How to Measure for a Garage Door

Important - Follow the instructions closely to measure your garage door. Exact measurements are critical to installing and ensuring the correct fit and operation of your new door. Please provide measurements to the closest fraction of an inch.

Step #1 Measure Inside Dimensions of Garage Door Jamb
Measure the width and height of your door opening in feet and inches. This determines the size of door needed. The rough opening measure the same size as the door. Example: If the door size you are wanting is to be 16x7 (width x height), the inside dimensions should be exactly 16' x 7'. A little less is OK. This will make the door rest on the jamb and header on the inside of the door.

Step #2 Measure the clearance to the Left and the Right of the Garage Door Jamb.
Measuring from the outside edge of the jamb, measure the clearance from the left and right jamb to the wall or nearest obstruction. The minimum distance required for most garage door installations is 3 1/2" to 4". If yours is less, please consult a Garage Door Services salesperson. It may still be possible to install a door in this situation but will certainly need to be checked before an installer is sent out.

Step #3 Measure the headroom above the door header
Measure the headroom area. This is the distance between the top of the finished door opening (“jamb header”) and the ceiling or underside of joists. Extension Spring Doors require 10-1/2" of headroom above opening. Torsion Springs require 13" of headroom above the opening. An Electric Door Opener will require an additional 3" of headroom. If your headroom is less than shown, a low headroom kit is available for headrooms of 4-1/2" to 10-1/2". Wood garage doors and some other models will require up to 18" headroom. If you have restricted headroom, special hardware is available.  Always consult a Garage Door Services salesperson if you are the least bit unsure.

NOTE: If door height extends above the opening, the headroom measurement should be adjusted accordingly.

Step #4 Measure the backroom necessary for the tracks and an open door
Measure the backroom, or depth area. This is the distance from the garage door wall opening to the back or rear wall of the garage, or to the point where the hardware or the automatic opener will extend. In most cases, you can add 18" to the door height as a backroom requirement. Additional back room may be required for some installations.

Step #5 Other Considerations
A good clean garage door install will require a clean and level surface for the garage door to sit on. A level concrete foundation is always a plus. If you are not installing your door on a concrete foundation the appearance and operation of your garage door may be affected.

Concrete lips and slopes: In many homes, you may have a concrete poured into your concrete foundation. This concrete lip is often necessary to keep rain out of your garage or to help it run away from the garage. Your garage door typically is installed down into this concrete lip. This concrete lip must be large enough to accommodate the thickness of the door and the track. Most doors require a minimum of 3 1/2". Wood garage doors or other special cases may require up to 5 1/2" or more. Please consult your salesperson before making a final decision on your garage door.

NOTE: Obstructions are defined as entry doors or other objects that will interfere with the garage door track or the operation of a garage door. The nearest obstruction may be something such as pipes, support beams, heating ducts, lighting, drop-down stairways, etc. Obstructions must be taken into consideration in the headroom, sideroom, and backroom measurements.