Door Size Should Start With What Needs to Fit Through It
Customers frequently begin a door search by asking:
"What is a standard roll-up door size?" That's useful information, but there's a better question:
What needs to pass through the opening?
The right door size depends on how the building will actually be used.
Residential Garages
Passenger vehicles generally require less clearance than commercial equipment, but comfortable access still matters.
Think about vehicle width, mirrors and how accurately the driver needs to position the vehicle each time they enter.
If the garage will eventually accommodate a larger truck or SUV, consider that before choosing the opening.
Workshops and Mechanic Shops
A workshop door should accommodate more than the vehicle currently parked inside.
If the shop may service different vehicles, equipment or trailers, plan around the largest reasonable future use.
Commercial mechanic shops should also consider whether separate doors will serve individual work bays.
RV and Motorhome Storage
RVs require special attention because rooftop accessories can add substantial height.
Air-conditioning units, antennas and other equipment may extend above the vehicle's listed body height.
Measure the actual vehicle rather than relying only on the manufacturer's basic dimensions.
And don't forget width.
Extra clearance can make entering the building much easier.
Boats
For boat storage, measure the entire boat-and-trailer combination.
Depending on the boat, towers, windshields and other equipment can affect the required opening height.
Farm and Construction Equipment
Tractors, loaders, excavators and other equipment can require both significant width and height. Attachments can also change the equipment dimensions.
If the building will store multiple machines, design the opening around the largest equipment expected to enter.
Commercial Trucks
Warehouse and commercial building doors should be planned around the actual delivery vehicles serving the facility.
Box trucks, work trucks and trailers can have very different clearance requirements.
Leave Room for More Than the Vehicle
The opening shouldn't be exactly the same size as the equipment.
Practical clearance makes the door easier and safer to use.
Also remember that the required structural opening isn't necessarily the only space needed for the complete door assembly.
Roll-up doors require appropriate space for guides, brackets and the door coil.
Measure Before You Order
Duro Doors already provides guidance for measuring an existing opening, but when planning new construction, you have an additional advantage: you can design the opening around the door you actually need.
Talk to your building supplier and door supplier before framing the opening.
Find the Right Door Size
Whether you're building a residential garage, RV storage building, mechanic shop, warehouse, farm building or commercial steel structure, Duro Doors can help you select a door based on the actual application.
Call 800-872-5740 with the size of your opening—or the vehicle and equipment you're trying to accommodate—and request pricing from Duro Doors.