Cost research by opening size
Garage door prices by size
Size is the single biggest driver of a garage door quote, more than colour, more than the brand of motor, more than most people expect. A door that fits a standard single opening is often a stock size the supplier already holds; anything wider moves you into made-to-measure fabrication, which changes the price before insulation or automation are even discussed.
This guide sets out what different opening widths tend to cost fitted in Northern Ireland, and why the jump between bands is not always proportional to the extra steel or aluminium involved.
- Standard single
- 2.1m, 2.4m wide
- One-and-a-half
- Around 2.7m, 3.0m
- Double opening
- 4.5m, 5.5m typical
- Oversized
- Bespoke fabrication
Why width matters more than most specifications
Below roughly 2.4 metres, most suppliers hold stock curtain and panel widths, so a single opening is usually the cheapest per-metre option. Once you pass that threshold, doors are cut and fabricated to the exact opening, which adds lead time and cost even before you choose insulation or a motor.
Double openings also change the structural side of the job. A wider lintel takes more load, the track or guide rails are longer, and a heavier curtain or panel set often needs a stronger motor to move it reliably, especially in wind-driven weather common on exposed sites.
Fitted price bands by size
These are indicative ranges for a competently installed door of decent specification. A free survey turns any of these into a fixed figure once we have measured the actual opening, which is rarely perfectly square on older properties.
| Opening size | Typical width | Fitted range (manual roller) | Fitted range (insulated sectional) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, compact | up to 2.4m | £789, £1,100 | £1,250, £1,700 |
| Single, wide | 2.4m, 2.7m | £950, £1,300 | £1,450, £1,900 |
| One-and-a-half | 2.7m, 3.0m | £1,100, £1,550 | £1,600, £2,100 |
| Double | 4.5m, 5.5m | £1,800, £2,800 | £2,400, £3,600 |
| Oversized / bespoke | over 5.5m or non-standard height | Quoted per opening | Quoted per opening |
One-and-a-half and awkward widths
Openings between a single and a full double are common on extended or older Northern Ireland properties, where a garage has been widened at some point without a matching new lintel. These sit in an odd middle ground: too wide for stock sizes, too narrow to be treated as a straightforward double.
They are worth measuring carefully before you request quotes, because a difference of even 100mm can push the job from a stock-adjacent price into full bespoke fabrication.
Height matters too, not just width
Standard door height is usually around 2.0 to 2.1 metres, but older garages in towns like Lisburn or Banbridge sometimes have lower or taller openings than modern builds. A taller opening needs a longer curtain or extra panels, and headroom above the opening still has to accommodate the roller box or sectional track.
- Measure width at three points, top, middle and bottom, openings are rarely uniform.
- Measure height on both sides, older frames often lean slightly.
- Check headroom above the opening for a roller box or sectional horizontal track.
- Check side room (reveal) if you want a sectional door, the vertical track needs clearance.
Where oversized openings add cost beyond the door itself
Genuinely oversized openings, for example a converted double garage or a commercial-style opening on a large rural property, often need a stronger motor, reinforced brackets, and sometimes a support beam if the existing lintel is not rated for a heavier door. These are structural items a survey identifies, not extras added after the fact.
Questions we get asked
- Why is a double door not simply twice the price of a single?
- The curtain, panels, motor and track all scale up, but so does the fabrication complexity, since a wider door is rarely a stock item. In practice a double often costs more than double a compact single, particularly once insulation and a stronger motor are included.
- How do I measure my opening before requesting a quote?
- Measure width and height at multiple points using a tape measure, and note the headroom above the opening and any side reveal. Our measuring guide walks through this step by step, or you can book a free survey and we will measure it properly.
- Is a one-and-a-half width always more expensive per metre than a standard single?
- Usually, yes, because it falls outside common stock sizes and needs bespoke fabrication. It is worth checking whether a slightly narrower stock size would still work for your opening.
- Can an oversized opening still take a roller door?
- In many cases yes, but the box, curtain gauge and motor all need to be specified for the extra size and weight. A survey confirms whether a roller or a sectional door is the more practical route for a large opening.
- Does an oversized door take longer to arrive?
- Yes, bespoke sizes are fabricated to order rather than pulled from stock, so lead times are typically longer than for a standard single opening.
- Will you give a price before measuring?
- We can give an indicative range from a rough width and photos, which is useful for early budgeting. A fixed price only follows a proper measure, since even a small error in opening size changes the fabrication.
Find out what your exact opening will cost
Send us your rough width and height, or book a free on-site measure, and we will confirm which size band your garage falls into.
Based at 31 Mount Street, Dromore (BT25) · covering Northern Ireland · 24/7 emergency repairs