Garage Gate Vehicle Size Calculator

Garage gate dimensions by vehicle type

For a passenger car, NBR 9077 (fire egress) and common practice put the minimum clear gate width at 2.30 m, with 2.10 m of clear height. SUVs and pickups want a bit more headroom, around 2.20-2.30 m, while vans and RVs jump to 2.50-2.80 m. You also want at least 0.30-0.50 m of side clearance so you can fold mirrors, open doors, and work the steering. Keep in mind that the approach radius and the ramp slope (capped at 20% by CONTRAN) eat into the usable width too.

A sliding gate needs a stretch of wall beside the opening as wide as the gate itself. Tilt-up doors swing out, so they ask for vertical clearance under the lintel. Sectional doors, the kind you see in most modern condos, roll up along tracks. They run quiet and save room, but the opening has to be reinforced with a beam above it.

Applications

Home garages, condo entrances, and commercial loading docks. It also covers NBR 9050 accessibility, which includes stretcher access in private residences.

FAQ

Can I park an SUV on a 2.10 m gate? Most clear it just fine on their own, but add a roof rack or a bike rack and you'll want 2.30-2.40 m.

Motor lift type? Go sliding on a narrow lot, sectional when the ceiling is low, and tilt-up if you want the cheapest install.

Two cars in line? NBR 9077 allows it, as long as there's 5.00 m of maneuvering area behind the gate.