It looks like 3 or 4 steps down, each one is about one foot deep. Even if you framed a landing with a 90 degree turn left or right, you'd still need about 3 ft of space into the garage. And 3ft is a minimum for a stair landing like that.

It also looks like there's enough stuff in there that you haven't actually pulled a car in to check. You might be surprised (pleasantly or unpleasantly) when you pull a car in.

Thank you for your reply, and you are right...we haven't pulled a car in yet even though that stuff is now out of there. They just finished the last part of the driveway on Saturday.

I also thought about turning the stairs, but didn't think that would save any space because of the landing as you mentioned.

I do have a small car, so maybe that will work in my favor. I really hope so....a 3 car garage instead of the 2 car we currently have was one of the driving forces in our decision to move/build.

Thanks again!

One benefit to a landing and then stairs at a right angle is that if you keep it straight, you may be walking onto the hood of your car if you can fit it in the space. Having steps to the side may be helpful in that case.

Hopefully you have more than the builder's grade 20x30 three car. I had one of those and it never saw the third car.

Another thing in favor of turning the stairs to parallel the wall, would be to give you a landing which would permit you to open the door without holding the key at eye-level. Landings also make entry and egress much safer, especially if you have bags in hand. No matter what you do, you lose the space the steps extend outwards, so why not have the area safe to use?

Also, paralleling the steps would make an obvious area for workbench or storage along the wall between the door and the back wall. Using built-ins would really make it look "custom" and be useful instead of a place for junk to collect.

Where we are those stairs would not meet code. You need a landing (3' I think) and then the steps going down towards the front of the garage (typically). It's hard to tell from the picture, but if you currently have 3 steps they probably take up about 30-35". Four steps would take a little more (40" or so). So it will be close to a wash. But those steps are dangerous as is.

I too would also go with a landing and a 90 degree turn. I'm not sure you'd get more parking space per se, but you have to keep in mind walking room.

You will want about 3' of space at the bottom of your steps to not feel crowded. If your stairs go straight out from the door by 3 or 4 feet, then closest you will want to park is 6 or 7 feet from the door. With a landing you can get that 3' of parking space back.