Garage Door Sizes: The Complete Guide for Utah Homeowners

Standard garage door sizes are 8×7 feet for a single car, 16×7 feet for a double car, and 10×8 or 12×8 feet for RVs and oversized vehicles. Measure the rough opening width and height, plus the headroom (space above the opening to the ceiling) and sideroom (space on each side of the opening) to determine the right fit. Custom sizes are available for non-standard openings. Advanced Door installs standard and custom-sized garage doors across Utah with a 4.9-star rating across 30,000+ reviews. Family owned since 1994 with a free lifetime warranty. Call (844) 971-3667 for a free measurement.

Last updated: April 2026

In This Guide

Whether you are replacing an aging garage door, planning a new build, or trying to figure out if your truck actually fits through the opening, knowing your garage door sizes matters more than most homeowners realize. The wrong size means a costly reorder, a botched installation, or years of squeezing past mirrors that barely clear the frame.

This guide covers every standard residential and commercial garage door size, how to measure your opening correctly, and what Utah homeowners specifically need to consider before ordering a new door.

Standard Residential Garage Door Sizes

Garage doors are manufactured in standard widths and heights that fit the vast majority of American homes. Understanding these standard garage door sizes is the first step toward a smooth replacement or new installation.

Standard widths: 8 feet, 9 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet, 16 feet, and 18 feet.

Standard heights: 7 feet and 8 feet (with 9-foot and 10-foot options available).

Most residential garage doors fall into two categories: single-car doors (8 to 10 feet wide) and double-car doors (12 to 18 feet wide). The standard height across both types is 7 feet, though 8-foot doors have become increasingly common in newer construction across Utah, especially in communities like Daybreak, Herriman, and the Silicon Slopes corridor.

Thickness is another dimension to consider. Standard garage door panels range from 1-3/8 inches for non-insulated single-layer doors up to 2 inches or more for triple-layer insulated garage doors. Thickness affects R-value, weight, and the type of springs and opener your door requires.

Single-Car Garage Door Sizes

Single-car garage doors are designed for openings that serve one vehicle. They are the most common door type on older homes, townhomes, and detached garages throughout Utah.

The 9×7 is king. Roughly 70% of single-car garage doors in the U.S. are 9 feet wide by 7 feet tall. This size accommodates most sedans, midsize SUVs, and standard pickup trucks with a few inches of clearance on each side.

However, Utah’s love of full-size trucks and SUVs is pushing many homeowners toward the 9×8 or even 10×8. If you drive a Ford F-250, Chevy Silverado 2500, or a lifted Jeep Wrangler, that extra foot of height makes a real difference. Roof racks, light bars, and cargo carriers can turn a comfortable 7-foot clearance into a daily game of “will it fit?”

Single-Car Clearance Guidelines

For comfortable daily use, you want at least 6 inches of clearance on each side of your vehicle and 6 inches above. Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Compact car (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla): About 6 feet wide – fits an 8×7 door comfortably
• Midsize SUV (Toyota 4Runner, Ford Explorer): About 6.5 feet wide – needs a 9×7 minimum
• Full-size truck (Ford F-150, RAM 1500): About 6.7 feet wide – fits a 9×7 but a 10×7 gives breathing room
• Heavy-duty truck (Ford F-350 dually): About 8 feet wide with mirrors – needs at least 10×7, mirrors may need folding

Double-Car Garage Door Sizes

Double-car garage doors cover wide openings designed for two vehicles side by side. They are the standard in most Utah neighborhoods built after the 1990s.

The 16×7 is the standard double. The overwhelming majority of two-car garages in Utah use a 16-foot-wide by 7-foot-tall door. This gives each vehicle roughly 8 feet of width, which is enough for most cars and trucks with a few inches of clearance between them and the center pillar (if there is one) or each other.

The 16×8 has rapidly become the new default in Utah’s newer construction zones. Builders in communities like Daybreak, Mountain Point, Traverse Mountain, and the Vineyard/Orem corridor now routinely spec 8-foot-tall doors because buyers want room for lifted trucks, roof boxes, and kayak carriers.

One Double Door vs. Two Single Doors

Many two-car garages use a single wide door (16 feet), but some homeowners prefer two separate single doors (two 8-foot or 9-foot doors). There are trade-offs to each approach:

Single wide door advantages:

• Easier to pull in a boat, trailer, or wide load
• One opener, one set of springs, one door to maintain
• Wider clearance for maneuvering
• Cleaner look on some architectural styles

Two single doors advantages:

• If one door breaks, you still have access through the other
• Smaller doors are lighter and put less stress on springs and openers
• Better wind resistance (critical in Utah’s Point of the Mountain corridor and canyon-mouth areas)
• Can open just one side without exposing the entire garage
• Often preferred by carriage house and traditional home styles

Custom and Oversized Garage Door Sizes

Standard sizes work for most homes, but Utah has no shortage of situations where custom or oversized garage doors are necessary.

When You Need a Custom Size

• RV storage: A standard 7-foot door will not clear most recreational vehicles. RV garage doors typically need to be 10 to 14 feet tall and 12 to 16 feet wide.
• Lifted trucks and off-road vehicles: Utah’s off-road culture means many homeowners drive vehicles that exceed 7 feet in height. A 9-foot or 10-foot-tall door solves this.
• Boats and trailers: Utah has more boats per capita than almost any state. Lake Powell, Bear Lake, Deer Creek, and Jordanelle all fuel demand for garage doors that accommodate boats on trailers.
• Agricultural equipment: In Cache Valley, Tooele County, and rural Utah, garage openings may need to accommodate tractors, hay equipment, or livestock trailers.
• Historic home conversions: Some of Salt Lake City’s older homes have non-standard garage openings that require custom-width doors.
• Workshop and studio use: Homeowners converting garages to workshops, art studios, or home gyms sometimes want wider openings for moving equipment in and out.

Common Oversized Residential Dimensions

• RV doors: 12×12, 14×12, 16×10, 12×14 (the most common RV door sizes)
• Tall single-car: 9×9, 9×10, 10×10
• Tall double-car: 16×9, 16×10, 18×9, 18×10
• Extra-wide single: 12×7, 12×8 (these blur the line between single and double)

Custom Size Lead Times and Costs

Custom-sized garage doors take longer to manufacture and cost more than standard sizes. Here is what to expect:

• Standard sizes: Typically in stock or available within 1-2 weeks
• Common oversized options (9×8, 16×8): Often stocked by major manufacturers, 1-3 weeks
• True custom sizes: 3-8 weeks depending on manufacturer, material, and style
• Specialty materials at custom sizes: Full-view glass doors or real wood doors at custom dimensions can take 6-12 weeks

Commercial Garage Door Sizes

Commercial and industrial garage doors come in a much wider range of sizes than residential doors. If you own or manage a business property in Utah, here is what you need to know.

Common Commercial Sizes

• Standard commercial: 10×10, 12×12, 14×14 – these fit box trucks, delivery vans, and most commercial vehicles
• Warehouse and loading dock: 10×10, 12×14, 14×14 – designed for semi-trailer access and forklift traffic
• Fire station: 12×14, 14×14 – must accommodate fire apparatus height and width
• Auto shop/service bay: 10×10, 12×10, 14×10 – wide enough for vehicles on lifts or tow dollies
• Storage unit facilities: 5×7, 8×8, 10×10 – roll-up doors in various configurations
• Agricultural buildings: 16×14, 18×16, 20×16 – equipment-sized openings common in Cache Valley and Tooele County

Roll-Up vs. Sectional Commercial Doors

Commercial doors come in two main types, and each has different sizing implications:

Sectional doors (like residential doors, with horizontal panels) need headroom above the opening for the tracks. Standard headroom requirement is 12-18 inches. They are available up to about 24 feet wide and 20 feet tall.

Roll-up doors (coil into a barrel above the opening) need less headroom – typically 12-15 inches. They are ideal for buildings with limited ceiling space. Available in widths from 4 feet up to about 30 feet.

How to Measure Your Garage Door Opening

Getting accurate measurements is critical. Even a half-inch error can mean the difference between a door that fits and one that needs to be reordered. Here is the step-by-step process.

What You Will Need

• Tape measure (25-foot minimum)
• Step ladder
• Pencil and paper (or your phone’s notes app)
• A helper for wide openings

Step-by-Step Measuring Guide

Step 1: Measure the width. Measure the width of the opening at the widest point, from one side of the frame to the other. Measure at three points: the top, the middle, and the bottom. Use the smallest measurement – this is your true opening width.

Step 2: Measure the height. Measure the height of the opening from the floor to the header (the top of the opening). Measure at the left side, center, and right side. Use the smallest measurement as your true opening height.

Step 3: Measure the headroom. This is the distance from the top of the opening to the ceiling (or nearest obstruction). You need a minimum of 10-12 inches of headroom for standard tracks, 6-9 inches for low-headroom tracks, and 15-18 inches for high-lift or vertical-lift tracks.

Step 4: Measure the sideroom. This is the distance from the edge of the opening to the nearest wall or obstruction on each side. You need at least 3.75 inches of sideroom on each side for standard residential tracks.

Step 5: Measure the backroom (depth). This is how deep the garage is from the opening to the back wall. For a standard door, you need the door height plus 18-24 inches of additional depth for the horizontal track.

Measuring for a Replacement Door

If you are replacing an existing door, the simplest approach is to measure the existing door itself:

• Width: Measure the door from edge to edge (not the opening)
• Height: Measure from the bottom of the lowest panel to the top of the highest panel
• Panel count: Count the number of horizontal sections – this helps identify the door model
• Track type: Note whether your tracks are standard radius, low-headroom, or high-lift

Then verify the opening itself using the steps above. Sometimes doors were installed slightly smaller than the opening, and you may have room for a slightly larger replacement.

Choosing the Right Garage Door Size

Knowing the standard sizes is one thing. Choosing the right size for your specific situation requires considering several factors beyond just “will my car fit?”

Factor 1: Your Current and Future Vehicles

Think about what you will be parking in your garage over the next 10-20 years, not just what you drive today. The national trend toward larger vehicles shows no signs of slowing:

• The average new vehicle sold in 2025 is 2.5 inches wider and 1.5 inches taller than in 2015
• Electric vehicles (especially trucks like the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning) tend to be wider than their gas counterparts
• If you might buy a full-size truck or large SUV in the future, plan for it now

Factor 2: What Else Goes in the Garage

Most Utah garages are not just for cars. They house:

• Storage shelves and cabinets along the walls (reduces effective width by 12-24 inches per side)
• Workbenches, tool chests, and shop equipment
• Bikes, ski gear, kayaks, paddleboards
• Lawn mowers, snow blowers, and yard tools
• Chest freezers (very common in Utah households)

If your walls are lined with storage, your effective door opening may need to be wider than the minimum for your vehicle.

Factor 3: Climate and Insulation Needs

In Utah, insulated doors are strongly recommended. Insulated doors are thicker than non-insulated doors, which can affect fitment in tight openings. If you are switching from a non-insulated door (about 1-3/8 inches thick) to an insulated door (about 1-3/4 to 2 inches thick), the additional thickness is usually not an issue, but it is worth checking your clearances.

Factor 4: Building Codes and HOA Restrictions

Utah building codes require minimum garage dimensions for new construction. Most jurisdictions require:

• Minimum 10-foot-wide interior for a single-car garage
• Minimum 20-foot-wide interior for a double-car garage
• Minimum 7-foot ceiling height

HOA restrictions are another factor. Many Utah HOAs have rules about garage door appearance, style, and sometimes even proportions. Before ordering a non-standard size, check your CC&Rs. Some HOAs in communities like Daybreak, Suncrest, and Traverse Mountain have specific requirements about door width-to-height ratios and color options.

Utah-Specific Sizing Considerations

Utah is not a one-size-fits-all state when it comes to garage doors. Geography, climate, lifestyle, and local building practices all affect which size you need.

Truck and SUV Culture

Utah consistently ranks among the top states for pickup truck and SUV ownership. Full-size trucks like the Ford F-150, RAM 1500, and Chevy Silverado are everywhere. Many are lifted with aftermarket suspension, oversized tires, and roof-mounted accessories that add inches to their overall height and width.

If you own or plan to own a lifted truck, a 7-foot-tall door may not be enough. The stock height of a Ford F-150 is about 6 feet 4 inches. Add a 3-inch lift kit, 33-inch tires, and a roof rack, and you are pushing close to 7 feet. Factor in a few inches for antenna or light bar and you are scraping the bottom of a standard 7-foot door.

Recommendation: If you drive a full-size truck with any modifications, go with at least an 8-foot-tall door.

RV and Boat Storage

Utah’s proximity to national parks, lakes, and recreation areas means RV and boat ownership is extremely high. Rather than paying monthly storage fees, many homeowners are building dedicated RV bays or converting existing garage bays to accommodate their toys.

Common RV heights by class:

• Class A motorhome: 11-13 feet tall (requires custom/commercial-grade opening)
• Class C motorhome: 10-11 feet tall (12×12 or 14×12 door works)
• Fifth wheel trailer: 12-13 feet tall (needs 14-foot door minimum)
• Travel trailer: 9-11 feet tall (10-foot or 12-foot door works for most)
• Toy hauler: 10-12 feet tall (12-foot door recommended)

Mountain and Luxury Homes

Homes in Park City, Deer Valley, Heber City, Midway, and Utah’s mountain communities frequently have non-standard garage configurations. Common issues include:

• Oversized doors for aesthetic purposes (10×8 singles, 18×8 doubles are common in mountain architecture)
• Limited headroom due to steep roof pitches and second-floor rooms above the garage
• Side-entry garages on hillside lots where the driveway curves into the garage at an angle
• Multiple garage bays (3-car and 4-car garages are standard in many Park City homes)
• Heated garages requiring well-insulated, well-sealed doors in precise sizes

New Construction Trends

Utah’s building boom has created distinct patterns in garage door sizing:

• Starter homes (Herriman, Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, West Valley): Typically 16×7 double doors, sometimes with a separate 9×7 single bay. Builder-grade steel doors are standard.
• Mid-range homes (South Jordan, Riverton, Lehi, Layton): 16×8 doubles are becoming standard, with better insulation and style options.
• Custom and luxury homes (Alpine, Highland, Park City, Draper hillside): Oversized doors (18×8 or larger), often wood or full-view glass, with 3+ bays.

Wind Load Considerations

Utah has several areas with extreme wind that affect garage door sizing decisions:

• Point of the Mountain (Draper to Lehi): Sustained winds can exceed 60 mph during storms. Wider doors face more wind load.
• Canyon mouths (Emigration, Parley’s, Weber, Ogden, Logan): Canyon wind events can hit 80-100 mph.
• Great Salt Lake corridor (Layton, Syracuse, West Point): Lake-effect winds compound storm systems.

In these areas, structural reinforcement (wind bracing, heavier-gauge steel, additional struts) may be required for large doors. Some building departments require wind-rated doors in known high-wind zones. Two single doors often perform better than one large door in windy areas because the smaller surface area reduces total wind load per door.

Common Garage Door Sizing Mistakes

We see these mistakes regularly. Avoid them and you will save yourself time, money, and frustration.

Mistake 1: Measuring the Door Instead of the Opening

Your existing door may not be the same size as the opening. Doors are typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch narrower than the opening on each side. If you order a door based on the old door’s dimensions without measuring the opening, it may not fit properly.

Mistake 2: Forgetting About Headroom

The space above the opening is just as important as the opening itself. If you have ductwork, lights, a garage door opener, or a low ceiling above the opening, you may not have enough headroom for standard tracks. Low-headroom track systems exist but cost more and limit your opener options.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Side Room

You need at least 3.75 inches of clear wall space on each side of the opening for the vertical tracks. If your opening is right next to a perpendicular wall, you may need a special track configuration.

Mistake 4: Not Planning for Vehicle Changes

Installing a door that barely fits your current car means you will be replacing it again if you buy a larger vehicle. Sizing up by one standard increment now is always cheaper than replacing the door later.

Mistake 5: Assuming All Doors of the Same Size Are Interchangeable

A 16×7 door from one manufacturer may have slightly different track requirements, spring specifications, and panel dimensions than a 16×7 from another manufacturer. Always verify compatibility with your existing hardware if you are replacing just the door panels, or plan to replace the full system (door, tracks, springs, and hardware) for a guaranteed fit.

Mistake 6: Ordering Online Without Professional Measurement

Online garage door retailers sell doors based on nominal sizes, but your opening may not be perfectly square or level. Professional measurement accounts for:

• Floor slope (common in Utah where freeze-thaw cycles shift concrete)
• Wall plumb (whether the sides of the opening are truly vertical)
• Header level (whether the top of the opening is level)
• Concrete lip or threshold height

A door that is technically the right size but installed in an out-of-square opening will bind, wear unevenly, and fail prematurely.

When Standard Sizes Don’t Work

Sometimes your garage simply does not match standard sizes. Here are your options when that happens.

Option 1: Custom-Ordered Door

Most major garage door manufacturers offer custom sizing. The door is built to your exact dimensions. This is the cleanest solution but takes longer and costs more. Custom doors are typically available in 1-inch width increments and 3-inch or 6-inch height increments depending on the manufacturer.

Option 2: Modify the Opening

If your opening is slightly too small, a contractor can widen or heighten it to accept a standard-size door. This is often cheaper than a custom door, especially if the change is small (going from 8-foot to 9-foot wide, for example). It requires:

• An engineered header (usually a steel beam or LVL) for wider openings
• Framing modifications to the jack studs and king studs
• Possible re-siding or stucco repair on the exterior
• Building permit in most Utah jurisdictions

Option 3: Infill or Frame Down the Opening

If your opening is larger than what you need, you can frame it down to accept a standard-size door. This is common in commercial-to-residential conversions or when replacing an oversized single door with two standard singles. Framing down is generally simpler and less expensive than widening.

Option 4: Specialty Track Systems

If your opening size is fine but you lack headroom, sideroom, or backroom, specialty track systems can help:

• Low-headroom tracks: Need as little as 6 inches above the opening
• High-lift tracks: Route the door up higher before curving to horizontal, useful for tall ceilings
• Vertical-lift tracks: The door goes straight up like a commercial door, no horizontal tracks needed
• Follow-the-roof tracks: Curved tracks that follow the ceiling pitch, maximizing overhead clearance

Advanced Door installs all track types across Utah. If you have an unusual situation, we can usually find a solution that works with your existing opening. Call (844) 971-3667 for a free on-site assessment.

How Door Size Affects Springs and Openers

Your garage door’s size directly determines which springs and opener you need. This is not optional – mismatched components are dangerous and will fail.

Springs

Garage door springs are sized based on the door’s weight, which is determined by its dimensions and material. A wider, taller, or thicker door weighs more and needs heavier springs.

• 8×7 non-insulated steel door: Roughly 80-100 lbs
• 9×7 insulated steel door: Roughly 110-140 lbs
• 16×7 insulated steel door: Roughly 180-250 lbs
• 16×8 insulated steel door: Roughly 200-280 lbs
• 16×7 wood door: Roughly 250-400 lbs depending on wood type and construction

If you change your door size, you almost certainly need new springs. Using old springs with a differently sized door is a common cause of premature spring failure and dangerous imbalance.

Openers

Garage door openers are rated by lifting force, measured in horsepower (HP) or Horsepower Equivalent (HPe) for DC motors:

• 1/2 HP: Suitable for single-car doors up to about 150 lbs
• 3/4 HP: Standard for most double-car doors up to about 250 lbs
• 1 HP: Recommended for heavy double-car doors, insulated wood doors, and oversized doors
• 1-1/4 HP and above: Commercial-grade, for the heaviest residential and light commercial doors

Undersizing your opener means it works harder on every cycle, overheats more often, and burns out faster. Oversizing slightly is fine and actually extends opener life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common garage door size?

The most common single-car garage door size is 9 feet wide by 7 feet tall (9×7). The most common double-car garage door size is 16 feet wide by 7 feet tall (16×7). In newer Utah construction, 8-foot-tall doors (9×8 and 16×8) are increasingly standard.

How do I know what size garage door I need?

Measure your garage door opening width and height at multiple points. Use the smallest measurements as your true opening size. Then match to the nearest standard size. For a professional measurement, call Advanced Door at (844) 971-3667 – we provide free on-site measurements and estimates.

Can I put a bigger garage door on my existing opening?

Only if you modify the opening to accept the larger door. This involves removing framing, installing a new engineered header, and potentially modifying the exterior finish. It requires a licensed contractor and usually a building permit. In many cases, it is feasible and worthwhile – especially going from a 7-foot to 8-foot height.

What size garage door do I need for a truck?

A standard pickup truck (F-150, Silverado 1500, RAM 1500) fits through a 9×7 door, though an 8-foot height is more comfortable. A heavy-duty truck (F-250, F-350, 2500, 3500) needs at least a 10-foot width for dually models, and lifted trucks need 8-foot or taller doors. Always measure your specific vehicle with accessories (roof rack, light bar, tonneau cover) to be sure.

What size garage door do I need for an RV?

Most RVs require a door at least 12 feet wide and 12-14 feet tall. Travel trailers can often fit through a 10-foot-tall door. Class A motorhomes may need 14 feet of height or more. Measure your RV’s full height including AC units, antennas, and any rooftop accessories, then add at least 6 inches of clearance.

Are 8-foot-tall garage doors more expensive than 7-foot doors?

Yes, but the difference is modest. An 8-foot-tall door typically adds one additional panel section compared to a 7-foot door. You will also need slightly longer tracks, longer springs, and possibly a stronger opener. The total cost increase for the extra foot of height is generally reasonable relative to the total project cost, and the added clearance is well worth it for most Utah homeowners.

Can I replace a double garage door with two single doors?

Yes, but it requires significant structural work. You need to add a center post with a footer and header support, modify the framing, add new tracks and hardware for each door, and install two openers. This is a major project but can improve wind resistance, add curb appeal on certain home styles, and provide redundancy if one door has a mechanical issue.

How much headroom do I need above my garage door?

Standard residential garage doors need 10-12 inches of headroom above the opening for the horizontal tracks. Low-headroom systems can work with as little as 6 inches but limit your opener choices and add cost. If your ceiling is very high, high-lift or vertical-lift track systems can take advantage of the extra space. A professional measurement will determine which track system your garage needs.