What size garage door do I need?

Getting the measurement right matters. A door ordered to the wrong size means delays and added cost, so it's worth measuring carefully or having a tech confirm it.

Standard garage door sizes

Here are the common residential sizes:

• Single doors: 8 ft x 7 ft and 9 ft x 7 ft are the most popular. 8 ft x 8 ft suits taller vehicles.
• Double doors: 16 ft x 7 ft is the standard two-car size. 18 ft x 7 ft fits wider openings.
• Taller options: 8-foot and higher doors handle trucks, vans, and lifted vehicles.

Custom sizes exist for older homes and unusual openings, but they cost more and take longer to order, so a standard size is the budget-friendly default when it fits.

How to measure for a new garage door

You measure the rough opening, not the old door. Use a tape measure and write down:

1. Width: the distance across the opening at its widest point, left to right.
2. Height: floor to the top of the opening.
3. Side room: the space from each side of the opening to the nearest wall. You need about 3.75 inches per side for the tracks.
4. Headroom: the space above the opening to the ceiling. Standard hardware needs about 10 to 12 inches.
5. Backroom: the depth from the opening back into the garage. Plan for the door's height plus about 18 inches.

If you're short on headroom or side room, low-clearance track kits exist, which is one reason a pro measurement pays off.

Match the size to how you use the garage

The opening sets the limit, but your vehicles and habits decide what's comfortable:

• Tall vehicles. A truck with a roof rack, a lifted SUV, or a van often needs an 8-foot-tall door instead of the standard 7.
• Two cars, one opening. A single 16-foot door is easier to use than two separate 8-foot doors for tight driveways, since you don't have to line up with a center post.
• Two cars, two doors. Separate doors give you a backup if one opener fails and can look better on some home styles.
• Storage and shop space. If you park and also use the garage as a workshop, a wider or taller door makes moving gear in and out far easier.

When standard sizes don't fit

Older Denver-area homes, detached garages, and custom builds sometimes have non-standard openings. Brick or stone surrounds, sloped floors, and tight ceilings all change what will fit. In those cases a custom door or special hardware is the answer, and guessing leads to an expensive return.

Don't forget the opener and tracks

A new door is only part of the job. A door that's larger or heavier than the old one may need a stronger opener, and moving from a single to a double, or to a taller door, usually means new tracks and sometimes different springs to match the new weight. An insulated door also weighs more than a thin single-layer one. When you price a new door, ask whether your current opener and hardware can handle it, so the quote covers the whole job and not just the panels.

When to call a pro

A free in-person measurement removes the risk. A tech confirms the opening, checks your headroom and side room, and tells you which standard sizes fit or whether you need custom. That one visit prevents the most common and costly mistake in buying a new door.

Our installers measure, recommend, and quote at no charge as part of our garage door services. If you're weighing the project, see our breakdown of what a new garage door costs so you can budget before you order, with flat-rate pricing across the Front Range.