One of the most frequent questions about residential garage doors is whether they come in standard sizes. Here is the much-awaited answer – Yes, garage doors come in standard sizes, but this depends on the age and size of the garage you have and other related requirements. This post will discuss garage door standard sizes under various topics to help you understand what size is appropriate for your garage.
In most cases, you don’t want to spend all your time evaluating the average garage size you need, and that’s why it is crucial to be aware of some standard sizes and the situation for them to best work. So, before you start your garage door installation or replacement project, read through this guide, and you will make the wisest decision when it comes to garage door size.
Standard garage door sizes for various garage sizes
If you are building or renovating a residential garage, here are the three garage sizes with their most appropriate garage door sizes that you should consider:
Single door garage
This is the garage’s size that will perfectly house a single-standard sized car, van, SUV, or truck. The most common standard sizes for these garages are 8×7 feet, 9×7 feet, and 10×7 feet.
Double door garage
If you have more than one vehicle or a slightly larger car than what we have discussed in the category above, this is the garage size you will most likely have. This garage size also comes in handy when you want to add extra storage space to your home. The standard garage door sizes here are 12×7 feet, 14×7 feet, and 16×7 feet.
Large door garage
A large garage in the residential space houses several cars with one or more large vehicles in the collection. A perfect example here is an RV garage that is extended in both height and width. An oversized garage needs a large garage door, and the standard sizes you will be looking at here are 16×8 feet and 16×9 feet. There is great flexibility in the adjustments that can be made for these garage doors, especially in terms of width.
Standard garage sizes for new vs. old garages
The standard garage door sizes for new modern garage designs are not the same as that of older garages. Older garages require shorter garage doors because the cars they were made for were smaller. Here, a standard height of 7 feet will work just fine. On the other hand, modern garages are made for various car sizes and should expect the standard height to be 7-8 feet.
If you need to renovate your old garage into a modern one, you are not limited to go with the same old standard door size. You can switch things up and pick one that will perfectly fit the design you are looking to achieve. Remember that communication with reliable tradespeople is paramount to finding the right size and layout of garage doors.
Thickness- the other very crucial size consideration
While most of us will think of the width and height when we hear of standard garage door sizes, the thickness is also essential. The thickness mainly contributes to your garage doors’ cost and insulation; two main crucial factors you will consider when selecting a door for your garage. Here are the primary standard sizes in terms of thickness
• Non-insulated, highly economical garage doors- The standard thickness for these doors is 2 inches, and they are usually made of a single sheet of molded steel.
• Insulated, higher-priced garage doors- The insulated garage doors are thicker and offer better energy saving than the non-insulated garage doors. For these garage doors, expect a standard size of 2-3.5 inches. Their single sheets are thinner than their non-insulated counterparts, but the insulation between them (which may be Styrofoam or polyurethane) can take up a space of 0.25*-1.5 inches.
Choosing either of these two garage doors depends on what you are storing in your garage. If you will use your garage for nothing else but storage, then the most economical option would be best.
What if my garage door does not fall under all these standard size categories?
If you can’t find the perfect one for your garage after going through the above standard garage door sizes, don’t worry, as there are custom-made options to choose. It would be best if you reached out to a garage door installation expert, and they will take measurements of your garage door area and custom make it following these measurements.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you are now an expert on standard garage door sizes and the needs they generally aim to fulfill. Even with this, you still need to involve a garage door specialist to determine the most appropriate door for your garage. Sometimes you may miss some details and pick the wrong standard size or even a good one that will not fit your garage door needs. The good thing is that most of these garage door specialists will offer free professional advice, and you will only need to pay for the materials and the installation/replacement works.