Driveway Gate Installation Cost

Need to know the cost of fitting driveway gates?

Then you’ll find the following guide very useful if you’re considering having this work done in the future.

The average cost is about £700 to have a driveway gate added to a property. Depending on the complexity of the job and gate types, it takes around two days for gate installers to complete.

Are you ready for a quote?

If so, we have a range of driveway gate specialists ready to offer you a free quote!

Want more details? Check out the guide below!

How Much Does a Driveway Gate Cost?

First, let’s explore the overall cost estimates for having different types of driveway gates installed. While most ordinary drive gates cost about £500 to install, the prices can rise significantly to as much as £10,000 for more advanced gate systems. The following prices that we explore in this section include both the labour and supply costs.

An ordinary sliding gate will likely cost between £500 and £900, a bi-fold timber gate, around £1900 to £2300, a bi-fold metal gate, approximately £550 to £850and an average farm gate will probably set you back between £700 and £800. The automated or electric driveway gates cost will end up around £8,500 to £10,000 for an installation.

Driveway Gates Installation Prices

The table below sets out the installation cost for different types of driveway gates:

The following table includes the material and labour costs for high-end driveway gates:

Driveway Gate Supply Costs

Let’s now consider the material price of driveway gates. For a sliding gate, a 6-foot-wide gate will likely cost you around £450 to £500.

If the gate is 8-foot-wide, you’re looking at paying around £530 to £650, while a 10-foot-wide version would land between £600 and £800 and a 15-foot sliding gate would set you back approximately £900 to £1200 in supply costs.

As you can see, the sliding driveway gate prices can vary quite a lot depending on the size. The same is true for many other types too.

In the case of bi-fold wooden driveway gates, if it is 6-foot wide, expect the material costs to be around £1200 to £1600, about £1200 to £1800 if it’s 8-foot-wide, £1800 to £2300 in the case of it being 10 foot in width or between £2000 and £3000 if it has a width of 15 feet.

To purchase a metal bi-fold gate, for one that is 2 or 3 metres wide, it’ll cost around £250 to £450. If it is about 3.5 metres in width, expect the cost to end up around £360 to £440.

As for a farm gate, a 1.2m x 1.2m option will cost you about £270 to £330, a 3m x 1.2m gate will land about £300 to £360 while a 3.6m x 1.2m farm gate should cost about £320 to £400.

The supply costs of an automated or electronic gate might cost anywhere from £5000 to £9000.

Labour Costs and Timescales

For this section, we’ll explore the labour costs of installing a driveway gate and how long specific stages of the work last. The labour expenses are included in the overall price. On average, professional contractors will charge around £10 to £14 per hour for this work.

A regular tradesperson can install the gate, while to have one constructed and fitted, you may hire a carpenter in the case of wooden driveway gates or a metalworker in the case of a metallic gate.

The first part of the job will involve preparing the area. This might take a few hours, depending on the scale of the job. The actual installation work itself will likely take 1 to 2 days. As for the cleanup, you can expect it to last an hour or less.

The length of the work can depend on the condition of your driveway, the scale of the job and the weather. The labour cost can vary depending on factors such as where you live and the company you contact.

Factors That Impact Driveway Gate Installation Costs

In the following subsections, we’ll look at different cost affecting factors such as the size and material of the gate.

Location of Property

Firstly, where you are situated is essential for the cost of the job. This is primarily because professionals/companies charge different rates depending on where in the country you live.

So, if you live in London or the southeast, you can expect to pay a higher price than the national average, while in places like the north of England, labour rates are generally cheaper than the UK as a whole.

Ease of Access

Another important cost factor is how accessible your home is. If it’s difficult for contractors to reach the area that you’d like to have gated, then the job could take longer, and hence the cost will end up higher.

Size of Gate

The width and height of the gate make up the most essential price components for having a driveway gate installed. Needless to say, the smaller the gate, the cheaper the materials will be and vice versa.

Of course, in having a small gate fitted, it will take less time than having a larger gate installed, and thus this too will affect the total price. So, the size of the gate is a doubly important cost factor.

Type of Gate

The cost of having a bi-fold, sliding or electronic gate installed will come with its own price tag based on both the material and labour costs.

Electronic or automated gates are among the most costly to purchase, and generally, they’re more time-consuming to install. On the other hand, sliding driveway gates are among the cheapest.

Material of Gate

The actual materials used to make the gate are also important, whether it be timber, metal or another option.

Additional Costs for Installing a Driveway Gate

When you receive the quote for installing your new driveway gates, depending on how you want your finished gates to look and operate, there could be some additional costs you need to factor in.

You should always check that everything you want is included in your quote, but here are some of the things you might also need to budget for.

Gate Automation System

If you want the ability to open your gates automatically, you'll need to get electric gates installed. With a gate automation kit installed, your gates can be opened using a key fob, a connected intercom system, or even a smartphone app.

Upgrading to electric driveway gates can provide great security and convenience, but it will come at a cost. Adding electric automation to your driveway gates could increase the costs by £500 to £2,000.

Electrical Supply Installation

If you do opt for electric gates, you'll need a qualified electrician to install the cabling from your home's electricity supply to the gates.

As well as the cost of the electrician, you may also need additional groundworks to create the trench to install and protect the electric cables.

Depending on the distance between your house and the new gates, and how difficult it is to lay the cabling, this could add £300 to £800 to the cost.

Gate Pillars or Posts

Your new driveway gates will require strong support posts or pillars to make sure they operate correctly and last for years.

Steel gate posts should be enough for standard powder coated metal, wrought iron, timber, or aluminium gates, but heavier metal or electric gates may need brick or stone pillars for support.

New gate posts should cost between £250 and £400, but brick or stone pillars could cost £800 to £2,000, depending on the materials and design.

Groundworks or Driveway Preparation

To make sure your driveway gates open and close properly, you may need some groundworks to prepare the area where your gates will be installed.

This might include levelling uneven or sloping ground, or installing concrete pads for the gate posts. Depending on what's required, this could cost £100 to £500.

Intercom or Access Control Systems

Typically installed with electric gates, some homeowners opt to enhance security and convenience with an intercom and remote control for their gates.

Depending on the features you choose, additional costs for a basic intercom could be around £200 to £400, while high-end video and smartphone solutions could go up to £2,000.

Removing an Existing Gate

If your new driveway gates are an upgrade, your quote might not include the cost of removing and disposing of your existing gates.

You should always make sure your old gates will be removed and disposed of properly, but the additional cost for doing this could be £50 to £200, depending on the size and material.

What's Involved in Installing a Driveway Gate?

You might be thinking that installing new driveway gates is a project you could tackle yourself.

However, depending on the gate height and size, they can be quite heavy, will require precise alignment, and may need the skills of a qualified electrician.

As your gates will be the first thing visitors see, you want to make sure they look their best and function properly, which is why many homeowners choose to hire a professional.

When you use MyJobQuote to get fast, free, no obligation quotes from experienced driveway gate installers near you, here's how you can expect the process to look.

Before the Job Starts

• Site Inspection - Your installer will inspect the driveway entrance, verifying the ground conditions and whether any groundworks will be required, before determining the most suitable type of gate for the opening.
• Measuring and Planning - They will take accurate measurements to make sure the gate will fit correctly and open safely within the available space, and agree the position and type of gate posts or pillars with you.
• Preparing the Area - The site of the installation will be cleared to ensure the installers can work safely and efficiently, and there is space for all the materials they will need.

During the Job

• Installing the Gate Posts - If you are having posts, holes are dug and the posts are secured with concrete. For pillars, concrete pads for the pillars to be built on are poured.
• Preparing the Gates - Gates may arrive pre-assembled, or require assembling on site, and they are then fitted with the appropriate hinges, depending on the style and design.
• Hanging the Gates - When the pillars or posts are secure, the hinge plates are installed on them and aligned to receive the gates. The gates are lifted onto the hinges and any adjustments are made to ensure they open smoothly and safely.
• Fitting Gate Hardware - The gate furniture, such as latches, bolts and locks are then installed and checked to make sure they are all working properly.
• Installing Electric Gate Components - For electric gates, the motors, safety sensors, gate automation and intercom system are installed and connected to the power supply by a qualified electrician.

After the Job

• Final Adjustments and Testing - Once the installation is complete, the fitter will check that everything works as it should, and for electric gates, that they operate safely and all the control devices work properly.
• Site Clean-Up - The site is then cleared of any debris and waste materials, as agreed in the quote.
• Finishing Touches - Any finishing touches, such as wood stain or preservative for timber gates, are completed so the new gates are finished and ready for use.
• Warranties and Maintenance - Your installer will provide you with the relevant guarantees and warranties for the installation, and advise you of the regular maintenance required.

Benefits of a Driveway Gate

There are plenty of advantages to installing a driveway gate. Let’s take a look at some examples.

Kerb Appeal

To start with, a gate at the front of your house can add aesthetic value to your property. It can improve its appearance upon entering it and provide it with a more vibrant and appealing look from afar.

Security

In addition, a driveway gate will improve your home security and that of your vehicles. Burglars are ultimately less likely to attempt a break-in if a property has a driveway gate.

Not only would a burglar naturally find your home a less vulnerable target, but with a gate at the front, it’ll be harder for them to judge whether your home is occupied or not at any one time, as much of your home will be obscured from your external view.

You could also add a security camera to your driveway gate to improve its security benefits even further.

Increased Home Value

As mentioned earlier, a driveway gate can add around 5% to 10% to the value of your home. If your property has one fitted, it’s going to be worth more because of the other benefits mentioned in this section.

Privacy

As alluded to in the ‘security’ section, a gate at the edge of your driveway will provide you with greater privacy. You can also avoid unwanted door callers.

Convenience

If you want a convenient solution to securing your driveway or improving your home’s privacy, kerb appeal, and home value, you should consider an automatic or electronic gate.

Choosing a Driveway Gate

So, you’ve decided that the aforementioned benefits make a driveway gate right for you. Now, you’re ready to start the process of getting everything in place, but you’re not yet sure what type of gate you’d like to choose.

In this section, we’ll take a look at several types based on design and material, including a pros and cons list for each.

Sliding Driveway Gate Cost

As the name conveys, this type of gate simply slides right across. It moves along a V-track with rollers. The name of this track comes from the fact that the tracks have an upside-down and slightly raised V shape that fits into a groove in the wheels of the track. A sliding driveway gate can be manual or automated.

Sliding gates are the preferred option for driveways that slope upward.

Pros:

• ✔ Not very expensive if manual
• ✔ Easy to use
• ✔ Not affected by the wind when opening
• ✔ Very well suited to wide opening spaces
• ✔ Perfect for uneven surfaces or slopes

Cons:

• ✖ May be louder than a swing gate
• ✖ Enough space is required on at least one side of the gate
• ✖ Requires quite a bit of frequent maintenance

Swinging Driveway Gate Cost

The most common type of driveway gate is that which swings open in two separate halves. Each half of the gate meets in the middle, where they can be locked together in place.

As with the previous example, this type of gate can also be either automatic or manual. Beyond that, a swinging gate is generally quiet. However, it is susceptible to sudden gusts of wind.

Pros:

• ✔ Less expensive unless it is automatic
• ✔ Low maintenance
• ✔ Great for narrow openings
• ✔ Quieter than a swinging gate

Cons:

• ✖ Not as secure as a sliding gate
• ✖ More space needed within the driveway as it will open inwards
• ✖ The wind can affect them

Bi-Fold Driveway Gate Cost

With each half of this gate folding, it is a fantastic option for saving on space. Upon swinging open, each side folds in half in the centre.

This type of driveway gate can effectively halve the area needed compared with an equivalent ordinary swinging gate of the same size.

Pros:

• ✔ Saves space
• ✔ Open faster
• ✔ A trackless system is an option

Cons:

• ✖ Complex installation
• ✖ More expensive than an ordinary swinging gate
• ✖ Issues can arise with the tracked system used with bi-folds

Farm Gate Driveway Gate Cost

Whether it’s timber or metal, a gate at the front of a farm is a great way to increase security and keep livestock in. There are many options available, including manual or automated farm gates.

Pros:

• ✔ Increase security
• ✔ Help enclose your land

Cons:

• ✖ Not particularly cheap if electronic or automatic

Commercial Driveway Gate Cost

For a commercial building, you’ll likely need a larger and more secure gate than would be used for an average driveway. As a result, it will likely be on the more costly end.

There are commercial gates for a range of budgets, terrains and traffic requirements. Security is generally the main objective of commercial gates.

Pros:

• ✔ High level of security
• ✔ Often automatic or electronic
• ✔ Options for a range of needs and preferences

Cons:

• ✖ Expensive

Electric Driveway Gate Cost

With an electric or automatic gate, your gate can open or close via an electric mechanism. Whether it is opened remotely, with a fob or via intercom, the automated element of this type of gate makes it easy to open.

As a result, you’ll not only have more convenience, but you could also avoid having to get out of your car to open the gate in wet or windy weather. They are also durable and can add more to a property than a regular driveway gate likely would.

Automatic gate installations do, however, require professional installation as they must include safety edge sensors and comply with building regulations, BS EN 12453.

Pros:

• ✔ High level of security
• ✔ Easily accessed
• ✔ Durable
• ✔ Privacy
• ✔ Can add even more to home value

Cons:

• ✖ Expensive
• ✖ Will stop working in a power outage
• ✖ Risk of electrocution
• ✖ Not suitable for DIY construction

Timber Driveway Gate Cost

Many driveway gates are made of wood. Specifically, hardwoods like oak, teak or softwoods, including cedar and Scandinavian redwood, are commonly used.

In most cases, softwood is used. Timber gates can provide a traditional aesthetic, and if you wish to paint it, its colours can stand out more easily.

Pros:

• ✔ Provides a traditional look
• ✔ Adds character and charm
• ✔ Can be painted or stained

Cons:

• ✖ Erodes faster than metal
• ✖ Can split, twist or warp if the gate is not fitted right

Metal Driveway Gate Cost

The stronger of the two options based on materials is metallic driveway gates. With a metal gate, you get a more stark appearance and less privacy. On the other hand, they arguably fit better with modern homes from a visual standpoint. Metal driveway gates are also very sturdy, long-lasting and require minimal maintenance.

Pros:

• ✔ Durable and strong
• ✔ Low maintenance
• ✔ Fit modern properties well

Cons:

• ✖ Provide less privacy
• ✖ Do not offer the same traditional look as timber gates

Cost of Driveway Gate Removal

You may want to have a driveway gate removed if you no longer feel it serves its purpose, or you may be looking to replace it for a different style.

Removing driveway gates is a fairly straightforward process, but the total cost can vary depending on the gate’s material, size, and whether it’s manual or automated.

On average, expect to pay between £80 to £300 for gate removal and disposal. Smaller wooden gates are cheaper to remove, while larger iron or automated driveway gates will cost more due to the extra labour and equipment required.

For example, electric-powered gates may require power lines to be disconnected as well as sensors and motors to be removed.

If you are removing your gate as part of a replacement project, the removal cost may already be included. However, in some cases, installers may still charge an extra fee for safe electrical disconnection, especially if the automation is linked to a home security or smart system.

The above costs include waste disposal. If you did get a quote that excluded disposal of your old gate, you could expect to pay anything between £30 - £60 to get it disposed of.

Checklist: Hiring a Local Driveway Gate Installer

When you are ready to hire a gate installer, we recommend that you bear the following in mind:

• When getting gate installation quotes, ask at least 3 different contractors to quote you so you can get a feel for your local pricing. It's worth remembering that the cheapest option may not always be the best option.
• Make sure you get an itemised quote to see exactly what's included in your quote. Be sure to ask about waste removal/skip hire, and if this is included in your quote.
• A lot of tradespeople have online portfolios and websites for you to check out their previous jobs and any reviews that they have received from past clients. This is a great way to check them out before hiring them.
• If the gate fitting is electric, make sure your tradesperson is qualified to carry out Part P electrical work. This will ensure the electrics are certified to Part P of the Building Regulations.
• Always ensure that the contractor working on your property has the correct liability insurance to protect both them and you from any issues further down the line.