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At RJ Garage Door Services, our installers begin every project with two questions: “What has to fit through this opening today?” and “What might need to fit five or ten years from now?” Everything else — materials, insulation, windows — flows from nailing the dimensions first. Use the checklist below to zero-in on the perfect size before you order.
Measure the Real Opening (Not the Door Panels)
- Width (stud-to-stud): Measure the framed rough opening, not the finish trim. Most single-car openings fall between 8 ft and 10 ft; double-car openings land between 15 ft 10 in and 16 ft 2 in.
- Height (slab to header): Seven-foot headers dominate older homes; new builds often frame to eight feet to clear SUVs with racks.
- Headroom: From the underside of the header to the lowest obstruction (joist, duct). Standard torsion hardware needs 12 in, but low-headroom kits can squeeze into 8 in.
- Backroom: Door height + 18 in is a safe target for track clearance and opener.
Match Vehicle Profile to Door Size
| Category | Typical Width (ft) | Typical Height (ft) | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact / Small-Car | 8 × 7 8 × 8 |
7 – 8 | Older homes, sub-compact or sports cars, tight driveways |
| Standard Single-Car | 9 × 7 9 × 8 |
7 – 8 | Most sedans, small SUVs, crossovers |
| Large Single-Car | 10 × 7 10 × 8 |
7 – 8 | Full-size pickups, larger SUVs, workshop access |
| 1½-Car / Small Storage Bay | 12 × 7 12 × 8 |
7 – 8 | Vehicle + motorcycle, lawn equipment, hobby space |
| Standard Double-Car | 16 × 7 16 × 8 |
7 – 8 | Two average vehicles, wider turning radius |
| Oversized Double-Car | 18 × 7 18 × 8 |
7 – 8 | Two large SUVs/trucks, extra clearance for racks & mirrors |
| RV / Boat Bay | 12 × 10 12 × 12 14 × 12 |
10 – 14 | Class B & C motorhomes, trailers, pontoon or wake boats |
| Custom / Specialty | Any width to 20 ft + | Any height to 14 ft + | Car lifts, tall sprinter vans, architectural designs |
Leave Room for Mirrors, Racks & Future Toys
An extra foot of width or height may add only 5-7 % to the material cost, yet it can save thousands on structural changes later. Before you lock in a door size, walk through every scenario that puts your paintwork at risk:
- Extended mirrors on full-size trucks — an 8 ft-wide opening leaves barely 3 in of clearance per side.
- Roof-mounted cargo boxes — even a factory SUV rack pushes overall height past 8 ft.
- Future toys — campers, bass boats, or lifted Jeeps often need 9 ft-plus of height and 10 ft-plus of width.
- Hitch accessories — bike racks and cargo trays extend as much as 24 in behind the bumper.
If any of those sound like your weekend plans, size up now. Widening a framed opening years later means new headers, siding repairs, and fresh drywall—easily a five-figure renovation.
Check Local Codes & Climate Loads
North Carolina spans hurricane-prone beaches and snow-laden mountains, so one county’s “standard” door hardware can be another’s code violation. RJ Garage Door Services stays current so you don’t have to:
- Wind-rated zones (Coastal NC)
• Doors wider than 9 ft require additional bracing and thicker 14-gauge track.
• Positive/negative pressure tests mandate heavier hinges and struts. - Snow country (High Country & Foothills)
• Tall doors collect drifting snow across the top panel.
• We upsize to double-end hinges and beefier rear reinforcement struts. - Energy mandates (Wake, Durham & Guilford Co.)
• Openings over 20 ft² must achieve at least R-12 or U-factor ≤ 0.27.
• Failing inspection can force costly aftermarket insulation kits that never seal as well as a factory-insulated panel.
Our permit packets include engineering letters and wind-load calculations so your application glides through first time.
Think Beyond Cars
The modern garage is a gym, hobby shop, and storage loft rolled into one. A 12-ft “one-and-a-half” door opens new possibilities:
- Smoother daily parking — four extra feet end door-ding arguments forever.
- Workshop flexibility — feed an 8-ft board through a table saw or roll out a welding cart without a three-point turn.
- Family storage zone — strollers, garbage bins, and bikes glide out the side bay instead of blocking the vehicle path.
- Higher resale value — buyers see adaptable space, not wasted square footage.
Even if you never own a second vehicle, the garage that adapts to life’s storage curveballs is the one that sells fastest—and for more—when you list the house.
Budget for Hardware Options
- Low-Headroom Tracks (8–15 % upgrade)
• Dual horizontal rails and a tighter radius collapse into ceilings with only 8 in of headroom.
• Ideal for older homes where reframing the ceiling is off the table. - High-Lift Tracks
• Raise the door’s resting position above the opening, leaving space for car lifts or mezzanine storage.
• Perfect for enthusiasts installing two-post lifts. - Wall-Mount Jackshaft Openers
• Free 8–12 in of ceiling height by eliminating the center rail.
• Quieter, easier to service, and no chain sag to adjust.
Expect to spend an extra $350–$500 versus a standard trolley opener, but the reclaimed cubic footage pays dividends for the lifetime of the home.
When to Go Custom
Most sectional doors come in 2-in width increments up to 20 ft, but design-driven projects stray off the catalog page:
- Arched tops to mirror Mediterranean or Tudor façades.
- Full-view glass panels that flood a studio or gym with daylight.
- Oversized widths beyond 20 ft for car collections or RV bays.
Custom fabrication means:
- Lead times jump from 2–3 weeks to 6–10 weeks.
- Precision shrinks to ± ⅛ in—our senior techs laser-measure after drywall for shop-drawing approval.
- Cost rises 25–100 % depending on material (red cedar, black anodized aluminum, etc.).
The payoff? A statement piece that transforms the garage from utilitarian box to architectural centerpiece.
Final Verification & Professional Help
- Create a scaled sketch
• Use free online vehicle templates.
• Draw swing doors, trailers, and shelving. - Check turning radii so bumpers clear storage racks.
- Confirm header capacity
• Expanding 9 ft → 12 ft may require an LVL or glulam beam. - Schedule a field measure
• RJ techs verify plumb, level, and square to 1⁄32 in.
• We deliver a written report with door size, track type, opener style, code reinforcements, and line-item pricing.
RJ Garage Door Services offers complimentary sizing audits across central and eastern North Carolina. One visit, one laser-precise measurement packet, and you’ll know exactly which door protects today’s investment—and tomorrow’s adventures.
