Choosing the right garage door for your home is more than just a matter of aesthetics and kerb appeal; there’s lots to consider to ensure it is right for your property and the practical requirements of your garage. And with a wide range of garage door types available, the choice can feel overwhelming.
When choosing your new garage door, you’ll want to think about the level of security it provides, as well as the functionality it offers. You’ll need to think about your budget, too, with garage door prices varying significantly. But it’s also important to measure up to find the perfect fit; modern garage door manufacturers allow you to choose beyond traditional standard single or double garage door sizes. It’s easy to overlook the important detail of size when shopping for your new garage door, and this can lead to potential headaches, delays and even costly errors.
At Garolla, we understand the importance of getting your garage door measurements right, and we’re here to help demystify different garage door sizes and dimensions with our expert guide.
So, whether you're looking for a replacement for a single garage door, thinking about buying a double garage door, or trying to understand the nuances of roller garage door sizes, Garolla has you covered. In this guide, we'll look into standard UK garage door heights and widths, explore modern garage door dimensions, and finish with our expert tips for measuring for your new garage door.
Armed with this knowledge, you’ll know what you need to consider to ensure your new garage door operates seamlessly, whilst also serving to enhance your home's value and security. This guide is designed to help you make an informed decision, ensuring your new garage door is the perfect fit for your property and practical needs too - whether you use it to store your car or have converted it to fulfil a different purpose.
First, let’s take a look at your typical standard garage door sizes here in the UK.
Standard Garage Door Dimensions
When it comes to the residential garage door sizes, there are some commonly accepted standard dimensions that UK home builders and homeowners follow. These dimensions are used as ‘tried and trusted’ in the industry - making the build easy whilst ensuring the compatibility with most vehicles. Most common garage door types, including up-and-over and sectional are built to standard garage door sizes.
Single Garage Doors
A single garage door in the UK typically measures between 6ft 6in (1.93m) and 7ft (2.13m) high, with a width ranging between 6ft (1.82m) to 10ft (3.04m). The smaller end of this scale allows enough space for one small car, with larger cars and SUVs fitting comfortably at the top end.
Double Garage Doors
Your typical UK two-car double garage door width falls between 10 ft 6in (3.2m) to 16ft (4.87m) and 6ft 6in (1.93m) to 7ft (2.13m) high.
However, when thinking about a double garage, it’s not just about having space for two cars side-by-side. The added space alone makes the regular double car garage door size an attractive prospect for many households - including those with just one vehicle (or none at all!). Double garage doors allow drivers to enter and exit the space freely and without having to worry about scraping mirrors or doors.
Please note that these are the most common garage door sizes, and they do vary significantly.
The development of cars over the years has influenced what homeowners expect the average garage door size to be. New cars in general, and larger SUVs and electric vehicles in particular are significantly wider than their predecessors. This trend suggests a wider-typical single garage door width of around 8-feet (2.44m) might provide more convenience and decreased potential for the inadvertent scrape. Whilst a 7 foot wide garage door might have been perfectly suited to the average car of bygone decades, choosing a slightly wider new garage door will provide more convenience and ease to the modern driver.
Roller Garage Door Sizes: Custom Fit for Modern Needs
Whereas traditional up-and-over or sectional garage doors tend to fit within standard garage door dimensions, roller garage doors are usually made-to-measure, and designed to fit the exact space of your garage.
Custom roller garage doors ensure a neat, tight finish around your garage, maximising use of space, whilst also increasing security.
Roller garage doors tend to offer more options from both a design and functional perspective. For example, Garolla manufacture bespoke made-to-measure electric roller garage doors to perfectly fit your garage. This level of adaptability means that you need not be confined to a traditional standard garage door size or garage opening dimension.
The custom-fit and clever design of modern roller garage doors can actually help you create further space in your garage, with the width of your garage maximised, and roof space now free thanks to the lack of guide rails. The enhanced fit of roller garage doors can also provide better security and insulation.
Now we’ve looked at the different garage door sizes, let’s delve into how to measure up for the perfect fit.
Measuring Your Garage Door: Precision for a Perfect Fit
So, what are the most important dimensions to know when measuring for a new garage door?
Opening Width: This is the all-important measurement for your garage opening, from brick to brick. It is this measurement that determines the width of your new garage
Headroom: The gap above the garage door opening to the ceiling or floor joists.
Side Room: This is the space available on either side of the garage door opening. Traditionally, garage doors slide along the top of the garage on guide rails installed on the garage door walls. However, modern roller garage doors, including those offered by Garolla, offer an enclosed “top box” - on opening, the garage door rolls vertically into a coil in this box.
Precise measurement is the key to a successful garage door installation. Whether you are replacing an existing door, or buying for a new build, you need to measure up accurately.
Mistakes with measurements can result in costly delays, installation problems, and a door that doesn’t open and close properly or safely. For these reasons, we would always recommend leaving the measuring to an expert local garage door engineer. However, it’s useful to understand how the process works, and you may need some of the measurements to obtain a quote.
1. The Width (Brick to Brick) Should be Measured as:
Use a steel tape measure to measure the exact width of your garage opening.
Take a tape measure and drop it from the inside face of the brickwork (or opening frame) on one side to the inside of the brickwork on the other side.
Measure near the top, in the middle and at the bottom of the opening. Take the greatest of these three dimensions as your base garage door width. The width is the only measurement required to get a free quote for a Garolla garage door.
2. Determine the Height (Opening Height - Floor to Lintel):
Take measurement from the garage floor to the underside of the lintel (the beam over the opening).
Measure at both sides of the opening.
Take the larger of these two measurements for your standard garage door height. Once more, this takes care of any unevenness in the floor or lintel, and be sure to account for any weather strips or threshold.
3. Headroom Measurement (Lintel to Ceiling):
This measurement is from the bottom of the lintel (top of your opening), up to the lowest obstruction on your garage ceiling. This may be a ceiling joist, pipework or other fitting.
This dimension is vital where roller garage doors or sectional will be installed, since at least a portion of the mechanism (roll or tracking) must have a suitable amount of unobstructed space above the opening. Make sure you measure the full depth of the garage to ensure the fitting doesn’t protrude into the door aperture when open.
4. Determine the Side Clearance (Side Room):
Now take a measurement from the edge of the garage opening (in from the inside edge of the brickwork) to the nearest side wall or obstruction (such as a supporting pillar, shelving, etc).
This space is required for the vertical tracks or guide rails on which many garage doors runs. If you’re considering purchasing a garage door that uses tracks or guide rails, it’s important to remember that this will reduce the usable space in the garage.
Key Tips for Accurately Measuring Your New Garage Door:
Use a Steel Tape Measure:
Flexible tape measures can stretch and give you false readings.
Measure in Millimetres:
Even though it’s common practice to discuss garage door sizes in feet and inches, measuring in millimetres provides the highest level of accuracy for manufacturing.
Double (and triple!) Check Your Measurements:
As a rule of thumb, take your measurements at least twice. Also, it’s worth having another person on hand to help you take the measurements.
Consider Existing Fittings or Frames:
If you have an old garage door frame in place, you’ll need to take this into account with your measurements, instead measuring the structural opening behind it if it’s feasible to do so.
Having made these measurements, you'll know exactly how large your garage opening is; this is useful information to have at your fingertips when shopping around for a new garage door. However, we’d like to reiterate that you should always seek a survey from a professional before ordering your new garage door.
It’s also important to think about how your precise measurements will translate when your new garage door is installed. If you buy a standard sized garage door, you may be left with gaps between the edge of the door and the garage door surround. A custom built solution can provide the perfect fit for your garage, offering a whole host of benefits to maximise the value of your investment.
Factors to Consider When Buying a New Garage Door: Beyond the Measurements
While you can’t compromise when it comes to accurate garage door measurements, there’s more to the buying process than just numbers. Several practical, aesthetic and operational considerations should be taken into account in determining the correct garage door type and size for you. Taking these factors into account means that your new garage door is not just the right size for the opening but also exactly what you need for your lifestyle, as well as complementing and improving your home.
What Are You Using Your Garage For?
The first consideration naturally is what you’ll be using your garage for. This will help determine key practical considerations.
If you’re using it to store your vehicle, you’ll need to think about the size of your car, and how much space you’ll need to be able to manoeuvre it into your garage with ease. It’s also worth thinking about the size of your future car (if you’re thinking about replacing or upgrading it it). Remember, it is not only about the body of the car, but also wing mirrors too!
If you’re using your garage to store expensive equipment, buying a secure garage door will be at the top of your priority list.
If you’re using it as a functional space (gym, games room, man cave!) etc. you’ll need to think about buying a garage door with good insulation.
Door Opening, Garage Space, and Layout
Along with the garage door opening, take a look at the garage interior. Will you be adding storage, a workshop or a home gym? Thinking about the available space, and how you intend to fill it will help you understand what type of garage door is best for your needs. For example, will shelving or workbenches potentially get in the way of the door’s operation?
A roller garage door provides a great option to maximise the use of space in your garage - particularly in smaller garages where every inch is crucial.
Garage Door Mechanism and Space Requirements
Different garage door types need different amount of space inside for them to function properly.
Sectional / Up and Over Garage Doors
Sectional and up and over doors have guide rails extending towards the back of the garage and require open space to be clear for the entire length of the doors. It’s worth noting that the guide rails may restrict the amount of usable space in your garage.
Roller Garage Doors
Ideal for both maximising head room and saving precious space in your garage, modern roller garage doors roll up vertically above the opening. This helps make the most of all available space inside a garage whilst enhancing its visual aesthetic.
Garage Door Aesthetics
Your garage door is a large, visible aspect of your home’s exterior. The size of the garage door should match the overall style of your house. Think about the architecture of your home and decide if one large door, or two smaller doors, would be the best match.
An Energy Efficient Garage
A correctly sized and well sealed door saves money on your garage’s insulation. If your garage is adjacent to the house and has living space above, you don’t want big gaps around the door. A tight seal enhances energy efficiency, minimising drafts and weather ingress.
Future-Proofing Your Garage
You might own a car that fits within a regular-sized garage today, but that might not always be the case. Do you think your next car could be bigger? It’s always worth adding a few extra valuable inches to your garage door size to save you requiring a replacement in just a few years.
Your Budget for Your New Garage Door
Garage door type, size, material and functionality all factor into the cost of your new garage door.
However, it’s important to remember that buying a new quality garage door is an investment - it’s important to weigh up what is important to you when making your purchase. For instance, are you looking for enhanced security and energy efficiency? Would an automatic garage door help enhance your lifestyle?
Take some time to make an informed decision that will satisfy your requirements today and in the years to come. For help and advice about your new garage door, contact our experts at Garolla today.
Your Perfect Garage Door Awaits with Garolla
As we’ve seen, there are many different variables at play when considering garage door sizes. Now you’re armed with our expert advice to make an informed decision when purchasing your new garage door.
In our guide, we’ve identified the standard garage door dimensions that are found in most homes, and highlighted the advantages of having a custom-made garage door to fit your exact space. We’ve looked at how to accurately measure for your new garage door.
We have also looked at the importance of considering factors such as the intended use of your garage when choosing your new garage door.
When it comes to choosing your new garage door, the last thing you want to do is leave such an important decision to chance.
At Garolla we are proud to offer a range of electric roller garage doors that are custom made to perfectly fit your space. With a range of products to choose from, we offer garage doors to suit your lifestyle and budget - considering important factors such as convenience, security and insulation.
With a personal service from a local engineer, Garolla garage doors are made to measure and built to last - with a 5-year product warranty as standard.
Ready to find the perfect garage door for your home? Remember, creating your own custom garage door can make all the difference. Book a free survey today.