Whether you are replacing an old garage door or planning a new build, one of the first questions is simply: what size do I need? Garage doors come in a set of common sizes, with room for taller and custom options, and getting the fit right matters for how the door seals, operates, and lasts. Here is a clear rundown.
Standard Single-Car Door Sizes
A single-car door covers one bay. The most common widths are 8, 9, and 10 feet, and the standard height is 7 feet. So the sizes you will see most often are 8x7, 9x7, and 10x7 (width by height). Nine feet wide is the most popular single door, since it gives a little extra room to pull in without clipping a mirror.
Standard Double-Car Door Sizes
A double door covers a two-car bay with a single wide door. The common widths are 16 and 18 feet, again at a 7-foot standard height, so 16x7 and 18x7 are the typical sizes. Sixteen feet is the most common double door on Atlanta homes. Because these doors are wide and heavy, their springs work harder, which is worth keeping in mind for maintenance.
Taller Doors: The 8-Foot Height
Standard height is 7 feet, but 8-foot-tall doors are increasingly common, especially for homeowners with tall trucks, SUVs, a lifted vehicle, or overhead storage racks. If you have ever felt like your vehicle just barely clears the opening, an 8-foot door on your next replacement is worth considering.
Custom and Specialty Sizes
Older and historic homes, carriage-house designs, RV garages, and unusual openings often need custom sizes rather than an off-the-shelf door. Custom doors cost more and take longer to order, but they are the right call when a standard size will not seal the opening properly. On a historic home, matching the door to the architecture is worth the extra step.
How to Measure Your Opening
To get a rough sense of your size, measure the width and height of the finished opening (the gap the door covers), not the door currently hanging there. Then note three clearances that affect what will fit: the headroom above the opening, the side room on each side, and the backroom (how far the ceiling runs back into the garage). These determine the track and hardware setup. A professional will confirm all of this on-site, since an inch in the wrong place changes the install.
Why Getting the Size Right Matters
A door that is even slightly off leaves gaps that let in weather, pests, and dust, strains the opener, and can be a safety issue. That is why exact measurement is part of any good installation, and why a quick on-site measure beats guessing from a tape measure and a photo. If you are weighing a new door, our guide to whether a new door adds home value and our comparison of steel, wood, and aluminum doors cover the next decisions after size.
Not sure what size or style fits your home? Our team offers garage door installation across metro Atlanta with a free on-site estimate. We measure everything precisely, help you choose the right size and style, and handle the whole install. Need a repair instead? We also provide same-day garage door repair across the metro area.