Top 20 Garage Bar Ideas on a Budget

Have you been considering converting your garage space into a home bar? If so, this list is for you! There is plenty of inspiration when it comes to garage bars but you must make it your own! After all, this will be the space where you kick your feet back and relax after a long week at work.

Even if you’re on a budget, you can still transform your garage into your perfect drinking area. Make sure to stock all of your favorites so you can open up a cold one at the end of the day and watch your favorite team play.

1. Corrugated Metal Bar

If you have some leftover corrugated metal lying around, you can transform it into your very own bar. This is a relatively cheap material, so you can save some money on the bar itself and invest more into all of the delicious drinks you’ll eventually stock it with.

View the project details here: johneverson.com

This particular bar features corrugated metal sheeting and some wooden beams. The countertop will likely be something you’ll need to purchase from your local home improvement store.

Another example of a corrugated metal bar can be found here. This is a fairly easy home bar to put together and it would work well in many garages.

You’ll need to cut the corrugated metal. You can use an angle grinder, circular saw, table saw, and even a dremel or scroll saw if needed.

2. Scrap Wood Bar

Finding scrap wood can be as simple as searching up your local neighborhood or city forum and seeing if someone is giving it away. This makes it a cheap addition to your garage bar. For the countertop, you can find a nicer plank of wood and finish it with your preferred stain color.

View the project here: etsy.com

It’s important to not worry so much about the bar itself — as it’s what’s behind it that’s going to matter the most. You can add on as much as you want later. When you’re on a budget, just find the most cost-effective material and craft a bar out of it.

3. Natural Wood Bar Top

For this particular bar, they’ve used two mini-fridges to hold up the countertop. This is a great method for a garage bar, as it efficiently uses the space that you have available. You’re able to fully stock the mini-fridges and not worry about where you’re going to place them.

Visit the project idea here: pinterest.com

When finding the perfect piece of wood for the counter, you may find that you’ll need to finish the wood yourself. You can stain it your desired shade and then place a protective coating over top of the stain. This helps ensure the wood is now waterproof and you can use it to mix your favorite drinks.

4. String Lighting

If you’re worried about how you’ll add ambient light to your garage bar, it’s as simple as throwing up a few strings of lights. You can gather these after the holidays at a discount, which is great if you’re on a budget.

Check for more projects here: waltons.co.uk

String lights are simple to hang and they work almost anywhere. This makes for the perfect lighting for your new bar and you can even choose from a variety of colors as well.

You can even arrange string lighting around the bar itself. This helps to illuminate your drink options even as the evening gets darker.

5. Keg Bar Stools

Likely, you’ll have leftover kegs after you’ve been drinking with your friends. You can repurpose these empty kegs and make your own bar stools from them.

Check for other projects here: homewetbar.com

This adds a unique touch to your garage bar and is a great recycling option as well. You’ll simply need to affix seat cushions to the top of the kegs. If you’re worried that the kegs are too lightweight, you can fill them with gravel or concrete or some other type of heavy material to keep them steady.

6. Liquor Bottle Lighting

If you have leftover alcohol bottles, you can repurpose them for a DIY lighting fixture. You’ll need a smaller beam of wood to affix the lights to and your bottles of choice. This is a creative up-cycling idea and would go great in a garage bar.

Check for more ideas here: etsy.com

You’ll be able to grab the lighting from any local store. Using some of your handyman skills, you can arrange the light fixture to your desired length and arrange the electrical cords behind the bar.

Another example of this type of light fixture uses all Jack Daniel’s bottles. Depending on what your favorite liquor or beer is, you can change the bottles out accordingly.

7. Mounted Pipe Shelving

You’ll need a place to stock your favorite drinks and mixers, so you can build a mounted shelving unit from pipes. The metal pipes are sturdy enough to hold quite a few bottles and the metal fixtures will add a subtle but classic touch to your garage bar.

View more ideas here: etsy.com

For the DIY shelves themselves, you can use wooden planks. This isn’t an expensive shelving solution, so you can save some cash to upgrade your liquor selection.

8. Mobile Bar with Stools

Sometimes garage space is limited. If you’re looking to efficiently use your space, you can build a mobile bar counter with stools. The bar itself is made from wood and there is a designated area underneath where the stools can be placed.

View the project here: 1001pallets.com

The addition of the wheels at the bottom of the bar is what makes this table mobile. You can roll it in and out of your garage, depending on where you want to drink that evening. This is a great solution if you’re sharing the garage with someone else and you can’t take up too much space.

9. Pallet Bar

One of the cheapest methods for building a bar is to reuse old pallet wood. You can repaint the pallets to add some character to them. This particular pallet bar has an additional shelf underneath, for easy access to your supplies.

Check the details here: etsy.com

The dual color of both the black and natural wood creates a striking contrast. This is a relatively lightweight bar as well, so if you need to transport it you can do so with ease.

10. Shot Glass Holder

If you’re planning on pouring shots at some point, you’ll need a small collection of shot glasses. This is a simple method for storing them in the meantime. You can set each glass over its own designated peg.

Check more project ideas here: amazon.com

This small touch adds a bit of rustic character to your garage bar. Most people will take notice of this small but functional addition and be impressed by your creativity. You don’t have to tell them you got the idea here.

11. Chalk Board Wall

If you want to add the option for your friends to sign their names or leave small messages, you can use some chalkboard paint to cover one of the walls in your garage. This is a fun way to entertain guests and allows them to leave their mark on your bar.

View more board wall ideas here: rethority.com

Using chalkboard paint can be an afternoon DIY project. You can purchase a gallon of the paint for a reasonable price at your local home improvement store. Depending on the texture of your garage walls, you may need a few coats for the paint to work properly.

12. Sliding Drawer Shelves

Making efficient use of your space is important in any garage bar. The area you’re working with may be limited in size, so storing your supplies and liquor in creative ways is necessary.

Check out for more project ideas here: thekitchn.com

You can build sliding shelves in the drawers behind your bar. If you don’t want to openly display the drinks, this is a great option for you. This is especially useful if you have small children around who may wander into the garage unintended.

You can keep these drawers locked as well if that gives you further peace of mind.

13. Pallet Wood Dart Board

Every good bar has a dartboard. This popular drinking game is a required item in any garage bar worth it’s salt. You can make your setup using leftover pallet wood to affix the board onto.

View the DIY project here: 1001pallets.com

When your friends come over, everyone can enjoy a few rounds of darts as the evening gets started. This is a popular game with most people and you’re sure to enjoy having the game available.

14. Repurposed Barrel Table

A rustic theme can suit a garage bar well. If you can get your hands on an old barrel, you can quickly refurbish it into the perfect card table for your bar.

Check for more project ideas here: involvery.com

You’ll simply need to place some sort of flat surface onto the top of the barrel to act as the table. This can be a finished piece scrap of wood if you want to continue with the rustic decor.

When you’re creating a garage bar on a budget, repurposed items are your best friend. You can still create the bar of your dreams but you can do so with recycled items to save some money.

15. Garage Screen Door

While this doesn’t have to do with the bar itself, it makes for a much more enjoyable drinking experience. If you live in a warmer climate, a screen garage cover will help alleviate the mosquitoes during the summer months.

Check out for more garage screen door ideas here: awesomestuff365.com

You don’t want to get eaten up by the small insects while you’re trying to enjoy your drink in the evening. A screen door is a simple and easy solution to such a problem and you’ll be grateful you went ahead and got one.

16. Bottle Cap Bar Top

If you’re not a fan of the rustic wooden countertops, you may be interested in creating your very own bottle cap bar. If you enjoy collecting items, you can save all of your bottle caps and ask your friends to do the same.

View the detailed project here: project.theownerbuildernetwork.co

Before too long, you’ll have enough to place onto your bar top and pour a layer of epoxy (not polyurethane) over top. This ensures a glossy finish that hardens to where you can use it as a bar top afterward.

17. Wooden Booth

More than likely, you’ll want to invite people over once you complete your garage bar. When you do, you’ll need seating areas. This simple wooden booth is a great addition to your garage. You can serve drinks and food to the table and it will feel like an actual bar.

More project ideas here: thriftydecorchick.com

Your friends will love hanging out with you at your newly created bar and you’ll soon become the most popular person in the neighborhood.

18. Barrel Liquor Cabinet

If you’re looking for another way to recycle an old barrel, you can create a cabinet complete with a hinged door. This is a great storage space for your liquor bottles, particularly your bourbon or scotch.

Check out for more ideas here: ebay.co.uk

You can place a lock on the door as well if you’re worried about curious hands reaching into the alcohol. It’s important to keep such items out of reach of young children, who may not know better yet.

19. Patriotic Bottle Opener

Undoubtedly, you’ll be cracking open a lot of cold ones once you get your garage bar up and running. It’s a convenient addition to add a bottle cap opener for people who don’t carry one. This simple touch adds an American flair to your bar.

Check the project idea here: etsy.com

Make sure to collect the caps so you can build your bottle cap bar top! Placing a small bucket or jar nearby can help people remember to drop them in for you.

20. Liquor Dispenser

A professional touch to any home bar is a built-in liquor dispenser. You can place any bottle on the faucet, depending on what you’d like to drink that night. Better yet, you can set up several dispensers so you always have plenty of choices.

This is a great addition and your friends will be jealous that you have one and they don’t. You’ll be pouring drinks like a champ and you’ll be on your way to becoming your own bartender.

Get Started on Your Garage Bar Today!

Now that you’ve gotten some inspiration, it’s your turn to get to work on your very own garage bar. You don’t have to go big at first and renovate your entire garage. You can fix it up piece by piece. Every weekend you can add something new until the place feels like you.

You don’t have to invest thousands of dollars into your garage bar — you can start with a couple of hundred dollars instead. Over time, you’ll find things you want to add and you can work on them then. If you’re a handyman, you can turn most of the above ideas into DIY projects, further saving you money.