomfortable than a garage painted light. You can reduce the temperature of your garage this summer by repainting it to a lighter, brighter color that will reflect heat from the sun.