What Height Should My Sliding Gate Be to Match My Existing Fence?

The fence on your latest project is in, and now it's time to install the sliding gate. Before you place the order, the height you provide your aluminium fabricator needs to be exactly right. If you’re even a few millimetres out, the difference between the fence and the gate will be obvious. 

You don’t want your gate sitting above your fence line or tucking in below it. This is how you ensure you get the right measurements so that everything sits flush. It’s a straightforward calculation once you know what to measure and what to allow for.

Step 1: Measure the Fence

First up, measure from finished ground level up to the top of your fence panel. This is the number everything else is worked from. We recommend taking the measurement at the actual gate opening rather than somewhere along the fence line, particularly if the ground isn't perfectly flat.

Step 2: Deduct the 45mm Tolerance

This is important and applies if you are ordering your wheels and track from us, if you are ordering elsewhere, this tolerance may differ. Our sliding gate wheels and tracks add height to the gate, which needs to be accommodated for in your measurements: 

• Wheels and track add approximately 40mm to the installed height of the gate.
• An additional 5mm adjustment allowance is recommended on top of that.

That’s a combined 45mm to account for between your fence measurement and the gate frame height you order. 

(The extra 5mm isn't added height on the gate itself, it's a margin that gives the installer room to pack the gate up slightly if required. It helps avoid the gate ending up higher than the fence line once the hardware's fitted, though the final call on packing and adjustment sits with the installer.)

This 45mm needs to be subtracted from the fence panel height you measured in step 1. So the formula is:

Sliding gate height = fence panel height - 45mm

Let’s look at a couple of worked examples. 

Measurement Examples

Here's how that plays out for two common panel heights.

1500mm high panels (with a 50mm gap underneath)

 

1800mm high panels (with a 50mm gap underneath)

The method's the same either way: take the fence height, deduct 45mm, and that's the gate height to work from.

Different Sites, Different Measurements 

Remember that no two driveways are identical. Different slopes, uneven ground levels, or a non-standard fence panel height will all affect your measurements. 

As an installer, it’s down to you to judge how much adjustment is needed to compensate for the variations. At Top Screens, we fabricate your aluminium product exactly according to the measurements you provide. Because we do fully custom fabrication, there are no re-works or refunds. It’s vital your numbers are correct. 

What if I Just Want a Gate Frame?

If you’re only after a gate frame and not the full sliding gate, the same measurement rule applies. However - you may wish to deduct a further tolerance to allow for your palings to overlap the top of the gate frame. If you don’t, they will sit flush with the top of the gate frame. 

Order Your Sliding Gate through Top Screens

Once you've worked out your gate height, you can get a custom quote here based on the measurements you’ve taken. You can also choose between our sliding block and guide roller hardware kits.

We look forward to building your aluminium sliding gate or gate frame for you. 

FAQs - Measuring Your Sliding Gate Height

Do I need to allow for a gap under the gate?

Yes. Most sliding gates are set with a gap underneath for ground clearance, commonly 50mm as used in the examples above, but this can vary depending on the site and the ground level at the opening.

What if my fence isn't 1500mm or 1800mm?

The same method applies regardless of panel height. Measure your fence height, deduct 45mm for wheels, track and adjustment allowance, and that gives you the gate height to work from.

Can the 45mm allowance change?

The 45mm figure covers standard wheels and track hardware plus a small adjustment margin. Any changes to that allowance should be discussed with your installer, since it affects how the gate sits relative to the fence once installed.