Measuring Your Driveway Accurately Before Ordering a Gate

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9 Sep 2026

Measuring Your Driveway Accurately Before Ordering a Gate

Why a Tape Measure and a Cup of Tea Come First

Ordering a gate is one of those purchases where a few centimetres either way can turn a straightforward job into an expensive headache. A gate that arrives 40mm too wide cannot be squeezed into place, and one that is too narrow leaves an unsightly gap that no amount of adjusting will fix. The good news is that an hour spent with a tape measure, a spirit level and a notepad will save you far more time, money and swearing later on.

Before you look at catalogues or brochures, spend that hour on site. Measure everything twice, note it down in millimetres, and take a few photographs with a ruler in shot. When you come to order, those notes are worth their weight in galvanised steel.

Measuring the Gap Between Pillars or Posts

This is the measurement most people get wrong, because they measure the opening at eye level and assume it is the same all the way down. Brick and stone pillars are rarely perfectly parallel, and render or paint can add several millimetres to one side only.

Measure the clear opening between the pillars at the top, middle and bottom, then work to the narrowest figure.
Repeat the measurements on the front and back faces of the pillars. A gate that sits in the middle of a deep pillar needs the tightest dimension across the whole reveal.
Note the width and depth of each pillar, not just the gap. Hinges and latches need something solid to fix into, and a pillar only one brick deep is not always suitable for a heavy gate.
Check the pillars are square to each other by measuring diagonally from corner to corner. If the two diagonals differ by more than about 10mm, expect to build in extra clearance.

As a rule of thumb, allow around 10mm of clearance each side for a manual swing gate, and nearer 20mm per side for automated gates where the leaf needs room to move without binding. Always follow the manufacturer's stated tolerances rather than guessing.

Checking Ground Levels and Slopes

A driveway that looks flat from the kitchen window is often anything but. Ground that falls away or rises across the opening will affect how the gate hangs, how it swings and whether it will clear the surface at all.

Measure the height of each pillar from the ground up, at the front and back of each one. If the two pillars differ in height by more than a few millimetres, a gate hung level will not sit square in the opening. Similarly, compare the ground level at the base of each pillar — a fall of 50mm across a three-metre opening is common and needs accounting for.

You should also think about the direction of the slope. A gate swinging uphill will catch on the ground unless it is hung with extra clearance at the bottom; a gate swinging downhill may need a stop or a different hinge arrangement. Most gate suppliers will ask for these figures, so having them ready speeds everything along.

Note the highest and lowest ground points within the swing arc.
Allow a bottom gap of roughly 50mm to 75mm for a typical UK driveway, more where leaves or gravel gather.
Check for drainage channels, kerbs or block paving edges that might foul the gate as it moves.

Clearance, Swing and Hinge Space

A gate needs room to move, and that room is not always obvious until the gate arrives. Stand where the gate will be and sweep your arm through the full arc — anything in that space is a problem.

Consider how far the gate will project when fully open. A 1.8m leaf swung back 90 degrees needs 1.8m of clear driveway behind it. If your car parks there, or a wall, bin store or planting bed sits in the way, you may need to rethink the design or opt for sliding or bi-folding hardware instead.

Hinges themselves need space too. Bolt-through hinges sit proud of the pillar face; weld-on or cranked hinges sit tighter. Check whether a hinge will foul the pillar's return corner, and whether an opening gate will scrape a wall on the opposite side. If you plan to automate later, tell your supplier now — automation arms and underground operators have their own clearance requirements, and retrofitting can mean replacing posts.

Driveway Width, Access and Practical Use

Finally, measure the space for what it is actually used for. A single gate leaf should generally be at least 3 metres wide for comfortable car access, and closer to 3.5 metres if you drive a larger vehicle or want to reverse a trailer in. If the gate is the only access for deliveries, bin lorries or emergency vehicles, think hard before narrowing it.

Also note any underground services — water stopcocks, gas meters, electrical ducts — running near the pillars or across the opening. Digging foundations for gate posts is a common way to discover a cable the hard way, and repositioning a gate is much cheaper than repairing a severed supply.

Writing It All Down Before You Order

Once you have your figures, sketch a simple plan view of the opening and label everything: pillar widths, the narrowest gap, ground levels at each corner, the direction of any slope, and the clear space behind the gate. Note the material and finish you want, and whether the gate will be manual or automated.

Then take your sketch to your supplier and talk it through. A good supplier will spot the snags before the order is placed rather than after the delivery lorry has driven away. Remember too that gates over one metre high next to a highway used by vehicles often need planning permission, so it is worth checking with your local authority before you commit. Get the measuring right, and the rest of the project becomes a pleasure.

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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