If you need some advice for your specific problem that has not yet been answered here, please feel free to leave a comment on the site with your question and we will try to answer as soon as possible.

Once this part is over and you have your garage built, you need to measure the garage door opening to order the garage doors of the correct size. We cannot stress enough the importance of precise measurements – this is the single most important step before ordering your doors and if you don’t do it with care, you will have a lot of problems later on.

Another important thing is to decide what type of garage doors you want to have. Not all types are available in all sizes, simply because they are installed and fixed differently. Some of them can be made and fixed in almost any size you wish, while others have their limitations which you have to know.

Check out the posts below, we’re sure you will find answers to most of your questions with regard to the sizes of garage doors available and how to properly order yours. If you need more information or require special advice, we are here to help you out so feel free to contact us or leave a comment and we will respond.

• how to measure my garage door opening,
• what size of garage doors do I need based on the size of the opening.

We’ll take a look at both of them.

The most important advice is to measure the opening thoroughly, do it twice or trice, and only then do the ordering. It doesn’t matter if you will need one of the standard garage door sizes or custom made ones; if your measurements are sloppy, the garage doors won’t fit and you will have to send them back or adjust the door opening, none of which is fun. So be careful with the measurements and save yourself a lot of headache later on.

How to measure the size of garage door opening?

You have to take exact measures of the width and height of the brickwork opening (no. 1 and 2). Since the walls, the floor and the lintel may not be completely straight, you should measure both width and height at three spots – at each side and in the middle. If the sizes at different spots vary, you will have to either break off a part of the bricks where the opening is smaller or add some pieces of bricks where it is wider. But in most cases the size of width and height of the garage door opening should be approximately the same.

In addition to the opening itself you need some more information. You need to measure the space from the lintel to the ceiling (called the internal headroom, no. 3). It depends on the type of the door you are going to install but for many garage door types you will install a part of opening mechanism on the ceiling so you need this information. Also you need to measure the length of the free space on the ceiling called headroom (no. 5).

And finally you have to measure the internal reveals (no. 4) – this is the width of the wall from the garage door opening to the first wall on the right and left side. You need to measure this from the inside of the garage too, of course.

Additionally you have to note any type of obstacle on the walls or ceiling that may cause trouble for installing or opening/closing the door, such as lights, electric sockets, electric or gas meters, or anything else sticking out of the wall or being in the wall. Also make a note of any peculiarities that may have impact on the installation and use of the garage doors.

Choose the correct size of the garage door

You’ve got all the sizes that you need. Now you have to use them to order your door. With any garage door manufacturer the information gathered above should be enough to order the right size of the doors. If you provide them with those numbers, they will be able to tell you the size of the door frame and the doors that will fit your opening.

However, there is another thing that may be smart to do when measuring the opening. Our imperial system (with feet and inches) is not as precise as the metric system with centimeters and millimeters. If you have a meter with millimeters on it, note that numbers also. It may be helpful to the seller or manufacturer to provide you the exact garage door size that you need.

Take your time when measuring your garage door opening size. The effort you invest into getting the precise dimensions of the opening and also noting any special circumstances that may be affecting installation and use of your garage doors will be payed back with dividends when you receive your garage doors and get them installed without any problems.

Hi, I need to buy garage doors for my garage and I can’t decide which one would do best for me. The door opening is 17 x 7 feet. I want the door to open straight up so I don’t need free space in front of the garage. I want the doors in one piece (double doors). What is your advice?

Thanks, Mark

It’s an interesting question. We could do with the information about the ceiling height in the garage, but we will presume it is standard.

It is important that you pointed out you want the door to open straight up. This leaves you with three possible solutions: roller shutter garage doors, sectional overhead garage doors and sliding sectional garage doors. You can have a look and learn more about each of these garage door types.

All three of them are suitable for your dimension of door opening and all three will probably be motorized with remote control (you didn’t specify that). If you want to save space at one side of the garage, you probably won’t take the sliding doors as they get fixed to the wall and need free space by the wall to slide there when they are opened (if you for some reason don’t have space on the ceiling, then these are actually a strong option). So you are left with the roller shutter doors and sectional overhead doors.

Roller shutter garage doors are lighter, easier to install and don’t need space at the ceiling  – they only require some space for the box on the inner side of the garage to store the shutter. Their setbacks are that they are not as strong as sectional doors can be and that you don’t have a lot of options in regard to material – they are mostly made from plastic or aluminum but you can choose the color. The size of the roller shutter garage doors can be anything you want – they are custom made for any size and there aren’t really any standard sizes for this type of doors.

Sectional overhead garage doors are generally stronger and you can choose a variety of materials and designs. They can be made from plastic, wood, metal and also some other materials. You can have small openings (windows) in the doors and there are plenty of design options available. However, they take up more space on the ceiling in the garage and the motor for closing and opening has to be stronger. Your garage door opening is 17×7. Standard overhead garage doors are 16×7 so you have two options: you can have the door made custom (it may cost a bit more) or you can make the door opening smaller by adding one line of bricks: IMPORTANT – before you do any of those, please measure you garage door opening very precisely and check the exact dimensions you need for installing a particular model of doors so you won’t have problems when you want to install them!

Our advise is to consider what you want and need. If you don’t mind the roller shutter look of your garage door, don’t have a lot of space at the ceiling or want to save a few dollars (the price of a roller shutter garage door is generally a bit lower) then this is a very good option.

If you want to have more options about the design of your door and from which material they are made, you should lean towards the sectional overhead garage doors. They need more mounting space at the ceiling of the garage and the price is usually a bit higher, but there are plenty of design options and they are stronger.

Hope this helps, if you need more info, please feel free to contact us again.

Common garage door types

These are the most common types of garage doors:

• Roller garage doors (also called roller shutter garage doors)
• Sectional Overhead Garage Doors
• Up and Over Garage Doors
• Swing hung garage doors (also called Side Hinged Garage Doors)
• Side opening sectional garage doors (also called Sliding sectional garage doors)

Let’s take a quick look at each of them.

Roller garage doors (also called Roller shutter garage doors)

Roller shutter garage doors are generally the lightest of them all. They operate the same way that the windows roller shutters but in most cases they are motorized and operated by a remote control. They are fairly easy to install and do not require a lot of space – a bit on each side for the rails and at the top for the box where the shutter is stored. They are very suitable for places where there is limited space in front of the garage or in the garage because they are vertical rise garage doors – they move just up and down. The downside is the strength of the doors which is not as strong as some of the other options.

The size of the roller shutter garage doors can be almost anything you want. Because they are light and fitted above the entrance, there is virtually no limitation to height or width of the shutter and can be custom made to any required dimensions.

Sectional overhead garage doors

Sectional overhead garage doors are among the most popular on the market. They can be hand operated but in most cases they are motorized. They provide a quality protection and don’t require any space in front of the garage (vertical rise). However, you need to have a fair amount of free space inside the garage to install them. You need rails on each side and they also have to be fixed to the ceiling, this is where they consume the most space. In order to install and operate them you need free space for the entire length of the doors – when they are open, they slide in under the ceiling (over the head).

The size of the sectional overhead garage doors can be up to 24 feet in width and up to almost 10 feet in height. There are many standard garage door sizes available for this type of doors so you don’t need to have them custom made.

Up and over garage doors

Up and over garage doors are very well known as they have been on the market for a long time. There are two basic types of these doors: canopy type and retractable type. Canopy type is the simplest and usually cannot be motorized, while the retractable type can be operated manually or by a remote control and a motor. They can be made of different materials (plastic, metal, wood) which determines how strong they are and they require some space in the garage as well as in front of the garage. To open and close them you have to swing them outside which means there has to be some room left – you can’t leave your can very close to the door. On the inside you need rails on each side and space at the ceiling to fit them (only retractable type) and place them when they are open (both types) which is very similar to the sectional overhead doors.

The size of the canopy up and over doors (no springs) can be up to 8 x 7 feet, while the retractable type can be wider and even sizes up to 14 x 7 feet are available.

Swing hung garage doors (also called Side hinged garage doors)

Swing hung or side hinged garage doors are just what the name says – typical doors that are opened just like any other ordinary doors. They are fitted on hinges so they can be very strong and heavy made of any number of materials, but they require a lot of space in front of the garage to open them (much more than up and over garage doors). If you have lots of space in front of your garage you may like to consider getting them. They can be operated manually but they can also be motorized so you can open them with a remote from your car.

The size of the swing hung garage doors can be up to 10 feet in width for standard doors. If you want them wider, they will have to be made stronger and special hinges will have to be used to support the weight. The height of these doors can be as high as you need them.

Side opening sectional garage doors (also called Sliding sectional garage doors)

Sliding sectional garage doors are a bit different to all the others above. They do not require and space in front of the garage or on the ceiling, but they need rails on one side of the garage where they slide – much like the sectional overhead garage doors do under the ceiling. They slide on the floor which caused problems in the past because of stones and other debris that blocked their way, but modern rails are made in way that enables sliding without problems. They are generally motorized but can also be manually operated.

The size of the side opening sectional garage doors can be made to your wishes. Because they stand on the ground and the rail is fitted to the wall the weight of the doors is not an issue and can be made in very large dimensions.

The above overview of the different garage door types and available sizes for each type is supposed to help you get the idea about possibilities for each of these types. If you have a specific question or you want info about a garage door type that is not included here, please leave a comment and we will try to answer.

The comparison of the double and single garage doors

First, the size. Generally, two single garage doors take up more width all together than one double door. Typical single garage door size is 8 x 7 feet and wider, while typical double garage door size is 16 x 7 feet. (You can find more about the standard garage door sizes in a separate post.) If you install two single doors, you need to have at least a feet of wall in the middle, so the garage has to be at least a feet wider (you can of course take smaller doors but then it may be harder to put the car in and out).

The ease of parking. If you have a smaller and a larger car, it is probably easier to do the parking with single door because you have more space to maneuver with the larger car. If it happens that you have only one car, you are free to choose where you park it, maybe even in the middle of the garage and  leave space at each side of the garage. With two single doors you have to keep your cars in their place (which can be a good thing) leaving the middle of the garage free.

Different sizes of the doors. If you know that you will need one part of your garage to have wider or higher door than the other half, it may be unnecessary to make both parts so big. In such case it is probably smart to go with two separate doors and you can adjust the height and width of each door.

Opening of the doors. If you have one double doors, you can only open the entire garage. This way you need only one garage door opener, which is good. With two single doors you can open each door separately, which means that you can leave one of the doors closed (for example if you have something stored in your garage that you don’t want your neighbors to see ). However, you need two door openers installed instead of one

What you use your garage for. If you intend to use your garage for other activities, it may be smarter to go with one door. It gives you more space to put something in and if you keep them open, there is more space without the pillar in the middle.

How it looks. Many people prefer the two doors look because it makes the house look bigger. If aesthetics is important to you, this may be a point to consider.

Which doors to choose?

It all depends on your needs and preferences. Go through all the points above and surely some of them will apply to your situation. There may be some that are not listed here but are important to you. If you think about your situation now and in the future and write down you preferences, you will be able to make a solid decision whether  one double garage door or two single garage doors will be more suitable for your needs.

Where to find the best garage doors prices

One answer – the Internet. Obviously you are aware of that, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. There are many places online where you can search for the best garage doors prices, but first of all you need to have the dimensions of your garage doors and at least an idea of which type of door you want to buy. Then you go online and search and compare.

A side note, sometimes it is a good idea to go to your local brick-and-mortar store and check out what they have available at the moment. If for no other reason, at least to see some of the doors “in flesh” so to speak and decide what material or what model and design will be the best for you. Also inquire about the price and possible discounts (maybe installation is included in the price also) and then go back home and search the Internet.

You also need to take into account where you live for two reasons. Firstly, garage doors prices vary across the country and the price in your area may be different than somewhere else. Secondly, if you order your doors online and they have to deliver it for several thousand miles, your total garage doors prices may be higher if you buy online, than if you order at your local retailer. The point I’m trying to make here is this – calculate all the expenses before you buy to avoid headache later.

Prices for garage door depend on a number of factors

If you are buying residential garage door for your house, you are probably looking for one of the standard garage door sizes. There is a number of those available and most likely you will find one that will fit your door opening. The most typical type is overhead garage door. You can also add accessories to them, such as garage door opener or garage door springs. Garage door and opener are often sold as a package and in this case the price is naturally higher, but usually less than if you were to buy the two components separately. Opener installation is also charged separately. Another solution used for opening of garage doors are garage door torsion springs which allow for easy operation although not as convenient as the doors with opener, where you just push the button to open. Naturally, solutions with torsion spring is cheaper.

How well the doors handle heat and cold first of all depends on the material (wood, steel, fibreglass etc.) but if you live in such climate, you should consider insulated doors. This of course makes the price higher but it can save you several times more money on the heating.

There are also other types of doors (roll up door, carriage house garage doors, etc.) with very different garage door prices available for residential use. And all of them are available for commercial garage doors too, with more possible additions and sizes available for commercial use.

The best garage doors prices are not always the cheapest

As with every other purchase you need to weight what you get for your money. Set your budget and start from there. Don’t go for the ultimate low price as it is not necessary the cheapest. Use common sense that you would use in the field that you are familiar with.

Before you purchase your garage door calculate everything – the quality of the doors (better quality will last for longer, low-quality door you will have to replace sooner), delivery costs, installation costs and any other cost that you may come across. With all the information available you should feel confident to find the best garage doors prices available.

Garage door sizes to consider

Garage door sizes that you should consider are generally determined by the size of your car. However, if you plan to use your garage for something else, for example storage, business or some other use and you think you may need a bigger opening some day, it would be very smart to plan this at the beginning. Stop for a moment and think about your future plans. This will save you a lot of money and nerves in the long run. There are so many garage door sizes available and larger does not necessarily mean a lot more expensive.

Not everyone needs bigger garage doors

It is likely that after you thought it through you will come to a conclusion that normal sized door will serve you just fine. But if you realize there may be some need for extra big opening in the future, you may want to consult a specialist what options are there available. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not saying you need a bigger door, we’re just trying to get you thinking two steps ahead about garage door sizes when there is still time.

Residential garage doors come in many sizes and types

There is a wide variety of residential garage door sizes available out there. Many of them are standard sizes and are available by many manufacturers. If one of the standard garage door sizes is suitable for you then you should have no problem. But there are also options to get custom size garage doors that will fit your opening.

You also have to decide for the type of your door. The most popular are steel residential garage door but you can also get them in other materials: wood, aluminum, plastic or even something more exotic. What you will choose for your home is up to you. A typical residential garage usually has steel doors but that doesn’t mean yours have to be like that.

Garage door opener

When choosing your garage doors you will have to decide if you will install garage door opener. It is typically installed with overhead door and it can be applied to virtually any door size. Installation of automatic garage door opener is sometimes included in the price of the garage door, but you should double check on that before you buy. If it’s not, you can usually get a quote for installation at the garage door dealer or even search for it online.

With the door opener we are talking about garage door system rather than just door. Regarding construction design options this is not a big issue. It may be a bit more complicated with the garage door installation so you should really check out that the company that will be doing it knows its business. If you are a DIY guy you may want to do it by yourself. That’s ok and if you have some experience go for it by all means. Just make sure that you get good instructions with your door so you don’t get stuck or, what is even worse, do something wrong or break some parts. In most cases you will have to buy new parts. There is always printed somewhere on the manual that if don’t follow instructions and break something during installation it’s your fault.

• Golf cart door
• Single car door
• Double car door

Each of them comes in several dimensions that are widely available from the providers.

Which garage door dimensions are the right for you

It all depends on the type of doors you are buying and on the opening. For each of the above mentioned types there are some standard sizes, which have already been mentioned on this site and you can check out to learn about most common garage door dimensions.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to make the door big enough to fit your car in and out easily and to calculate in some extra space if you plan to buy a bigger car in the future. Once you have the doors installed it can be really unpleasant to tear them out, make the opening bigger and buy bigger doors.

If you are not quite sure about the garage door dimensions for your garage, it is our advice to get a professional to help you out. Sometimes measurements of the opening are included in the price with some of the providers so we encourage you to take advantage of that. But even if you have to pay for this service it may be a smart thing to do so – if you make mistake when measuring the opening, you might end up with the doors that won’t fit and you will have a lot of hassle to deal with. Whatever path you choose keep in mind that providing correct garage door dimensions to the provider is fundamental to get the right door and quality service.

• price: standard sized doors are cheaper than custom made with specific size
• availability: if often occurs that standard garage door sizes are available sooner, maybe they are already in stock, so you don’t have to wait for too long

The garage door sizes are divided into three main groups: golf cart size, single car door size and double car door size. Let’s take a look at their dimensions.

Golf Cart Size
Standard dimensions of a golf cart size are 5 x 7 feet, 4 x 8 feet and 6 x 8 feet. Besides these most common size there are also other options you can use, if the opening for your doors is not exactly this big.

Single Car Door Size
The typical single car door sizes range from 8 x 7 ft, 9 x 7 ft and 10 x 7 ft. Besides these there are also some other dimensions available: 8 x 8 ft, 9 x 8 ft and 10 x 8 ft.

Double Car Door Size
Standard sizes for double car doors are: 12 x 7 ft, 14 x 7 ft and 16 x 7 ft. As you would expect, there are more variations available, you can get doors in sizes 18 x 7 ft, 12 x 8 ft, 14 x 8 ft, 16 x 8 ft and 18 x 8 ft.

The sizes written here are the most common and most widely available sizes on the market. Before buying, we recommend you to check the exact size of the opening of your garage and keep in mind that you can make the opening smaller if needed by additional line of bricks. Also maybe you will be able to get the size of doors that are not listed here as standard garage door sizes that will fit your garage perfectly so our advice is to ask the seller about other possibilities.

Non-standard garage door sizes

What to do, if your door opening is non standard and it does not fit any of the above dimensions? The good news is you still have a lot of options for your garage doors. The first thing you need to know (apart from the size of your door opening of course) is what type of garage door do you want to install. We have written a separate article where you can learn all about the specifics of various garage door types so if you are interested you can go there. If you don’t have the time, here is a quick summary with info about possible garage door sizes for each type of door.

* No limit – of course there is a limit to the size, but because of how garage doors are installed and operated, they can be made really big – it is very unlikely that you would need garage door in the size that exceeds available sizes.

If you don’t know yet what type of doors you are going to install, you should decide that based on your preferences and the size of the door opening. If you have a small opening of the non-standard size, you can probably take any type of doors you want. If the opening is somewhat larger than usual, you may be forced to choose one of the types that are available in larger garage door sizes.