Are you looking to build or replace a garden gate? If so, it helps to know the standard garden gate dimensions so you know what to expect in terms of height and width.
So, what is the standard size of a garden gate? Most garden gates are 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Some common garden gate dimensions are 6 feet tall by 3 feet wide, 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide, and 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. For a gate wider than 4 feet, it might make sense to install a double gate instead of a single gate. You can also use a garden gate height extender to make an existing gate taller.
Of course, installing a wider gate may require some extra work. For example, you might need to remove some of the existing fence and buy some new hardware (hinges, ties, posts, railings, and the gate itself) to rebuild.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some standard garden gate sizes. We’ll also discuss some things to consider when deciding how wide your garden gate should be.
Let’s get going.
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What Is The Standard Size Of A Garden Gate?
The standard size of a garden gate is a height of 3 to 6 feet and a width of 3 to 4 feet. (This assumes a single gate, but a double gate can be wider – more on this later).
Some examples of common garden gate dimensions include:
- 6 feet tall by 3 feet wide
- 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide
- 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide
A height of 3 feet is suitable to keep rabbits out of your garden (for a chain link fence, the openings need to be small enough to prevent them from going right through).
A height of 6 feet is better if you have pets (dogs or cats) that can jump a 3 foot fence to get into your garden. A height of 6 feet is more likely to discourage deer, but remember that they can jump up to 8 feet!
(You can learn more about the ideal height for a garden fence here).
A garden gate with a width of 3 feet is enough to walk through. However, you may want a width of 4 feet if you need to get a wheelbarrow in and out of the garden without having to squeeze by every time.
What Is The Standard Width Of A Garden Gate?
The standard width of a garden gate is 3 or 4 feet (this assumes a single gate, rather than a double gate). The fence post and hinge may add a little to the width of the gate, so take this into account when planning a new garden fence and gate.
A garden gate narrower than 3 feet makes it difficult to walk through without squeezing by. It also may not leave enough space for plants to grow up and over the gate if you install an arch or arbor (more on this later).
A garden gate wider than 4 feet may sag in the middle without proper support. A cross brace (which runs diagonally) will provide support to prevent this.
If you need to bring a tractor or big wheelbarrow into the garden, a wider gate might be helpful. If 4 feet is not wide enough, consider a double gate.
How Tall Is A Garden Gate?
A standard size garden gate is 6 feet tall. This will prevent most animals from jumping over to get into the garden.
It also provides enough height for privacy (even for a chain link fence – you just need to wait until vining plants climb their way the fence.)
If you don’t need such a tall fence, you can install one that is 3, 4 or 5 feet tall. These will still provide some privacy and will keep out some animals.
Even with a shorter fence, you can still make the gate itself taller.
How To Make A Garden Gate Taller
Installing a new gate takes some work, and the existing fence might not be tall enough to support it. That means replacing the whole fence, which becomes expensive and time-consuming.
Fortunately, there are some options to make a garden gate taller without spending too much time or money. There are also lots of reasons to do it.
You might want to make a garden gate taller to give plants more places to climb. You might also want to improve the appearance of your garden gate entrance.
Either way, there are lots of things you can do to make your garden gate taller. Some common garden gate height extenders include:
- Trellis
- Arch
- Arbor
Let’s start with the simple but versatile trellis.
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Garden Gate With Trellis
A trellis is a freestanding lattice that is often used to support plants. However, it can also be used to extend the height of your garden gate.
To make a wooden garden gate taller, you can use screws to attach a wooden or plastic trellis. For a metal garden gate, you can use rope, twine, or zip ties to attach the trellis.
You can add pieces of trellis along the entire length of the fence to make the whole thing taller. Just be sure to checking the local zoning regulations to make sure that the new and improved fence is not too tall!
You can learn more about trellises (and how they compare to other yard structures) in my article here.
Garden Gate With Arch
Adding an arch over a garden gate will achieve your main goal: to make it taller. However, it will also add something special to the appearance of the garden entrance.
When you allow plants to climb up the arch, it adds even more beauty to your yard. Some great flowering plants that will happily climb up the arch on a garden gate include:
- Bougainvillea – this ornamental is thorny and can climb up to 40 feet tall. Its flowers are pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, yellow, or white. For more information, check out this article on bougainvillea from Wikipedia.
- Clematis – this climbing plant produces white, pink, red, blue, or maroon flowers. For an arbor, choose a variety that grows tall (as opposed to a “shrub” type). For more information, check out this article on clematis from Wikipedia.
- Ivy – this evergreen vine can climb up to 100 feet above the ground. The flowers are greenish-yellow and they attract bees. Keep it trimmed or it just might take over the garden! For more information, check out this article on hedera (ivy) from Wikipedia.
- Roses – this perennial plant has red, pink, yellow, or white flowers, along with thorns. Some are compact, and others can grow up to 20 feet tall. Just be sure to keep them pruned, or you might turn your garden gate into a hazard! For more information, check out this article on roses from Wikipedia.
- Wisteria – this climbing plant is in the legume family (with peas and beans). Its flowers are purple, violet, pink, or white. It can grow as tall as 66 feet, and can make do with poor soil. For more information, check out this article on wisteria from Wikipedia.
Climbing vines that produce fruit would be great for an arch, including:
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Grapes
- Squash
- Tomatoes
In addition to adding style to your garden gate, these vines will produce food for your family to enjoy.
Garden Gate With Arbor
An arbor may include an arch, but it could also be a flat-topped structure to add height to your garden gate. They can be made of a variety of materials, including:
- Metal – metal is sturdy, but it is heavy and prone to rust or tarnish if untreated.
- Plastic – plastic is lightweight, but may not be strong enough to hold heavier vining plants.
- Wood – wood is sturdier than plastic, but it will rot over time, especially if untreated.
All of the plants listed above could also be allowed to climb up and over an arbor with a flat top.
You can learn more about arbors (and what they can be used for) in my article here.
Conclusion
Now you know the standard sizes of a garden gate and how to decide which dimensions are right for you.
I hope you found this article helpful. If so, please share it with someone who can use the information.
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~Jonathon