How to Measure a Garage Door for a Cover
Learn how to measure your garage door from inside the garage, identify common residential door sizes and select the correct standard or custom cover.
Learn how to measure your garage door from inside the garage, identify common residential door sizes and select the correct standard or custom cover.
A correctly sized garage door cover begins with one important step: measuring the garage door itself. Fortunately, measuring a residential garage door is simple and normally requires only a standard tape measure, a few minutes and access to the inside of your garage.
This garage door measuring guide explains exactly where to measure, how to identify common garage door sizes, how to check the manufacturer label and what to do when your required size is not listed. Once you confirm the correct dimensions, you can select your garage door cover size and place your order.
Stand inside the garage. Measure the door width across the bottom of the door panel from one vertical track to the other. Then measure the height from the floor to the top of the garage door panel. Residential garage doors normally use clean whole-foot sizes such as 16 ft × 7 ft, 16 ft × 8 ft, 8 ft × 7 ft or 8 ft × 8 ft.
Why Correct Garage Door Measurements Matter
Your garage door cover is produced according to the size selected when the order is placed. For example, when your garage door measures 16 ft wide by 7 ft high, your cover will be produced as a 16 ft × 7 ft garage door cover.
Correct measurements help the cover align with the dimensions of the garage door panel. They also help you avoid selecting a cover that is intended for a different door size.
Do not order based only on how large the garage opening appears from outside. Always measure the actual garage door or confirm the size using the manufacturer information attached to the door.
What You Need to Measure a Garage Door
You do not need professional measuring equipment or special tools. A standard household tape measure is normally sufficient.
- A standard tape measure
- Access to the inside of the garage
- A clear view of the bottom and top of the door panel
- Another person to assist, when helpful
Because garage doors are large, having another person hold one end of the tape measure may make the process faster. However, many homeowners can complete the measurement alone.
Measure the Garage Door from Inside the Garage
Measure the garage door from the interior side of the garage. This gives you a clear view of the complete sectional door panel, the vertical tracks and the top edge of the door.
The measurement is based on the garage door panel itself. Do not measure the exterior trim, decorative frame, surrounding wall or complete garage opening.
Step 1: Measure the Garage Door Width
Begin with the garage door closed. Stand inside the garage and extend the tape measure horizontally across the bottom section of the door.
- Locate the vertical metal track on the left side of the garage door.
- Place the beginning of the tape measure near the bottom of that track.
- Extend the tape measure across the full door panel.
- Measure to the vertical track on the opposite side.
- Record the full width in feet.
This gives you the width of the garage door. Common measurements include 8 ft and 16 ft.
Standard residential garage doors normally have whole-number dimensions. Your result should generally be a clean measurement such as 8 ft, 9 ft or 16 ft, not an unusual measurement such as 15.8 ft or 16.5 ft.
Step 2: Measure the Garage Door Height
Next, measure the full height of the garage door panel.
- Place the tape measure at the floor directly beneath the garage door.
- Extend it vertically toward the top of the closed door.
- Measure to the top edge of the garage door panel.
- Do not include the track, ceiling space or garage door opener.
- Record the measurement in feet.
Common residential garage door heights include 7 ft and 8 ft.
For example, a door measuring 16 ft across and 7 ft from the floor to the top of the panel is a 16 ft × 7 ft garage door.
Most Popular Garage Door Cover Sizes
Decor Your Door offers up to 14 garage door cover sizes. The following four sizes are among the most popular residential options:
| Garage Door Size | Common Application |
|---|---|
| 8 ft × 7 ft | Common single-car garage door |
| 8 ft × 8 ft | Taller single-car garage door |
| 16 ft × 7 ft | Common double-car garage door |
| 16 ft × 8 ft | Taller double-car garage door |
These are examples of popular sizes, not the only sizes available. Always confirm your own garage door dimensions before ordering.
Check the Garage Door Manufacturer Sticker
Many garage doors include a manufacturer sticker or identification label that lists the original door size. The sticker may be located on the side edge of one of the garage door panels.
Look along the interior sides of the door panel while the garage door is closed. The label may include:
- The garage door manufacturer
- The model or serial number
- The width and height
- Other production information
The manufacturer sticker can help you confirm your tape-measure result. However, it is still a good practice to physically measure the door, especially when you are unsure whether the door has ever been replaced or modified.
Should You Measure the Opening or the Door Panel?
Measure the garage door panel, not the decorative opening around it.
From inside the garage, measure horizontally from one vertical track to the other across the bottom of the panel. For the height, measure from the floor to the top edge of the panel.
Do not include:
- Exterior decorative trim
- The wall surrounding the door
- The ceiling or overhead track
- The garage door opener
- Weatherstripping outside the panel dimensions
Should Garage Door Measurements Use Feet or Inches?
Garage doors are large products and their standard dimensions are commonly identified in feet. For example:
- 16 ft × 7 ft
- 16 ft × 8 ft
- 8 ft × 7 ft
- 8 ft × 8 ft
You normally do not need to submit a complicated inches-based measurement for a standard residential garage door cover. Measure carefully and identify the matching whole-foot size.
When your measurement does not produce a clean whole-foot size, do not guess. Contact Decor Your Door and provide a photograph of the garage door so the team can help review it.
What if the Top, Middle and Bottom Measurements Look Different?
A standard residential sectional garage door should have a consistent overall size. When you receive noticeably different measurements depending on where the tape measure is positioned, stop before ordering.
Possible causes can include measuring the surrounding opening instead of the panel, holding the tape measure at an angle or beginning the measurement from the wrong point.
Measure again across the bottom of the door panel from one vertical track to the other. When the result still appears unusual, contact Decor Your Door and send a clear photograph of the complete interior side of the garage door.
Do Garage Door Handles or Windows Affect the Cover Size?
Standard handles, windows and decorative hardware do not change the garage door cover size you should order. Select the cover according to the full width and height of the garage door panel.
For example, a 16 ft × 7 ft garage door remains a 16 ft × 7 ft door even when it includes windows or a center handle.
How to Measure Two Separate Garage Doors
When your home has two separate garage doors, measure each door individually. Do not assume both doors are identical without confirming them.
Common arrangements can include:
- Two 8 ft × 8 ft garage doors
- Two 8 ft × 7 ft garage doors
- One 16 ft × 7 ft door and one 8 ft × 7 ft door
- Another combination of single and double garage doors
Each garage door cover is selected according to the size of the individual door it will cover.
Are Exterior and Interior Covers Measured the Same Way?
Yes. Use the same basic garage door measurement for both exterior and interior garage door covers.
Measure the full garage door panel width from one vertical track to the other and measure the height from the floor to the top of the panel.
The attachment systems differ between the exterior and interior versions, but the garage door size is still based on the complete panel dimensions.
How Garage Door Cover Sizing Works
After measuring the garage door, select the matching size when placing your order.
Examples:
- A 16 ft × 7 ft garage door requires the 16 ft × 7 ft cover option.
- An 8 ft × 7 ft garage door requires the 8 ft × 7 ft cover option.
- A 16 ft × 8 ft garage door requires the 16 ft × 8 ft cover option.
- An 8 ft × 8 ft garage door requires the 8 ft × 8 ft cover option.
Decor Your Door produces the cover according to the size selected on the order.
What if Your Garage Door Size Is Not Listed?
Decor Your Door offers up to 14 available sizes and can also produce other dimensions when needed.
When you do not see your required size:
- Measure the garage door carefully.
- Contact Decor Your Door with the size you need.
- Send a clear photograph of the garage door when requested.
- The team will review the request and provide pricing.
- You will receive an invoice.
- After the order is placed, the cover will be printed, packed and shipped.
The custom-size ordering process is designed to be simple. You do not need to create a complicated technical drawing. Start with the door dimensions and a clear photograph when assistance is needed.
Do Not Round an Unusual Measurement by Yourself
Standard residential garage doors normally use clean dimensions. When you receive an unusual result such as 15.8 ft or 16.5 ft, do not automatically round it up or down and place an order.
Measure the door again using the correct points:
- Width from one vertical track to the other
- Height from the floor to the top of the door panel
When the measurement remains unusual, contact the Decor Your Door team for help before selecting a size.
Common Garage Door Measuring Mistakes
Measuring from Outside the Garage
Exterior trim, weatherstripping and decorative framing can make the opening appear different from the actual garage door panel. Measure from inside the garage.
Measuring the Entire Wall Opening
The cover size is based on the garage door, not the surrounding wall or structural opening.
Including the Garage Door Track
The vertical tracks help identify the left and right boundaries of the panel. Do not add the width of the tracks to the door measurement.
Measuring to the Ceiling
The height ends at the top of the door panel. Do not include the overhead track, opener or ceiling clearance.
Assuming the Door Size
Many garage doors look similar. Measure the door or verify the manufacturer sticker instead of assuming it is a standard size.
Ordering an Unusual Decimal Measurement
Residential garage door dimensions are normally clean whole-foot sizes. Contact the team when your measurement does not match a recognizable door size.
Garage Door Measurement Checklist
- Close the garage door.
- Stand inside the garage.
- Use a standard tape measure.
- Measure the width from one vertical track to the other.
- Measure the height from the floor to the top of the panel.
- Confirm that the result is a clean whole-foot size.
- Check the manufacturer sticker when available.
- Measure each separate garage door individually.
- Select the matching cover size.
- Contact Decor Your Door when the size is unusual or not listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review clear answers to common questions about measuring a garage door for a cover.
01 Where should I measure my garage door?
Measure from inside the garage while the garage door is fully closed. This gives you a clear view of the complete sectional door panel and both vertical tracks.
02 How do I measure the garage door width?
Measure horizontally across the bottom of the garage door panel, beginning near the vertical track on one side and continuing to the vertical track on the opposite side.
03 How do I measure the garage door height?
Measure vertically from the garage floor to the top edge of the closed garage door panel. Do not include the ceiling, overhead tracks or garage door opener.
04 Should I measure in feet or inches?
Standard residential garage door sizes are normally identified in feet, such as 16 ft × 7 ft, 16 ft × 8 ft, 8 ft × 7 ft or 8 ft × 8 ft.
05 What are the most popular garage door sizes?
Four popular residential sizes are 16 ft × 7 ft, 16 ft × 8 ft, 8 ft × 7 ft and 8 ft × 8 ft. Decor Your Door offers up to 14 size options.
06 Can I find the garage door size on the door itself?
Possibly. Check the side edge of the garage door panels for a manufacturer sticker or identification label that may include the original width and height.
07 Do windows or handles change the required cover size?
No. Select the cover according to the complete width and height of the garage door panel. Standard windows and handles do not change the required cover size.
08 Do I measure an interior garage door cover differently?
No. The same garage door panel width and height measurements are used for exterior and interior garage door cover sizing.
09 What should I do when my measurement is not a whole number?
Measure again from the correct points. When the result remains unusual, contact Decor Your Door and send a clear photograph of the garage door before ordering.
10 Can Decor Your Door produce a size that is not listed?
Yes. Contact the team with the required dimensions. Decor Your Door can review the request, provide pricing and send an invoice for a custom-size order.
11 Do I need a professional to measure my garage door?
No. A standard tape measure is normally all that is required. Contact the Decor Your Door team when you need assistance confirming the result.
Choose the Correct Garage Door Cover Size
Measuring your garage door correctly helps make the ordering process simple. Measure from inside the garage, use the complete door panel dimensions and confirm that the result matches a clean residential garage door size.
Once the size is confirmed, select the matching garage door cover option and place your order. When your size is not listed or the measurement appears unusual, contact Decor Your Door with a photograph of the door. The team will help review the dimensions and explain the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review clear answers to common questions related to this guide.
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