How Much Does a Driveway Gate Cost? [2024]

A driveway gate gives you extra security and can make your streetscape look better. It can be a great investment, but how much does it cost to install one? 

The cost will depend on many factors, including materials, the size of the gate, the complexity of the design and whether you want an electric gate. 

In this guide, we will show you some prices you can expect to pay for driveway gates.

1. Types of driveway gates
2. Choosing a driveway gate
3. Electric gates cost
4. Timber driveway gate costs
5. Galvanised steel driveway gate costs
6. Aluminium driveway gate costs

Types of driveway gates

A driveway gate can be made from a variety of materials and can be any style you want it to be, from classic designs to modern electric gates. There’s a lot of freedom when you install one and some of the materials driveway gates are made of include:

• Timber
• Galvanised steel
• Wrought iron
• Aluminium

These are the most popular materials, with timber being the least expensive, followed by galvanised steel, aluminium and wrought iron. A gate can be any colour you like, too, but wrought iron gates are usually left in their natural colour, though even a wrought iron driveway gate may be coloured.

Timber gates may be sealed, stained or painted. Aluminium gates are usually powder-coated, but natural aluminium is also available.

Your choice of materials can be important and are also options for mixing materials. For example, aluminium and timber can go well together and wrought iron looks great when combined with brick or stone posts. A driveway gate does not have to be one material and mixing materials can make a beautiful gate. Likewise, you can have a classic manual gate or utilise one of the many electric gate options that are common now. 

Choosing a driveway gate

Choosing a driveway gate will depend largely on your personal preference and priority. It may not be as simple as choosing the least expensive one. Timber, wrought iron and aluminium can look beautiful, but it can be a good idea to ask yourself some questions first:

• What style suits your home?
• What colour compliments your home?
• Do you want a mechanical or electric gate?

If you have a modern home, you can find modern gates in any material. If your home is older, a wrought iron driveway gate may complement its design better. Some aluminium driveway gates also work with older-style homes. 

The colour of the gate is also important. It doesn't necessarily have to be the same colour as your house, but it should be a good match and flatter your home. 

Finally, do you want to get out of your car every time you come and go or would you prefer an electric gate that can be activated at the touch of a button?

A driveway gate should not be an afterthought, they’re wide and define your property as one of the first visible parts. Any material is acceptable, but you may find one suits your house better than the others. Timber is a good choice for many homes, but wrought iron has a slimmer design and can be made into many designs. Aluminium driveway gates come in a wide range of styles and a full complement of colours.

Be mindful of how driveway gates complement a house. Some obstruct views of the house while others are more open and display the house. Other options can give you a little of both, these are often slatted to give glimpses of the front yard and house. Any of these may be perfect for your driveway gates, but it may depend on the complexity of the design and your preferences.

The gate itself isn’t the only thing you should pay attention to. The posts driveway gates are hung from can also change the look and feel of your driveway gate. 

Some can be brick or stone and quite large and elaborate. Others are more discrete and are barely noticed. Again, it will depend on your house design. A larger home may need larger posts, while a smaller home may want posts that blend in with the driveway gate.

Electric gate costs

Electric driveway gates can be connected to mains or solar power. A solar-powered gate will save you the cost of an electrician because the solar collector is connected directly to the battery. 

Solar-powered driveway gates are becoming more popular because solar collectors have improved and can work even in areas where clouds frequently hide the sun. 

An electrical driveway gate might cost:

• $1940 for a 3-metre gate
• $2050 for a more elaborate 3-metre gate
• $2100 for a 4-metre opening
• $2250 for a more elaborate 4-metre gate

These will come with motors, hinges, a wireless receiver and other parts, but the price does not include installation. DIY instructions may come with the kit and the gates will be approximately 1.8 metres tall at the highest point.

Solar gate openers are available and can be less expensive than having an electrician install electricity to the gate. 

Solar gate openers start at around $1000 for a full kit that will open a gate up to 1.6 metres wide. If you want a sliding gate, the cost of a solar kit might be between $950 and $1050 for a heavy-duty kit. Prices from other suppliers can be higher and go up to $1700 for some kits.

These can be DIY installed or you can hire someone to install them. Complete instructions are available and a local handyman can probably install the kit for you.

Ongoing costs for electric gates 

The ongoing costs of an Electric gate can largely come down to the type of power used and the amount required by the mechanism. 

The electricity powering the gate will generally come from either mains or solar panels. Solar will be cheaper to run but can be more expensive upfront while mains power can be cheaper to install but will have larger ongoing costs. 

Factors like the weight of your gate, whether the gate swings open or slides or the materials can all affect the power needed to open it. This will also affect the ongoing costs of your electric driveway gate. 

Timber driveway gate costs

A simple timber driveway gate for a single car might only cost $450 to $600 and $900 to $1200  for a wider driveway with two gates. 

If you’re using timber, the gate may be made from treated pine and left naturally stained to look like another timber. For hardwood driveway gates, expect to pay $1000 or more for a good quality single gate and the price could be higher for an elaborate design.

Added complexity will make the gate more expensive and sliding gates are generally more expensive than swing gates. The prices above are for the gate only, without installation. 

Aside from the gate or gates, you will also need:

• Posts to hang the gates from
• Hinges
• Latches

The prices above are approximate, and some gate manufacturers have standard gates for sale that may be less expensive. A custom-made driveway gate will cost much more than a standard gate that is made in a factory.

Galvanised steel driveway gate costs

Galvanised steel can be an inexpensive way to purchase a driveway gate. The least expensive galvanised steel gate can cost only $60 for a smaller gate to $95 for a 4.2-metre wide gate. These are farm gates, though, and may not suit a suburban home.

Aluminium driveway gate costs

Aluminium has replaced galvanised steel as a preferred driveway gate material. Aluminium gates are powder coated, light in weight and durable. Some prices for aluminium gates may be:

• $2900 for a single gate
• $3700 for double gates
• $4300 for a more elaborate double gate

These are approximate prices and will depend on the supplier. A standard double gate is 3.8 metres wide, but widths up to 6.0 metres are available, too, but at a higher price. 

The gates will come with hinges, powder coating and latches, but may not come with posts. Posts can be made of brick, aluminium or another material, but should be solid enough to bear the weight of the gates, which are wide and require sturdy posts.