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Timber Garage Door Sizes and Measuring Guide
Garage doors are not ordered in the same way as standard internal or entrance doors. Every manufacturer has slightly different sizing rules, but our team is always available to help you find the perfect fit. Before looking at sizes, you must decide whether the door will be fitted between the brickwork opening or behind it.
A common mistake is building a 7'0" x 7'0" brick opening and expecting to order a door of the exact same size. This rarely works, as you must always incorporate the physical thickness of the fixing sub-frame and the operating mechanism into the opening.
Standard Door Sizes
Many timber up and over and sectional garage doors are available in standard sizes. For these doors, the ordering size typically refers to the daylight opening size of the fixing sub-frame, not the overall outer frame or the door panel itself.
- Width increments: Typically increase in steps of 150mm (6").
- Height increments: Sectional doors usually increase in 125mm steps. Up and over doors generally come in two standard heights: 1981mm (6'6") and 2134mm (7'0").
Purpose Made Sizes
For the most seamless fit, ordering a purpose-made (made-to-measure) door is often the best route. When specifying a custom door, always provide the overall door and frame dimensions to eliminate any confusion.
- Side hinged and round the corner timber doors are typically ordered as made to measure as standard.
- While standard sizes dominate the up and over and sectional markets, select specialist manufacturers do produce these as truly purpose made timber doors.
How to Measure and What to Look Out For
Before committing to a size or style, keep these critical points in mind:
- Measure accurately: Always measure the opening width (brick to brick) in three places and the height (floor to lintel) in two places to account for uneven surfaces. Use the smallest measurements.
- Account for tracking depth: With retractable up and over, sectional, and round the corner doors, the internal tracking will extend into your garage. Ensure you have sufficient depth clearance and no obstructions blocking the roof space.
- Mind the brick courses: Standard door heights rarely align perfectly with standard brick course heights. It is normal to use a timber or uPVC fascia panel to cloak any gaps at the frame head. If preserving maximum drive-through height is essential, consider a purpose made door.
- Check drive-through clearance: The actual drive-through width and height will always be smaller than your ordering size due to the frame and mechanism. Double-check these exact dimensions if fitting a large vehicle is a priority.
See the image below for examples of what to be aware of when ordering a timber garage door in a side hinged version:
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