Measuring your garage door is crucial whether you’re renovating your garage to create more space, replacing an old door or building a garage from scratch. Getting accurate dimensions makes it easier to find the perfect garage door you need, reduces stress during installation and saves you lots of cash. However, measuring your garage door might be challenging.
Garage doors serve multiple purposes, so it’s important to get things right when choosing and installing one. We’ve provided four simple steps to guide you in measuring your garage door correctly. We’ll also point out essential tips for measuring garage doors, go over common garage door sizes and answer the frequently asked questions that come our way.
Whether you’re looking to install a Clopay®, AMARR® or Wayne Dalton garage door, the following diagrams and instructions will help you get accurate measurements:
The first thing to do when measuring a garage door is to secure a tape measure, a writing utensil and a notepad or any tool or gadget you can use to record and store the measurements. A 25-foot tape measure is recommended to help you get accurate measurements without stopping midway to make marks and continue. It’ll also help to have an extra hand to assist with holding one end of the tape measure or writing the measurements you take during the process.
Find the length and height of your rough opening — labeled 1 and 2 on the diagram — to determine what size garage door you need. Measure from the two widest points of your garage door opening. The door’s rough opening will be slightly larger than the door you’ll need. A finished opening should equal the size you need.
Your garage door’s new track should fit in the areas to the sides of the garage door opening. Measure the wall strip on your garage door’s side margins — labeled 3 and 4 on the diagram. You’ll need a minimum of 3 ¾ inches per side to install the track for a standard torsion spring, standard extension spring and the EZ-SET® Torsion Spring System. You’ll need at least 5 ½ inches for the EZ-SET® Extension Spring System.
If you are installing doors for a two-door garage, the center post between both doors will need double the distance. This space should be at least 7 ½ inches for a standard extension or torsion spring or the EZ-SET® Torsion Spring System. For the EZ-SET® Extension Spring System, you will need at least 11 inches.
Take the dimensions of the headroom — marked 5 on the diagram. The headroom is the space between the jamb header — or the area above the doorway — and the floor joist, or ceiling. You’ll have to adjust your measurement if you find an obstruction on your ceilings, such as pipes or light fixtures. Find the measurement between the top of the door and the bottom of the obstruction. You’ll need 10 inches of headroom for the EZ-SET® Extension Spring System or the standard extension spring.
For a standard torsion spring and the EZ-SET® Torsion Spring System, you’ll need at least 12 inches of headroom. For garages with limited headroom, a specialized kit is available. You’ll also need additional headroom to install an automatic garage door opener.
If the height of your garage door stretches above the opening, measure your headroom from the top.
Find the dimensions of the backroom — labeled 6 on the drawing. The backroom — or the rear clearance — is the space between the overhead door and the back of the wall where you install the overhead door.
Start at the opening of your garage door, and measure toward the back of the garage. The backroom ends at the first obstruction or when your tape measure reaches the back wall.
The amount of backroom you need depends on the height of the garage door you buy. To have an adequate backroom, you’ll need a depth equal to 18 inches plus your garage door height. You may need additional backroom to install an automatic garage door opener, usually about 4 feet and 2 inches.
When following this garage door measuring guide, there are several things you can do to get the most accurate measurement. Following these tips can help you catch any issues the garage door installer should be aware of:
Generally, there are three different garage door sizes to choose from:
Consider these frequently asked questions about how to measure a garage door:
Typically, a single-garage door is 8 feet wide. Some are 9 feet wide to allow for extra clearance. You may need a 15-foot or 16-foot garage door for a standard two-car garage. For a standard three-car garage, the typical width is 32 feet.
Garage doors can be as small as 4 feet wide, often in the case of a small storage shed. Most shed doors, however, are at least 6 feet wide and about 7 feet tall. They are perfect for storing motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
It can take about three to four hours to replace a garage door. However, it depends on the type and size of the garage door and the amount of work required. For example, installation is quicker and simpler if the new garage door is compatible with the available space and structure and your existing brackets and wiring are in good shape. Readjustments may take more time.
Measuring the garage door is only the first step. Next, you need to find the garage door that fits your space requirements and complements your home’s exterior. For most people, finding a trusted expert with a wide variety of quality garage doors that suits their taste is challenging.
Halo Overhead Doors is a full-service garage door company based in Houston with over 30 years of experience providing customers with the finest garage door solutions. Our trained professionals can help you find the correct dimensions and guide you in choosing from our large selection of door styles. Each of our installers has a minimum of five years of experience, so you get expert service every time.
Are you interested in fitting your home with new garage doors? Contact us today and take advantage of our personalized services.
Rafael serviced my garage door through my rental company and did a phenomenal job very experienced and very thourough had the parts on truck to fix same day gave a 30 minute call ahead which made it convenient for my work schedule!!! Would recommend this company and rafael for any of my garage door needs!!
