How much does a wooden gate cost? Sizing, sag and the real material list
A gate is the hardest-working four feet of any fence. Here is what one costs to build, which parts the budget usually forgets, and how to plan the opening so it swings clean for years.
6 min read · Estimates only — not a quote
What a wooden gate actually costs
Using our gate builder's default single-swing gate and Texas material pricing, materials land around $342, with a realistic band of $291–$462 once you choose species, height and hardware grade. That is an estimate, not a quote — a double driveway gate in cedar with heavy-duty hinges sits well above a 4 ft cedar-picket garden gate.
The frame lumber and infill are rarely the surprise. Hardware is. A quality hinge pair, a latch that survives weather, and an anti-sag kit or diagonal brace routinely cost as much as the wood in a small gate, and skipping them is the most common reason a gate drags within a season.
- Frame: 2x4 rails and stiles sized to the opening, plus a diagonal brace running from the bottom hinge side up to the latch side.
- Infill: pickets or boards to match the fence, with a waste allowance for rip cuts at the edges.
- Hardware: hinges rated for the gate's weight, a latch, and an anti-sag cable kit for anything wider than about 4 ft.
- Posts: the hinge post carries the whole load; plan a larger post, a deeper hole and more concrete than a line post.
Gate material estimates by state
Regional material indexes move lumber and hardware pricing. The table below runs the same default gate through each state's material index so you can see the spread before you shop.
| State | Low | Typical | High | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $282 | $332 | $448 | -6% |
| Alaska | $384 | $452 | $610 | +28% |
| Arizona | $300 | $353 | $477 | 0% |
| Arkansas | $276 | $325 | $439 | -8% |
| California | $354 | $417 | $563 | +18% |
| Colorado | $315 | $371 | $501 | +5% |
| Connecticut | $339 | $399 | $539 | +13% |
| Delaware | $312 | $367 | $495 | +4% |
Sizing the opening: single or double?
Walk gates are typically 36 to 48 in wide. Anything a mower, wheelbarrow or trash bin passes through wants 48 in. Vehicle access starts at 10 ft, and at that width a pair of leaves beats one heavy leaf: each half is lighter, the hinge post load halves, and a drop rod keeps the inactive leaf fixed.
Leave a 3/4 in gap on the hinge side and 1/2 to 3/4 in on the latch side so seasonal swelling does not bind the gate. Our gate builder subtracts those clearances from the opening before it sizes the frame.
Why gates sag, and how to plan around it
A gate is a lever hanging off two hinges. Every pound of infill pulls the latch corner down, and the hinge post leans toward the load over time. Three decisions control it: the diagonal brace direction (compression brace runs from the bottom hinge corner to the top latch corner), the hinge post footing (deeper and wider than a line post, in concrete), and hardware rated above the gate's finished weight.
If the gate already exists and drags, an anti-sag cable and turnbuckle is a repair; on a new build it is insurance. Budget it from the start.
- Hinge post: 4x4 minimum for walk gates, 6x6 for anything over 5 ft wide or 6 ft tall.
- Footing: hinge post hole one third of the post's above-ground height plus 6 in of gravel below.
- Hardware rating: choose hinges by gate weight, not gate width.
Permits and setbacks
Most jurisdictions treat a gate as part of the fence, so a fence permit covers it. Height limits apply to the gate as well as the fence, and gates that open onto a public sidewalk or alley are commonly required to swing inward. Driveway gates near a street may have sight-line rules. Check with your local building department before you set the hinge post; this is guidance to verify locally, not a compliance ruling.
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Price my gateFrequently asked questions
Our default single-swing gate estimates around $342 in materials at Texas pricing, with hardware often matching the lumber cost on smaller gates. Run your own width, height and species through the gate builder for a number matched to your opening. Estimates only, not a quote.
Above roughly 5 ft of opening, two leaves are lighter, put half the load on each post and are far less likely to sag. Use a drop rod on the inactive leaf.
For a wood compression brace, from the bottom corner on the hinge side up to the top corner on the latch side. A steel cable kit runs the opposite diagonal because it works in tension.
Usually it falls under the fence permit, and the same height rules apply. Confirm swing direction and sight-line rules with your local building department, especially for driveway gates.