What the cost sites publish for gates
| Item | Published range | Source (date shown) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic side gate | starts at $150 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 20, 2026) |
| Premium material gate | $400 – $1,200 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 20, 2026) |
| Automated gate | several hundred to several thousand dollars more | HomeAdvisor (Jun 20, 2026) |
| Gate within a fence line, gate only | $40 – $200 | Fixr (Jan 31, 2025) |
| Gate within a fence line, installed | $50 – $400 | Fixr (Jan 31, 2025) |
| Driveway gate, installed | $1,000 – $6,000 | Fixr (Jan 31, 2025) |
| Keypad lock, installed | $150 – $500 | Fixr (Jan 31, 2025) |
HomeGuide does not publish a gate price but lists gates with automatic openers, security codes, or custom sizes as a factor that raises total cost.
What actually drives gate cost
- Width and single vs double. A wide single gate is a lever on one post. Double gates need a drop rod or cane bolt and a center stop.
- Gate posts. Many good builders upsize or set gate posts deeper than line posts. Price them as their own line so it does not look like padding.
- Frame. Wood gates sag without a steel frame or anti-sag kit. Vinyl gates need a metal insert. Name it.
- Hardware. Hinges, latch, lock compatibility, closers, and pool-code self-closing, self-latching hardware where required. Good hardware is a big part of what the homeowner touches every day.
- Automation. Operators, power runs, safety sensors, and access control make a drive gate a different trade. Many fence shops sub this out; say so on the quote.
- Grade at the opening. A gate on a slope needs swing clearance planning. A gate that drags on install day is a callback.
How to line item gates
Give every gate its own line with width, swing direction, frame, hinge type and count, latch type, lock option, and any sag control or drop rod. Homeowners compare quotes gate by gate once they see it done that way, and the shop that showed its work usually wins. The gate hardware checklist on this site is a good closeout step, and the homeowner side of the same conversation is in questions to ask a fence contractor on AI Fence Design.
Gates and warranty callbacks
Gates are where workmanship problems tend to show first: sag, latch misalignment, and posts that move. Every callback is a cost you carry after the job is paid. Pricing proper gate posts and hardware up front is cheaper than a free return trip. Photograph every gate at closeout and keep the photos with the job, as covered in crew ops.
See also: fence post and concrete cost.