Older Massachusetts homes often have garage openings narrower, shorter or less deep than modern standard sizes. Measure the opening, the space above it and beside it, and the depth of the garage before you order a door. A standard size may fit, or a custom door or low-headroom option may be needed.
Why older garages do not match today's doors
Many neighborhoods in Everett, Boston, Brookline and the cities around them were built long before today's two-car garage. Historic Boston Inc. estimates that about 15,000 triple-deckers were built in Boston and the surrounding cities between the 1880s and 1930, and many of those lots are tight. Garages added later were fitted into what space was left.
The result is an opening that is a few inches narrower than a standard door, a low ceiling, or a garage with little room beside the door for the track. A door that looks easy to swap can turn into a measuring job.
What is standard and what is not
Clopay lists the two most common single doors as 8 feet wide by 7 feet high and 9 feet wide by 7 feet high, with a double door at 16 feet by 7 feet. Single doors range from 8 to 10 feet wide and doubles from 12 to 18 feet, and 8 feet high is widely available.
Clopay also offers custom sizes for unusual openings. Custom doors usually cost more and take longer to make and deliver, so measure carefully before you order.
The space a door needs around the opening
A door is more than the opening. The track, the springs and the opener all need room, and an older garage can be short on one of them. Clopay lists these minimums:
- Sideroom: at least 3-3/4 inches on each side of the opening
- Headroom: at least 10 inches for extension springs and 12 inches for torsion springs
- Backroom: at least the height of the door plus 18 inches
- Low-headroom hardware is available when the space above the opening is short
If you are short on any one of these, a technician can look at the garage and tell you what fits.
Check the opening before you buy
Measure the width and height of the opening in more than one spot, since old frames are often out of square. Measure the headroom above the opening and the room on each side. Take photos of the ceiling and the sides, then send them with your details.
If the opening is odd or sloped, such as under an angled ceiling, a custom size may be the only clean fix. See new garage doors for the kinds of doors we install.
Repair or replace in an old garage
An old door in an old garage is not always worth replacing. If the opening is the problem, a repair may keep the door going a while. If the door is worn, out of balance or hard to find parts for, a new door sized for the opening may cost less over time. Our repair or replace guide explains how to decide.
Permits and neighborhood rules
Changing the size of an opening can bring a permit or a structural question, and some neighborhoods or historic areas have rules on exterior changes. Check your city building department and any association documents before you start.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Massachusetts, including Everett, Boston and Brookline. Call or send your details with photos and measurements and we book the soonest visit. The price depends on the door and the opening, so the quote lists each part.
Questions people ask
What size is a standard single garage door?
Clopay lists 8 feet wide by 7 feet high and 9 feet wide by 7 feet high as the two most common single sizes.
Can I get a garage door for an odd-sized opening?
Yes. Custom sizes are made for unusual openings, though they usually cost more and take longer.
How much room does a garage door need above the opening?
Clopay lists at least 12 inches of headroom for torsion springs and 10 inches for extension springs, and low-headroom hardware is available.
Do I need a permit to change my garage door opening?
It depends on the city and on the work. Ask your building department before you start, especially if the size of the opening changes.
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