A walk gate runs $200 to $600 and a double drive gate $600 to $2,500, installed. Typical jobs land around $400 for a walk gate and $735 for a double drive gate, inside those bands.
What gates do to a fence quote
These use $25 to $35 a foot for 6 foot treated wood privacy fence, then add the gates.
| Job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| 100 ft, no gate | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| 100 ft plus one walk gate | $2,700 | $4,100 |
| 150 ft, no gate | $3,750 | $5,250 |
| 150 ft plus one walk gate | $3,950 | $5,850 |
| 150 ft plus a walk gate and a double drive gate | $4,550 | $8,350 |
| 200 ft, no gate | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| 200 ft plus one walk gate | $5,200 | $7,600 |
| 200 ft plus a walk gate and a double drive gate | $5,800 | $10,100 |
If an old fence has to come out as well, add $5 to $10 a foot on top for tear out and haul away.
Why a gate costs more than the fence beside it
A gate is the only part of a fence that moves, and everything about it is built heavier.
The posts go deeper. Gate posts are set 6 to 12 inches below the line posts, and on the tallest privacy fences they go to 42 inches. Toledo sits on a 36 inch frost line, so a gate post here is often 42 inches or more in the ground, in a bigger hole, with more concrete.
The frame has to resist sagging. Most wood gates here are built on a steel frame kit rather than a wood Z brace. The manufacturer’s own prices run from about $80 for a light universal kit to $115 for a standard 36 to 60 inch frame, $155 for a wide 60 to 96 inch frame, and $290 and up for a double drive kit. A drop rod, which holds one leaf of a double gate still while the other swings, is about $35 on top.
Then hardware. A pair of heavy hinges runs from about $9 to $25, a simple gravity latch from about $6 to $12, and a lockable latch from about $18 to $41. Designer hinges go as high as $365 a pair. An anti-sag cable and turnbuckle kit is $8 to $24 and is worth having on any wood gate wider than about 4 feet.
And finally the hours. A garden gate can take two workers a full day. That is the real reason a 4 foot gate does not cost the same as 4 feet of fence.
Sizes worth knowing before you ask for a quote
A walk gate is usually 3 to 4 feet wide. That is enough for people, a wheelbarrow and most mowers.
Double drive gates are usually quoted for openings of 8 to 16 feet. Measure the widest thing that has to go through, then add room for the frame, and check which way the gates can swing. A gate that has to open uphill is a design problem, so mention any slope when you ask.
If a gate is the only way into the back yard, think about what will need to pass through it later. A trailer, a hot tub, a mini digger for a future project. Widening a gate afterwards means moving posts.
Pool gates
Rules differ by city and they are not optional.
Perrysburg’s fence permit form states that all fencing for pools shall have self-latching, self-closing, lockable gates. In Toledo, a pool over 24 inches deep needs a Certificate of Zoning Compliance in its own right. Oregon does not require a fence permit at all unless a pool is involved, in which case it does.
Self-closing hinges and self-latching hardware cost more than standard, so tell the installer about the pool when you ask for the quote rather than when the gate is already hung.
Automatic gates
Gate automation is quoted separately, and the price depends on the opener, the wiring and the safety devices, so ask for each as its own line.
Sales tax
A gate hung as part of a fence is part of an improvement to real property. Under Ohio Administrative Code 5703-9-14, the contractor pays sales tax on the frame kit, the hinges and the lumber when he buys them, and does not charge tax on your invoice. Your quote should be one lump sum with no tax line.
Questions worth asking
How deep do the gate posts go, and what size are they. What is the frame made of. What hinges and latch are included, and are they lockable. What happens if the gate sags in a year, and is that covered by the workmanship warranty.
A gate that drops half an inch is the single most common complaint on a wood fence, and every one of those questions is aimed at it.
See your price range
Add your gates in the estimator along with your fence runs and you will see them priced into the range for your own yard. If the number looks right, request a quote and up to three local fence pros will come and measure.
Questions people ask
How much does one gate add to a fence quote?
A walk gate runs $200 to $600 and a double drive gate $600 to $2,500, installed. Typical jobs land around $400 and $735.
Why is a 4 foot gate so much more than 4 feet of fence?
A gate is a small building. It needs deeper posts, a frame that will not sag, hinges, a latch, and it has to swing true. One source says a garden gate can take two workers a full day.
How wide should my gates be?
A walk gate is usually 3 to 4 feet. Double drive gates are quoted for 10 to 16 foot openings in Ohio. Measure what has to go through, mower, trailer or truck, before you decide.
Do pool gates have special rules?
Yes, and they vary by city. Perrysburg requires every pool fence gate to be self-latching, self-closing and lockable. Toledo requires zoning approval for pools over 24 inches deep, and Oregon requires a fence permit only when a pool is involved.