There are many reasons to install a new garage door. Renovate your current garage, expand it to accommodate more vehicles, or substitute a damaged door. Regardless of the reason, finding the right garage door dimensions that will fit your garage and protect your cars is important.
A standard single garage Door is 7 feet high and 8 to 10 feet wide. Dual standard multi-vehicle garage doors are the same height (7 feet) but are wider at 12 to 16 feet. For larger vehicles and RVs, oversized (RV) garage door dimensions are 12 feet high and 10 to 14 feet wide.
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What is the standard size garage door?
Standard garage doors are designed for single vehicle garages such as standard size cars, SUVs, trucks and vans. The dimensions of a standard garage door are 7 feet high and 8 to 10 feet wide. In newer designs, garage doors can be 7 feet high and 9 feet wide.
Standard garage door thickness
The thickness of standard garage doors depends on how well insulated they are, but not all garage doors have to be insulation.
Steel garage doors have panels that are ⅛ inch thick and are less expensive but offer no insulation. Insulated doors with foam insulation in the panels are ¼ to ½ inch thick. Well-insulated garage doors have two pieces of foam between the panels, typically 1 to 1½ inches thick.
Double standard garage door dimensions
Double standard garage door sizes are similar in height to standard garage doors but have wider dimensions. Standard double garage door dimensions are 7 to 8 feet high and 12 to 16 feet wide. This size door is ideal for a two car garage or if you are using the garage as a workshop or recreation room.
RV garage door dimensions
If you are designing a garage with your RV in mind, then oversized garage doors are for you. RV or oversized garage door dimensions are 12 feet high and 10 to 14 feet wide. Some pop-up RVs fit in a standard one-car garage, but larger RVs require their own dedicated garage.
Combined garage doors
Combination garage doors are either multiple single doors or a single and double garage door. This style offers flexibility and more space; However, combination garage doors require more maintenance. Combination garage doors require at least two garage door systems and operators.
Individual garage doors
If prefab garage doors don’t seem right for your garage, then custom doors are an option. Custom garage door dimensions vary depending on the size of your garage and the style you want.
Commercial garage door dimensions
Standard commercial garage door dimensions are 32 x 2 inches wide and 24 x 1 inch high. Commercial real estate requires a larger space to accommodate the larger business vehicles and supplies.
What Are the Six Types of Garage Doors?
Now that you’ve figured out the size of the garage door, what style should you go for? The six types of garage doors are sectional, rolling, sliding, side-hinged, canopy and retractable. Let’s take a look to find the right one for you.
sections
Sectional garage doors are the most popular style in the United States and come insulated and non-insulated. Sectional garage doors consist of panel sections connected with hinges. Wheels on the edge of each panel roll in a vertical track on each side of the doorway.
roll up
Roll up garage doors are more likely to be found in commercial than residential buildings, but are great for garages with limited overhead space. They feature 2 to 3 inch steel louvers that roll around a drum over the garage door opening. Since roller doors are highly resilient, the acquisition costs are higher than for sectional garage doors.
Slide To Side
These garage doors are unique in that they do not open but instead slide against the garage wall. The panels run along a lower carriage and work well on uneven floors. The advantages of sliding side doors are that they have no balancing springs and have a built-in retractable motor for automated operation.
Foldable at the side
Side-hung garage doors are an older style and resemble the look of large barn doors. As the name suggests, the doors swing open and closed on a hinged frame. They are great for garages with limited headroom.
Foldable canopy
Tilt or tilt garage doors are made from one solid piece rather than sections or panels. This style is parallel to the ceiling and extends beyond the front of the house when opened.
Tiltable retractable
While similar to the tilt-up canopy, tilt-up retractable doors lift into the garage but don’t protrude. Retractable garage doors are expensivetake up space and can be difficult to use.
What’s the best way to measure a garage door?
Measuring for a garage door is easy and can be done in just a few steps.
Start by measuring the width of the garage door opening horizontally from left to right. Next, measure the height of the opening, starting at the highest point and ending at the bottom. Write down these measurements, and then take the next set of measurements.
Measure the width between the opening and the side of the actual garage. Next, measure the height between the top of the doorway and the ceiling. Finally, measure the distance from the opening at the top of the door to the back of the garage.
How do you frame a garage door?
If you have decided to install the garage door yourself, the first thing you need to do is frame the opening. Below we explain the accessories, the measurements to be taken and the process to frame a garage door.
Accessories you need to frame a garage door
You will need a tape measure, band saw or circular saw, 2×6-inch wood, and a pencil. When you buy the lumber you will need enough for twice the length of the garage floor to ceiling height. You’ll also need enough wood for twice the height of each side of the rough opening.
The jambs can be either wood or PVC, which you need to decide before you calculate the finished garage door opening. The thickness of the jamb material will determine how large the garage door opening will be after the frame is installed.
Step 1: Measure the rough opening
The rough opening needs to be larger than the garage door and you should determine this before installing the frame. The distance from the floor to the raw head should be 1 ½ longer than the garage door. For example, if the door is 7 feet high, the head must be 8 ½ inches from the floor.
The head needs to be wider than the garage door and 3 inches longer than the door. If the garage door is 12 feet wide, the rough opening should be 15 inches wide. To do this, measure between the left and right edges.
Step 2: Install the Header Post
Door jambs are wooden (or PVC) planks attached to either side of the opening and top header. It is important to install the Head Post first so that the Side Posts are flush against it. The header must be 9 inches longer than the garage door to fit the garage’s horizontal opening.
Cut the wood or PVC post to the correct height and attach with framing nails. The thickness of the lintel must cover the distance between the rough opening and the garage door.
Step 3: Determine the height from floor to ceiling
You need to install two frame pieces next to the wall at the garage opening. These need to be attached to the door tracks and adjust the height from the garage floor to the ceiling. After measuring, cut the post material to the exact height.
Professional garage door installers sometimes refer to this as a “gate jamb”.
Step 4: Attach the gate post
After you have measured and cut the “gatepost” to size, you can attach it to the garage wall. Attach it to the inside of the garage wall with framing nails. Make sure it runs against the previously installed Head Post.
Step 5: Install the side posts
Cut two pieces of either the wood or PVC door jamb to the same height as the new opening. The side posts meet the underside of the previously installed header. These must be the exact height of the door minus ¼ inch.
Once you have the side jambs installed, the opening should be the same dimensions as the garage door. Try to use double sided posts to support the weight. However, you will also install two trimmers on the left and right sides.
Step 6: Attach the middle support frame
The final step in framing your garage is to attach the center support frame. Find the clearance between the installed header and the ceiling, cut the wood to height and center with the header. You will use this piece to attach the center bracket of the garage door spring system.
Conclusion
In summary, the dimensions of a standard garage door are 7 feet high and 8 to 10 feet wide. This size fits single vehicle garages that house standard cars, SUVs, trucks and vans. Double standard garage door dimensions are 7 feet high and 12 to 16 feet wide. RV garage doors are 12 feet tall and 10 to 14 feet wide.
Now, get out the tape measure and get ready to install your new garage door.