Types of garden gate, and which one suits your entrance

The main styles

What each one is for.

• Framed, ledged and braced: the workhorse side gate. Strong, private and full height.
• Close boarded: no gaps, matches close boarded fencing, good for privacy and security.
• Picket: low and open, suits front gardens and period cottages, not a security gate.
• Slatted or contemporary horizontal: clean modern look, suits new builds and rendered elevations.
• Driveway pairs: wide spans, heavy leaves, need serious posts and a drop bolt.
• Bin store and utility gates: small, hard working, and usually the first to be built badly.

Match the gate to the opening

Wide openings and heavy leaves need bigger posts set deeper in concrete, and hinges rated for the weight. A pair of driveway gates puts far more leverage on the hinge post than a side gate ever will.

Ground level matters as much as width. A driveway that rises towards the house limits how low the gate can hang, so either the gate is cut to the fall or it is hung to swing outwards.

Security, privacy and access

Side gates are a common weak point. Height, a close boarded face with no footholds, a lockable bolt and hinges that cannot be lifted off make a real difference.

If bins, bikes or a mower go through the gate, measure the widest thing you own before deciding the opening width. It is the single most common regret on a new gate.

Posts and hardware, the part that decides longevity

Posts set properly in concrete, correctly sized hinges, a latch that lines up and a drop bolt on a pair. Spend here rather than on decoration. A plain gate on good posts outlives a fancy one on weak ones every time.

Questions we're asked about this