General Dimensions for Garage Access

Height

• Garage doors range in height from 6 to 8 feet. Typically, a garage will have an 8- or 9-foot ceiling. The ceiling of the garage must be higher than the height of the door, as when you open the door, it sits on a set of tracks that hangs from the ceiling of the garage. Choosing which size of door depends partly on the height of the garage and the vehicle you drive. If you drive a large truck, for example, an 8-foot garage door allows for more clearance.

Width

• The standard width for garage doors varies between 6 and 18 feet, depending on the style of the door. Single garage doors are rarely as narrow as 6 feet; most are typically in the 8-foot range, which makes accessing them with your vehicle easier. A 6-foot garage door is only accessible to small vehicles and those with folding mirrors. A double-size garage door can measure up to 18 feet, which allows access to two vehicles.

Garage Size

• The overall size of the garage is partially dictated by its door. Because the door requires tracks above the door and on each side of it, the garage has to be slightly wider and taller than the door itself. If the door is 8 feet wide, for example, it's common to have 1 foot of clearance on each side of the door, resulting in a 10-foot wide garage.

Other Door

• Many garages have one or two secondary doors that are standard house doors rather than roll-up garage doors. Depending on the layout of the house, one door can lead from the garage to the house while another can lead into the back or side yard. Standard doors are usually 3 feet in width and between 6 and 7 feet in height. Having this style of door in your garage gives you additional access to the garage without having to use the large door.