Garage Door Sizes in Canada: Single vs Double Doors Explained
Standard garage doors in Canada run 8 to 10 feet wide for a single car and 16 feet wide for a double car, at 7 or 8 feet tall. This post covers standard dimensions, how to measure your opening, the single vs double decision, and when a custom size is the right call. It’s for Ontario homeowners replacing an existing door or planning a new garage.
Key Takeaways
- Single-car garage doors: 8, 9, or 10 feet wide by 7 or 8 feet tall.
- Double-car garage doors: typically 16 feet wide by 7 or 8 feet tall.
- An 8-foot door height suits larger vehicles — SUVs, pickups, and taller trucks — better than the standard 7 feet.
- Standard vertical tracks need 3 to 4.5 inches of side room; torsion springs need 12 to 15 inches of headroom above the opening.
- Custom garage doors handle openings outside standard sizing and can be built to exact dimensions.
Standard Garage Door Sizes in Canada
Garage door dimensions are expressed as width by height. Standard residential heights are 7 or 8 feet; widths run from 8 to 20 feet for residential applications.
Single Garage Door Sizes
Single garage doors typically measure 8 feet wide by 7 to 8 feet tall. The most common single-car size is 9 feet wide by 7 feet high, which accommodates most passenger vehicles. A 10-foot-wide door gives more clearance for pickup trucks, SUVs, and vehicles with wide mirrors or roof racks.
An 8-foot height is worth specifying for taller vehicles or a garage that doubles as a workshop — the extra foot costs little at the point of order and thousands to add after.
Double Garage Door Sizes
Double garage doors typically measure 16 feet wide and 7 to 8 feet tall — enough for two standard vehicles with room to open doors on each side. A 16-foot opening is the most common width for two-car garages in Ontario.
An 8-foot door is the better call for taller vehicles. Retrofitting height is expensive — confirm at the time of order.
Oversized and Custom Options
Oversized residential garage doors run 10 to 18 feet wide and 8 to 14 feet tall. Commercial doors run 12 to 32 feet wide. Custom sizes handle any opening outside standard dimensions — more on this below.
Single vs Double Garage Door: Which Fits Your Home
One double garage door and two single doors can cover the same total opening width. The choice comes down to how the garage is used and curb appeal.
A double door is a major element of the front facade on most homes. A single wide panel reads cleanly on a symmetrical facade and needs only one electric opener. Two single doors each require their own opener and springs, adding to installation cost.
The case for two singles: each door works independently. One car can move without opening the full width, which matters when a heated garage stays warmer with less cold air entering. Two singles also look more proportional on a wide facade.
For one-car garages, a single door is the clear choice. For two-car garages, a 16-foot double is more common; two 9-foot singles are better when independent operation matters.
For material, insulation, and panel style, see how to choose the right garage door — it covers R-values and which materials hold up best in Ontario winters.
How to Measure Your Garage Door Opening
Measure from inside the garage. Take the opening width at three points — top, middle, and bottom — and use the narrowest figure. Measure the height on both sides and use the shorter. Express the result as width × height, rounded to the nearest inch. Exclude any existing trim or weatherstripping from the measurement.
Check side room — the space between the opening edge and the nearest wall. Standard vertical tracks need 3 to 4.5 inches on each side; torsion springs need 12 to 15 inches of headroom above the opening. Low-headroom situations need a different track configuration.
For guidance on framing a new rough opening, see how to frame a garage door opening. For installed prices in Ontario, see how much a new garage door costs.
When You Need a Custom Size Garage Door
Custom garage doors solve non-standard openings: carport conversions, older homes, or vehicles needing extra clearance.
Custom garage doors can be built to any dimension — panel profile, window placement, and finish are all configurable. That means the door fits the opening rather than the opening being cut to fit a stock door, which avoids carpenter fees to alter the rough framing.
Local requirements vary by municipality — confirm with your installer before finalising dimensions on a new build or renovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the standard garage door sizes in Canada?
Single-car garage doors are most often 9 × 7 feet, with 8 × 7 and 10 × 7 also standard. Double-car doors are typically 16 × 7 or 16 × 8 feet. The 8-foot height is the practical choice for larger vehicles.
What is the most common garage door opening width?
Nine feet is the most common single-car width; 16 feet is most common for a two-car garage. Both fit standard door sizes without modification to the rough opening.
When do I need a custom garage door?
When the opening falls outside standard dimensions, or when a specific panel profile or window layout isn’t available in a stock size. Custom doors can be built to exact dimensions to avoid structural changes to an existing opening.
Do garage door sizes have building code requirements?
Local codes set requirements for garage openings — these vary by municipality. Confirm with your installer before finalising dimensions for a new build or renovation.
Get a Garage Door Quote From Doormatic
Doormatic measures, supplies, and installs garage doors across Brampton, Woodbridge, Vaughan, and the GTA.
For a quote on garage doors in Brampton, call 416-722-6595, email info@doormatic.ca, or request a free estimate online. Based at 180 Trowers Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4L 8A6.