What Are the Standard Garage Door Sizes

Properly measuring a residential garage door takes more than simply determining the dimensions of the door. For a garage door that fits perfectly and functions smoothly, take these 4 different measurements:

• Measure the rough opening. The rough opening for a garage door refers to the space where the door will be installed. Measure the width of the door opening in inches from one side to the other at its widest point. Add an extra inch on each side for safety. Next, measure the height from the floor to the top of the opening. Take this measurement in the middle of the opening and again on each side. You'll use the smallest height measurement. Don't forget to add an extra inch allowance on each side for insulation.

• Measure the side room. The side room is the space available on the left and right sides of the rough opening. Most vertical track systems with torsion springs or other hardware require 3 3/4 inches on each side. Some systems can require up to 5 1/2 inches per side.

• Measure the headroom between the top of the door opening (or door jamb header) and the ceiling of the garage. Standard systems require 10 to 12 inches of headroom. On average, door openers require an additional 3 inches of clearance.

• Measure the backroom or distance from the garage door opening to the back wall of the garage. A garage will need backroom that equals the door height plus 18 inches. It could possibly be based on the installation of the type of automatic garage door opener.

Tip: Make sure there's room for the garage door opener to work with the door in both the open and closed position.

Single garage doors can be small enough for golf carts or large enough for tractors. It all depends on your home or community.

For most homes, the standard single-car garage door sizes are:

• 8 feet wide by 7 feet high
• 9 feet wide by 7 feet high
• 16 feet wide by 7 feet high

These garage door dimensions tend to be the same for both attached and detached garages.

Many homeowners have two cars and need garage space to shelter them both. The standard size for double garage doors is 16 feet wide and 7 to 8 feet high. Many of these size garage doors are designed with a pair of single 8-foot garage door bays. These bays can be separated by a central post or column.

• One double door can be more visually prominent than two single doors.
• A double door requires only one opener.
• Budget-wise, two single doors and one double door require about the same investment. However, two single doors will each need a garage door opener.

Standard garage door sizes work with most single-car or double-car garages. For an RV, large truck or other oversized vehicle, custom door sizes are available. Custom garage doors can offer a door height of 10 feet or more. This higher height can accommodate larger vehicles or vehicles with tall roof racks. They can also be made to fit garages of unusual dimensions where standard garage door sizes don't work.

Once you’ve decided which of the overhead door sizes work best, consider thickness. The thickness of residential garage doors can determine how well it is insulated. Not all garages need insulation, so weigh price against how you plan to use your garage.

• Steel garage doors can have panels that are 1/8 inches thick. They can be the most budget friendly but offer little insulation.
• Basic insulated doors have 1/4 to 1/2 inches of foam insulation on the inside of the steel panels.
• Well-insulated doors have two panels with 1 to 1 1/2 inches of foam sandwiched between them.

When determining what size garage door will work best for you, consider:

• For multiple cars or large vehicles, select a size big enough for smooth entry and exit.
• Think about whether you’ll need a door size to accommodate additional storage pieces or tools.