How to Measure for a Timber Gate
A well-made timber gate begins with a clear understanding of the entrance. Whether you are planning a driveway gate, a side gate or a farm gate, accurate information at the enquiry stage helps the manufacturer recommend the right design, posts, hinges and opening arrangement.
Measuring the space is not the same as deciding the final size of the gate. Clearances vary according to the gate style, hardware, posts, ground conditions and whether the gate will be manual or automated. Use this guide to collect useful information, then ask Grogan Timber Products to confirm the final manufacturing dimensions before placing an order.
What you will need
A reliable tape measure long enough for the full opening
A spirit level, if available
A notebook or phone for recording every measurement
A camera or phone for photographs
Another person to help with wide driveway or farm entrances
1. Identify the type of gate you need
Start by deciding how the entrance is used. A main driveway has different requirements from a narrow pedestrian side passage or an agricultural access point.
Record whether you are considering a single gate or a pair of gates, and note the access needed for cars, vans, machinery, livestock, bins or pedestrians. If several users share the entrance, include that information in your enquiry.
2. Measure the clear opening in three places
Measure the width between the two fixed sides of the opening at the top, middle and bottom. Walls and posts are not always perfectly parallel, particularly on older properties. Record all three measurements rather than assuming they are identical.
Do not subtract a standard allowance or order a gate based only on the smallest number. The appropriate clearance depends on the hinges, latch, posts and intended installation. Send the complete set of measurements to Grogan so the team can advise on the correct gate size.
3. Record the height on both sides
Measure the intended gate height at the left and right sides of the entrance. If the ground rises, falls or is uneven, measure at additional points and take clear photographs.
Think about the level of privacy, visibility and security you want, but also consider the proportions of the house, wall or boundary. A gate should suit both the practical needs of the entrance and the character of the property.
4. Check the ground level and swing path
A gate needs sufficient clearance to open without scraping the ground. Check whether the driveway slopes upwards, downwards or sideways and whether there are humps, drains, kerbs, gravel or other obstacles in the proposed swing path.
Stand where the gate would be positioned and visualise its full movement. Note parked vehicles, steps, planting, walls, pillars and public footpaths. If an inward swing is restricted, tell the manufacturer rather than assuming the gate can open outwards; site layout and safety requirements need to be considered.
5. Examine the existing posts, pillars or walls
Photograph each side of the opening and note what the gate would be attached to. Existing timber posts may have moved or deteriorated, while masonry pillars can vary in size and condition.
Do not assume an existing support is suitable for the weight and leverage of a new gate. Grogan can advise what information is needed to assess the opening and whether new posts or additional preparation may be required.
6. Note hinges, latches and access requirements
Tell Grogan which way you would prefer the gate to open and where the hinges and latch might sit. If you need a pedestrian gate beside a driveway gate, access for deliveries, extra security or safe control of pets and livestock, include it at the beginning of the conversation.
If gate automation is being considered, mention it before the gate is manufactured.
Automation can affect the design, supports, hardware, power planning and safe operating space. The gate manufacturer and automation specialist should agree the requirements for the specific entrance.
7. Take useful photographs
Good photographs help explain details that measurements alone can miss. Take:
One photograph facing the entrance from the road or approach
One photograph looking back towards the road from inside the property
Close photographs of both posts, walls or pillars
Side views showing slopes and the likely swing area
Photographs of drains, kerbs, steps or other obstacles
A photograph with the tape measure visible, where practical
Avoid relying on a single close-up image. Wider views give valuable context about the entrance and surrounding space.
A simple measurement checklist
Before requesting a quotation, collect the following:
Opening width at the top, middle and bottom
Proposed height on the left and right
Ground slope and surface type
Details and condition of existing posts, walls or pillars
Preferred single- or double-gate arrangement
Preferred opening direction
Vehicle, pedestrian, machinery, pet or livestock access needs
Manual or potential automated operation
Clear photographs from both sides of the entrance
Property address and any access constraints
Common measuring mistakes to avoid
Measuring the width in only one place
Giving the desired gate size instead of the full opening measurements
Ignoring a slope or uneven surface
Assuming existing posts can carry a new gate
Forgetting the space needed for the gate to open
Leaving automation or pedestrian access until after manufacture
Ordering before the final dimensions and hardware have been confirmed
From measurements to a handcrafted gate
Measurements are the starting point for a gate that works properly and looks right for the property. Grogan Timber Products has handcrafted timber gates near Belturbet, County Cavan, since 1992. The family business creates custom entrance, side, security and farm gates using Scandinavian kiln-dried high-density deal timber sourced from Finland, supplying customers across Ireland and the UK.
If you are planning a new timber gate, send Grogan your measurements, photographs and a short description of how the entrance is used. The team can then discuss the appropriate design and confirm what further information or site preparation is required before manufacture.
Contact Grogan Timber Products to discuss a custom timber gate and confirm the correct measurements for your entrance.
Close-up of handcrafted timber gate construction and joinery"
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