How Do I Measure My Garage Door?

How Do I Measure My Garage Door? Whether it’s time to install a new garage door or replace an old one, one of the first steps is to measure the amount of space available. You don’t want to guess and order the wrong size! That will only lead to
additional headaches down the road. Measuring a garage door is relatively easy if you follow these steps:

Step 1: Measure the width of the garage door opening

First, measure the width of the garage door opening. Do NOT measure the garage door itself. This will
give you two different measurements. The width is the distance between the left and right sides of the
finished opening. Take the measurement from the widest point of the opening. It may be helpful to take
several measurements at different places to create an average. We recommend measuring to the nearest
fraction of an inch for preciseness. Make note of any issues with the sides of the garage that can cause an
uneven surface, such as jambs that aren’t square.
Hint: Most single doors are between 8-10 feet wide, and most standard double doors are either 12, 14, or
16 feet wide.

Step 2: Measure the height of the garage door opening

Height is measured from the top down. Check to see if the floor is uneven when you’re measuring. Again,
it may be helpful to take several measurements at different places to create an average. We recommend
measuring to the nearest fraction of an inch for preciseness.
Hint: Most garage doors are 7 feet tall but can be custom made to fit your home!

Step 3: Measure the side room

The side room is the wall space to the left and right of the garage door opening. A minimum of 3.75” is
required for each side, but some spring systems require almost 5” of room. If you are measuring a two
door system, the center post requires a minimum of 10” space to fit both vertical tracks.

Step 4: Measure the headroom

The headroom is the distance between the top of the door opening and the lowest point of the ceiling.
Typically, standard extension springs require 10” and torsion springs require 12”. The headroom ensures
that the door and vertical track can fit when it’s raised. Likely, you will need over 12” of space to fit the
garage door opener as well. There are special tracks available if you’re low on space.

Step 5: Measure the backroom

The backroom is the depth of the garage, or the distance from the garage door opening to the back wall.
The appropriate depth will be the height of the garage door plus an additional 18”. This is the space where
the garage door will fit when it is completely open. An automatic garage door opener may require
additional room.

Tips and tricks:

As you are measuring, verify that an electrical outlet is available for the garage door opener. Note any
possible obstructions, such as lights, pipes, or ductwork that may interfere with the vertical track or garage door function. Remember to make all measurements from inside the garage. This is especially important for the width and height.
While this isn’t the most challenging task to accomplish, you can make it easier by phoning a friend to
help measure or calling the professionals. They will ensure your measurements are accurate and your
garage door will have the perfect fit. If it’s not measured properly, you can experience garage door
alignment issues and other difficulties later on.

If you have any questions or comments on how we can help keep your Garage Door secure, please give The
Wright Door Co. a call at 314-484-3667, 636-293-3007 or 618-698-8058. Delivering Quality You Expect,
Service You Deserve is our Goal.