Driveway gate guide
Driveway gate cost guide, Metro Vancouver 2026
Driveway gate pricing is where most homeowners get the biggest sticker shock on their first quote. The range from a basic manual single swing to a full estate spec is roughly 10×, and the public-facing internet "cost calculators" rarely capture which configurations match which sites. This page lays out the actual configurations we build for Metro Vancouver clients, what each tier includes, and the major drivers that move pricing within each tier. Every gate is quoted per project, these ranges are reference, not commitments.
Configuration tiers, what each tier looks like
| Configuration | Best for | Typical range | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single pedestrian gate, manual | Side gate, secondary entry | $4,500, $8,000 | Powder-coated steel; basic latch hardware |
| Double swing driveway gate, manual | Budget primary entry, no automation | $8,000, $15,000 | 10 to 14 ft opening; standard hinges; powder-coated steel |
| Double swing, automated, mid-tier | Most common Metro Vancouver residential | $14,000, $28,000 | 12 ft opening; linear arm operators; photo eyes; keypad |
| Cantilever slide, automated | Short urban driveways, sloped sites | $18,000, $35,000 | 14 ft opening; rack-drive operator; smart access optional |
| Estate swing, premium spec | Luxury custom homes | $30,000, $60,000+ | Forged detail; underground hydraulic; intercom; cameras; duplex finish |
| Heritage restoration with automation | Shaughnessy / Kerrisdale character homes | $25,000, $55,000 | Restore original ornamental gate; add UL 325-compliant automation |
What moves pricing within each tier
| Driver | Typical impact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Opening width | +10 to 25% per 4 ft of additional width | Wider openings need heavier framing or larger leaves |
| Leaf height | +10 to 20% beyond 6 ft | Tall leaves need heavier framing and operator |
| Automation level | +$3,000, $15,000+ | Range from basic operator to full smart access |
| Site exposure (wind) | +5 to 15% | North Shore / Sea-to-Sky upsizes footings, posts, operator |
| Underground hydraulic vs linear arm | +$5,000, $12,000 | Vault excavation, premium operator hardware |
| Custom forged detail | +$3,000, $10,000+ | Hand-forged scrolls, twisted pickets, custom caps |
| Duplex finish (galv + powder) | +$1,500, $4,000 | Standard recommendation for exterior in this climate |
| Heritage detailing / period accuracy | +10 to 25% | Hand-detailed work to match a specific era |
| Smart access integration | +$1,500, $6,000 | Cellular intercom, app control, plate recognition |
| Difficult site access for install | +$1,500, $8,000 | Crane requirement, restricted street access, hand-carry |
Where the budget actually goes
On a typical $20,000 mid-tier residential automated double swing install, the budget breaks down roughly as:
- Fabrication (steel, welding, shop time): ~50%, the gate leaves, hinge posts, hinge boxes, operator brackets, and assembly.
- Automation (operators, sensors, access control): ~25%, operators, photo eyes, safety edges, keypad, basic remotes.
- Finishing (galvanizing + powder coat): ~10%, duplex finish on all exterior steel.
- Civil + electrical (footings, conduit, permit, electrician): ~15%, concrete, rebar, AC supply install through a licensed electrician with TSBC permit.
Adding cameras, intercoms, smart access, or upgraded operator types shifts the automation share upward. Premium materials, custom forged detail, or estate-grade hardware shift the fabrication share upward. Site complexity (long electrical runs, difficult crane access, soft soils requiring engineered footings) shifts the civil share upward.
What can drive a quote outside the typical range
- Very wide openings (20+ ft): Push toward bi-parting slide configurations or oversized swing leaves; both add significantly to fabrication and operator cost.
- Very tall gates (8+ ft leaf height): Substantial wind sail area requires upsized footings, heavier posts, and higher-torque operators.
- Imported European hardware: Brands like FAAC, BFT, and Came are widely used and competitively priced. Specialty Italian or Spanish hardware adds 20 to 40% to the operator line.
- Original heritage restoration: Where the existing ornamental gate has to be carefully restored, automated, and brought to UL 325 compliance without losing the original character. Specialist work, premium pricing.
- Off-grid sites: Solar + battery operators, with sizing that accounts for Pacific Northwest winter solar yield, can add $3,000, $8,000 over comparable hardwired AC operators.
- Engineered footings: Helical piles or geo-textile-reinforced pads on soft or expansive soils can add $2,000, $8,000 to the civil scope.
How to get an accurate quote
The most accurate way to get a fixed-price quote is a site visit (free for Metro Vancouver residential). We can produce a useful budgetary range from photos and dimensions if you provide:
- Driveway width at the proposed gate line.
- Driveway depth behind the gate line.
- Slope through the gate line.
- Side-yard clearance if a slide gate is being considered.
- Distance from house panel to gate location for automated projects.
- Style references, photos of gates you like.
- Automation requirements, basic keypad only, or full smart access with cameras and intercom.
- Schedule, when the project needs to be complete.
With those details we typically turn around an initial budget range within 2 to 3 business days, and a fixed-price quote within a week of site visit.
Related guides
- Configuration choice, the biggest cost driver
- Automation level and operator selection
- Material and finish options and cost impact
- Original driveway gate cost blog post
FAQs
Why is there such a wide range in driveway gate pricing?
Driveway gates span a wider price range than almost any other custom metalwork product because the configurations vary so much. A simple manual single swing pedestrian gate is a few thousand dollars of materials and labour. An estate gate with forged detail, underground hydraulic operator, video intercom, integrated cameras, and a duplex finish on every component runs ten times that. The configurations are not interchangeable, they target different properties and different price points.
What does "starting at $14,000" actually include for an automated gate?
The mid-tier automated double swing spec at the lower end of our range typically includes: two welded steel gate leaves with picket infill (about 12 ft total opening), two HSS hinge posts with concrete footings, two linear arm operators, photo eyes for safety, a keypad entry, basic owner-side remotes, hot-dip galvanizing plus powder coat finish, electrical permit and inspection coordination, and installation. It does not typically include difficult site access, cameras, intercoms, premium operator hardware, or custom forged detail.
How much does adding a video intercom cost?
A wired video intercom adds roughly $1,500, $3,000 depending on the model and complexity. A cellular intercom (no Wi-Fi at the gate required, calls go straight to the homeowner's phone over LTE) adds $2,000, $4,000 including the unit, install, and the cellular subscription setup. Cellular has overtaken wired as the more popular option because it does not require pulling Cat-6 from the gate to the house.
Is the operator the most expensive part of an automated gate?
No, the gate itself (fabrication, materials, finishing) is usually the largest line item. Operators range from about $1,500 for a basic linear arm to $8,000+ for an underground hydraulic. Sensors, access control, and smart integrations together are typically less than the operator. The civil work (footings, electrical pad) is meaningful but smaller than fabrication or operator. On a typical $20,000 mid-tier residential install, fabrication is roughly 50%, automation about 25%, civil and electrical about 15%, and finishing about 10%.
Can I save money by doing the civil work myself?
Sometimes, if you have a contractor who can pour the footings to specification with the correct rebar and embed plates positioned exactly. The risk is that the footings need to be precisely placed for the gate dimensions and the post embeds need to be set correctly during the pour. Mistakes have to be remediated before the gate can be installed, which is more expensive than having us coordinate the civil from the start. We are happy to coordinate with a homeowner's contractor on the civil scope but recommend against owner-supplied footings on first-time projects.
What does ongoing maintenance cost?
A duplex-finished gate with mid-tier automation: roughly $200, $500 per year for routine maintenance, annual inspection, sensor function test, lubrication, battery backup test. Major service (operator overhaul, sensor replacement, finish refresh) every 7 to 10 years runs $1,500, $5,000 depending on what is needed. Owners who do their own monthly visual inspections and quarterly sensor tests can extend the major service interval and reduce annual cost.
Is financing available for a custom driveway gate?
We do not directly offer financing, but most homeowners fund custom gate projects through home equity lines of credit (HELOC), property improvement loans through their bank, or builder draws on new construction. Some operator brands offer 12 to 24 month financing on the operator hardware specifically. For strata or commercial installs, the gate is typically a capital project funded through the contingency reserve or operating budget.
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