Metal Building Garage Doors

Choose the Garage Door Type and Size for Your Metal Building Project

Aaron Williams

October 5, 2025

The garage door you choose for your metal building affects functionality, appearance, and long-term satisfaction with your structure. Whether you're planning a residential garage, commercial workshop, or agricultural building, understanding your door options helps ensure you get the right fit for your specific needs. At Indaco Metals, we help builders and property owners select doors that complement their metal building projects and provide years of reliable service.

Understanding Garage Door Types for Metal Buildings

Different applications call for different door styles. Each type offers distinct advantages depending on how you'll use your space, your budget, and your aesthetic preferences.

Door Type	Best For	Space Requirements	Cost Range	Key Benefits
Sectional Overhead	Residential garages, workshops	Moderate ceiling clearance	$$ - $$$	Most versatile, widely available, insulation options
Rolling Steel	Commercial buildings, storage	Minimal space needed	$$$	Space-efficient, durable, security-focused
Sliding Doors	Barns, rustic buildings, equipment storage	No overhead clearance	$ - $$	Simple operation, traditional aesthetic, low maintenance
Hydraulic Doors	Aircraft hangars, specialty buildings	Significant clearance	$$$$	Maximum opening size, impressive appearance

Sectional Overhead Doors

Sectional overhead doors remain the most popular choice for metal buildings across residential and light commercial applications. These doors consist of horizontal panels connected with hinges that roll up on tracks along the ceiling. The design allows the door to follow the building's interior contour, maximizing usable space while providing reliable operation.

Modern sectional doors offer excellent insulation options, making them ideal for climate-controlled spaces. They accommodate automatic openers easily and come in numerous panel designs, window configurations, and color options to complement your building's exterior.

Rolling Steel Doors

Rolling steel doors coil around a drum above the opening, requiring minimal interior space. This makes them particularly valuable in commercial applications where every square foot matters. The solid steel construction provides superior security and stands up well to frequent daily use.

These doors work exceptionally well for storage facilities, commercial shops, and industrial applications where appearance takes a back seat to durability and security. While typically more expensive than sectional doors, their longevity and low maintenance requirements often justify the investment for commercial projects.

Sliding Doors

Sliding doors move horizontally along a track, offering a traditional barn-style aesthetic that many property owners prefer for agricultural buildings and rustic applications. These doors require no overhead clearance, making them suitable for buildings with limited headroom or where ceiling space is needed for other purposes.

The simple mechanical design means fewer components that can fail, resulting in reliable long-term performance with minimal maintenance. Sliding doors work particularly well for equipment storage buildings where wide openings and straightforward operation are priorities.

Hydraulic Doors

Hydraulic doors utilize powerful lifting mechanisms to raise large, heavy door panels vertically or at an angle. These specialized doors suit applications requiring exceptionally large openings, such as aircraft hangars, fire stations, or facilities housing oversized equipment.

While hydraulic systems represent a significant investment, they provide capabilities that other door types cannot match. The impressive appearance and smooth operation make them worth considering for high-end residential projects or commercial applications where the door serves as a prominent architectural feature.

Standard Garage Door Sizes Explained

Understanding standard door sizes helps you plan your metal building's design and ensures you order doors that fit properly without requiring expensive custom fabrication.

Residential Sizes

Single-car garage doors typically measure 8 feet, 9 feet, or 10 feet wide by 7 feet tall. The 9x7 size accommodates most vehicles comfortably while the 10x7 option provides extra clearance for trucks or vehicles with aftermarket accessories.

Double-car garage doors commonly come in 16x7 or 16x8 configurations. The additional height of 16x8 doors works well for buildings that house recreational vehicles, boats, or lifted trucks. Many homeowners appreciate the extra clearance even for standard vehicles.

Commercial Sizes

Commercial and agricultural applications often require larger openings. Common sizes include 10x10, 12x12, 14x14, and larger dimensions up to 20 feet or more in both width and height. These sizes accommodate delivery trucks, tractors, and other large equipment.

When planning commercial door openings, consider not just the equipment dimensions but also the maneuvering space needed for safe entry and exit. Adding a foot or two to your door size can significantly improve daily operations.

Custom Sizing

Standard sizes work for most applications, but custom doors become necessary when your building design or equipment requires non-standard openings. Custom doors typically cost 15-30% more than standard sizes and may require longer lead times for fabrication.

Before committing to custom sizing, verify that standard options truly won't work for your application. Sometimes adjusting your building's interior layout can accommodate standard doors and save significant costs.

Key Selection Factors

Beyond door type and size, several important factors influence which door best suits your metal building project.

Insulation Requirements

Insulated doors help regulate interior temperatures and reduce energy costs in climate-controlled spaces. Insulation values are measured in R-value, with higher numbers indicating better insulating properties. Residential applications typically benefit from doors with R-values between 12 and 18, while commercial applications may require higher values depending on use.

Uninsulated doors work fine for storage buildings or structures in mild climates where temperature control isn't a priority. Consider your building's intended use and local climate when deciding whether insulation justifies the additional cost.

Wind Load Ratings

Regional building codes specify minimum wind load requirements based on local weather patterns. Coastal areas and regions prone to severe storms typically require higher wind load ratings than inland locations. Your door must meet or exceed local code requirements to pass inspection.

Wind load ratings indicate how much wind pressure a door can withstand before failing. Higher-rated doors use reinforced construction and additional bracing to maintain structural integrity during severe weather events.

Window Options

Windows in garage doors provide natural light that can reduce electricity costs and create a more pleasant working environment. However, windows also reduce privacy and may compromise security in some situations.

Window designs range from small sections at the top of each panel to full-view glass doors that maximize natural light. Consider your building's orientation, intended use, and security requirements when deciding on window options.

Material and Gauge

Steel thickness, measured in gauge, directly affects door durability and longevity. Lower gauge numbers indicate thicker steel. Commercial doors typically use 24-gauge or 22-gauge steel, while residential applications often use 25-gauge or 24-gauge material.

Thicker steel resists dents and damage better but costs more and weighs more, potentially requiring stronger opener mechanisms. Match the material gauge to your application's demands and expected wear.

Operation Method

Manual operation works fine for doors used infrequently, but automatic openers provide significant convenience for daily use. Opener requirements vary based on door weight, size, and type. Sectional doors typically use chain-drive, belt-drive, or screw-drive openers, while rolling steel doors often require commercial-grade operators.

Plan electrical service to your door location if automatic operation is desired. Most openers require a standard 120-volt outlet, though some commercial operators need 240-volt service.

Installation Considerations for Metal Buildings

Proper installation starts with correct planning and preparation during your building's design and construction phases.

Header Requirements

Garage door openings require adequate structural support above the opening to carry the building's load. Header size depends on the opening width and your building's design. Consult with a structural engineer or your building manufacturer to ensure proper header specifications.

Inadequate headers can lead to sagging, door operation problems, and potential structural failure. This critical element deserves careful attention during the planning phase.

Framing Preparation

The rough opening for your door must provide proper clearance for the door frame and allow for adjustment during installation. Rough openings typically measure 3 to 4 inches larger than the door's nominal size in both width and height.

Ensure framing is square and plumb before door installation begins. Doors installed in out-of-square openings will operate poorly and may fail prematurely due to binding and uneven stress on components.

Track Clearance

Sectional overhead doors require adequate headroom above the opening and side room beside the opening for tracks and hardware. Standard installations typically need 12 to 15 inches of headroom, though low-headroom hardware can reduce this requirement to as little as 6 inches in some cases.

Side room requirements usually range from 3 to 6 inches on each side of the opening. Verify clearance requirements with your door supplier before finalizing your building's interior design.

Electrical Planning

If automatic door operators are desired, plan electrical service during your building's construction. Running wiring after construction is complete costs more and creates a less professional appearance.

Install outlets near the door header, typically centered above the opening. Some installations benefit from additional outlets for lights or other accessories. Consider future needs when planning electrical service.

Ready to Select Your Metal Building Doors?

Choosing the right garage doors for your metal building doesn't have to be complicated. Our experienced team at Indaco Metals understands how different door types work with various building designs and can help you select options that meet your functional requirements and budget.

Whether you're planning a residential metal building, commercial workshop, or agricultural structure, we're here to help you make informed decisions about every component of your project.

Contact us today for expert guidance:

Shawnee Location:

3 American Way, Shawnee, OK 74804

(405) 273-9200

Sand Springs Location:

17427 W 9th St, Sand Springs, OK 74063

(918) 419-6053

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM