Which material is best for a garden or side gate?
For most garden and side gates, composite is the best all-rounder if you want privacy, aluminium if you want something modern that won't rust, and wrought iron if the house is traditional. A single side gate from us starts at £1,850 fitted, VAT included, and garden and side gates are typically ready in three to four weeks.
We make side gates, garden gates and pedestrian gates every week in our workshop at Scholes, Leeds, alongside the driveway gates. Here's how the three materials compare, what they cost and what to think about before you order.
How much does a side gate cost?
Single gates are priced at two standard sizes. A pedestrian or side gate is about 1 to 1.1m wide. A single driveway gate is about 2m wide. Both are 1.8m tall.
| Material | Side gate (about 1m) | Single gate (about 2m) |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | £1,950 | £2,400 |
| Aluminium | £2,350 | £2,800 |
| Wrought iron, Bronze design | £1,850 | £2,300 |
| Wrought iron, Silver design | £1,990 | £2,600 |
You can see a price for your own gate in about a minute with the instant quote.
Composite side gates
Composite is the one we'd point most people towards for a side gate between the house and the garden. It's solid, so nobody can see down the side of the house, and it has the warm look of timber without any of the upkeep.
We build ours on a welded steel frame and clad it in composite boards. The frame keeps the gate square and stops it dropping on its hinges. The boards don't rot, don't warp and never need painting. A wash down now and then is all it asks for. More on the material on our composite gates page.
Aluminium side gates
Aluminium won't rust, which makes it a good pick for a gate that sits in the wet all winter. It's light, so the hinges and posts have an easy life, and it suits a modern house with slatted or flat-panel designs.
We powder coat aluminium in any RAL colour, so the gate can match your windows, front door or fence. Anthracite grey and black are the ones we're asked for most.
Wrought iron and metal side gates
A metal gate is the traditional choice, and it's the one that suits a period or stone house best. It can be made to almost any design, from plain bars to full scrollwork. It's also the obvious pick if you've got railings to match.
The finish decides how long it lasts. We hot-dip galvanise and then powder coat, so the steel is protected from the inside rather than just painted over. The trade-off is privacy: an iron gate is open by design, so people can see through it. Our wrought iron vs mild steel guide explains what "wrought iron" means on a modern gate.
Composite, aluminium or metal: side by side
| Composite | Aluminium | Wrought iron | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Timber effect, solid | Clean, modern | Traditional, open |
| Privacy | Full | Full or partial, depending on design | Low, you can see through it |
| Upkeep | Wash down | Wash down | Wash down, once galvanised and powder coated |
| Rust | Steel frame, protected | Won't rust | Won't rust when galvanised |
| Side gate from | £1,950 | £2,350 | £1,850 |
| Best for | Privacy down the side of the house | Modern houses, exposed spots | Period houses, matching railings |
How tall should a garden gate be?
Our standard prices are based on a gate 1.8m tall, which is about 6ft. That's tall enough to stop most people seeing over and to keep a dog in.
Watch the height if the gate faces a road or pavement. In most cases a gate over 1 metre high next to a road, or over 2 metres anywhere else, needs planning permission, and listed houses have their own rules. Our planning permission guide has the detail.
Should the side gate match the driveway gates?
If they're both on show from the road, it usually looks better if they do. We can make a side gate, a pedestrian gate and matching railings as part of the same job, in the same finish and the same powder-coat colour, so the front of the house reads as one piece of work. If you've already got gates or railings, we can usually match a new side gate to them. A photo and a couple of measurements is enough to start.
How long does a garden gate take?
Side, pedestrian and garden gates are typically three to four weeks from order. That's a good deal quicker than a full electric driveway gate, which usually runs eight to twelve weeks from approved design to fitting.
See the full range on our manual gates page, or send us a photo of the gap and we'll take it from there.
Garden and side gate questions
What is the cheapest side gate?
On our price list, the cheapest single side gate is the Bronze wrought iron design at £1,850, about 1m wide and 1.8m tall, fitted with VAT included. Composite starts at £1,950 and aluminium at £2,350.
Do you make garden gates on their own?
Yes. Side gates, garden gates and pedestrian gates are part of what we make every week, with or without a driveway gate.
Does a garden gate need planning permission?
Usually not. In most cases you only need it if the gate is over 1 metre high next to a road, pavement or footpath, over 2 metres high anywhere else, or the house is listed. Check with your council if you're in a conservation area.
Can you make a side gate to match my driveway gates?
Yes. We can make side gates, pedestrian gates and matching railings in the same finish and powder-coat colour as the driveway gates, so the front of the house looks like one piece of work.
