The most common garage door sizes are 8′ x 7′ for single-car and 16′ x 7′ for two-car garages. Larger options like 9′ x 8′ or 10′ x 8′ suit SUVs and trucks. For RVs, doors go up to 14′ high. This guide walks you through widths, measurements, and how to choose the right fit.
Size is only the beginning. Choosing the right garage door also means accounting for headroom, vehicle type, insulation, architectural proportions, and avoiding mistakes that can cost you curb appeal or comfort.
Whether you’re replacing an existing door or outfitting a custom build, getting the right size the first time makes all the difference.
At Image Doors, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. From hand-built antique-style swing doors to oversized sectional doors sized to the inch, we tailor every door to your home’s needs and personality.
Our design consultations ensure your door fits your garage opening, and your life, with zero guesswork.
Not everyone needs the full breakdown. But if you want more than the basics, if you want to get the sizing right the first time, keep reading. This is where craftsmanship meets precision.
Quick Reference: Most Popular Garage Door Sizes
If you’re looking for a fast comparison, here’s how standard garage door sizes typically break down:
- Single car garage: 8′ x 7′ , The traditional go-to for compact or midsize vehicles
9′ x 7′ or 9′ x 8′ , A better fit for today’s SUVs or if you need a little breathing room - Two-car garage: 16′ x 7′ , The industry default
16′ x 8′ or 18′ x 8′ , Extra height and width for better clearance and easier parking - SUVs and Trucks: Look for at least a 9′ width and 8′ height, especially if your vehicle is lifted or roof-racked
- RVs and Oversized Vehicles: 12’–14′ high and 12’–16′ wide is the starting point, custom framing may be required
- Small Units & Utility Sheds: 4’–6′ wide and 6’–7′ tall to accommodate mowers, carts, or motorcycles
In places like Florida or parts of the Southwest where larger vehicles are the norm, doors over 10′ tall are showing up more frequently in new construction.
What Size Door Do You Actually Need?
Step-by-Step: Measure Your Garage Opening
- Width: From stud to stud across the opening, not just the old door’s measurement
- Height: From floor to the bottom of the header
- Side Room: You’ll need at least 3.5″ on either side for tracks and hardware
- Headroom: At least 12″ is typical, but you’ll want 15″ or more if installing an opener
- Backroom: Measure from the opening to the rear wall, sectional doors need room to roll back
Missing even a few inches in one of these areas can delay installation or limit your options. That’s why we build to fit, not force your space into a template.
Single vs. Double Garage Doors: What’s Right for You?
If you’ve got a two-car garage, you’ll usually choose between one double-wide door or two singles.
Two 8′ x 7′ Doors vs. One 16′ x 7′ Door
Two Singles
- Less heat loss when using just one bay
- If one opener fails, the other still works
- Better energy efficiency and separation
One Double
- More affordable opener setup
- Simpler facade with fewer moving parts
- Clean visual symmetry, if proportioned well
When to Go Bigger: Oversized and Custom Doors
Sometimes standard sizes just won’t cut it. If your garage serves more than just your cars, you’re in custom territory.
- Lifted trucks, sprinter vans, work vehicles: Start at 10′ x 8′ and go up
- RV and camper storage: 12’–14′ height is a minimum, and width may stretch to 16′
- Three-car garages: We’ve built doors up to 40′ wide with full wind-load certification
- Swing-out and barn-style doors: Go fully custom to preserve ceiling clearance or historical aesthetics
At Image Doors, we size our steel doors in 3” increments and build every piece to fit. No prefab frames. No “close enough.” Just handcrafted solutions that work as well as they look.
The Real Size vs. Usable Opening
The dimensions stamped on a garage door don’t tell the whole story. A 16′ wide door might give you closer to 14′ of actual drive-through space once you factor in tracks and framing. That margin matters, especially if you’re backing in a wide SUV or a trailer.
Here’s what subtracts from usable space:
- Track clearance: Takes up 1.5″–3″ on each side
- Wall thickness or bump-outs: Can tighten the entry path
- Weather seals and trim: Add subtle but real constraints
We’ve seen plenty of homeowners order a “standard” size only to realize their vehicle barely fits. That’s why we always assess the full garage environment, not just the hole in the wall.
Design & Proportion: Make the Door Match the Home
Featured Product: Custom Barn Wood Carriage House Garage Doors
A garage door is often the single largest design element on your home’s facade. Scale it wrong, and it throws everything off.
We help clients manage visual weight with:
- Divided panel layouts: Break up wide doors so they don’t overpower the front elevation
- Double window rows: Balance taller doors with architectural rhythm
- Trim and custom milling: Adjust groove depth and spacing to keep scale in check
For high-end or historic homes, symmetry matters. Oversized doors should feel intentional, not like they were forced in. That’s where our design team and millwork really shine.
Material & Insulation Impacts Size
Size is also about depth. Material choice directly affects how much space your door consumes and how it performs over time.
- Wood vs. steel overlay: Wood doors, especially solid cedar or Sapele, can be heavier and thicker, sometimes 3″ or more
- Insulated cores: Required for climate control in attached garages, but they add bulk
- Steel models: Ours are precision-sized, down to 3” increments, which makes even insulated builds fit cleanly
If you’ve got low headroom or tight framing, we’ll help you choose materials and insulation packages that won’t crowd the system, or compromise your garage’s function.
Headroom and Opener Compatibility
Featured Product: Custom Stained Wood Carriage House Garage Doors
You might have the width and height nailed down, but if you don’t have room above the opening, installation gets tricky fast.
Standard lifts usually need:
- 12” of headroom (add 3” if using an opener)
- Track slope clearance to avoid beams or shelving
Solutions for tight headroom:
- Jackshaft openers: Mount to the side of the door instead of above
- Low-clearance kits: Minimize track curve radius
- Swing-out or sliding models: Skip the overhead lift entirely
We often recommend side-mounted motors for vaulted ceilings or barn-style conversions. And yes, we handle the opener compatibility with every custom fit.
Mistakes to Avoid When Sizing a Garage Door
When sizing a garage door, it’s easy to focus on just the opening dimensions, and miss the bigger picture. We’ve seen it happen more than once, and it’s always avoidable.
- Guessing based on your old door: The previous install might not have been right to begin with.
- Ignoring opener clearance and side room: A perfectly sized door that won’t operate is a problem, not a solution.
- Choosing the door before the vehicle: Planning to buy a new SUV or truck next year? Measure for that now, not later.
The number one regret we hear? “I didn’t realize how little space I actually had.” That’s exactly why we measure your space, your needs, and your vision, before the first panel is cut.
Custom Fit Means No Compromise
At Image Doors, we start with your space and work backwards:
- We size to the inch, not just the nearest foot.
- We shape proportions, with hand-milled paneling, matched face boards, and hammered hardware that feels like it belongs.
- We think through the layers, adjusting frame thickness and insulation to suit your climate, ceiling height, and door weight.
Every door we build is a solution, not just a shell.
Whether you’re restoring a 100-year-old carriage house or designing your forever home in the hills of Georgia, we’ll make sure the garage door fits your life as precisely as it fits your opening.
Because we don’t just make garage doors. We make statements. And we do it the old-fashioned way, by listening carefully, building intentionally, and never cutting corners.
The Right Size is the One That’s Made for You
Finding the right garage door size isn’t about following a chart, it’s about matching form to function. Whether you’re parking a compact sedan or a 14-foot-tall RV, your door should fit your lifestyle, your architecture, and your future plans.
At Image Doors, we don’t just sell garage doors. We craft solutions, one measurement at a time. From precise 3″ size increments to handcrafted swing-outs, we offer the design flexibility that mass manufacturers can’t. We take the time to understand your space, your style, and your goals, then build a door that belongs there.
So if you’re tired of working around the wrong fit, contact us. We’ll walk your space, ask the right questions, and help you size a door you’ll never have to think twice about.
Not because it’s standard, but because it’s right.
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