How to Choose Gate Sizes

Choosing the Size of Gate for Your Fence Project:

In general, gate widths should be kept to a minimum. Regardless of if you are shopping for a gate for a small backyard fence or a commercial facility, choose a gate size based on its use. For residential use, you will need to consider and possibly check the measurements on the following:

Lawn Care Maintenance Equipment and Pedestrian Gates: Typically 3' wide gates are sufficient for push mowers; riding lawnmowers usually require 4-5' wide openings. Wheelbarrows can require a 4' wide opening. Always measure these items and any others you want to push, pull, and carry through the gates. Also keep in mind doors in most houses are only 36" wide. All sorts of large cumbersome items can fit through these openings.

Driveway Gates and Vehicle Access Gates: Consider that most highways are only approx. 10' wide. People have no trouble driving 65 MPH+ on a 10' wide road. Most driveway gates are 10' or 12' wide, however some are larger. Larger driveway gates are often installed because a vehicle will not or cannot pull in straight; vehicles will be turning as they drive through the gate opening. This is especially important for vehicles pulling trailers and boats.

Semi-Annual Traffic: Frequently our customers have wanted larger gates for the septic tank truck or to be prepared in case they need to get a backhoe in for repair. This is excellent forethought, however a large gate can be unnecessary and add extra cost to your project. In such instances where a gate only needs accessed a couple times a year, consider installing 2-3 removable sections of fence. This can be done at a modest cost and it is not any more laborious than installing the fence to begin with. There is more than one way to do this, the method is dependent on the style of fence being installed. For aluminum and vinyl fence, it is frequently done by cementing sleeves in the ground flush with grade in lieu of the posts. These sleeves, which can be made from galvanized steel, aluminum, or treated lumber, are approx. 18" long. They are slightly larger than the fence posts so that the fence posts can slide into them. Shim post(s) if necessary. Once fence post sleeves are cemented in the ground, install the fence as usual only for one or two posts, slide these into the sleeves versus cementing in ground. To remove section of fence, remove the horizontal rails, remove section fence, and remove post.

To sum, gates are the only part of the fence which move. They are also the only part of the fence which tends to get abused. Years of experience have taught us that the smaller the gate - the better. Smaller gates will last longer, be less finicky years later, and cheaper to replace should they ever fail or get damaged. As far as expense is concerned, in many case it makes very little difference. For example, if you need 10' of fence with a man gate, you can order 7' of fence with a 3' gate or 6' of fence and a 4' gate - the net result is you need to cover 10'; you can install less gate and more fence or vice versa. Aluminum and vinyl fence sections are sold in sections, 6', 7-1/2', and 8' wide depending on style. Plan locations and widths of gates to eliminate waste and cutting sections down to size.