Single vs. Double Gates: Which Gate Configuration Is Right for Your Property?

A single gate uses one leaf to cover the full opening. A double gate splits the opening across two leaves, one on each side. Single gates are simpler to automate, cheaper to install, and work well for openings up to about 3.5 metres wide. Double gates handle wider openings, suit properties where pillar placement makes a single leaf impractical, and give a more balanced look on wide driveways. The right choice depends on your opening width, your pillar setup, and how you plan to automate the gate.

The Real Decision Is Not Single vs. Double

Most people frame this as a style choice. Symmetrical double gates look formal. A single leaf looks clean and modern. That framing immediately sends you toward the wrong answer.

The actual decision is structural. How wide is your opening? What are your pillars made of? And will you automate the gate now or later? 

An automatic double gate opener requires two motors, two sets of mounting hardware, and a synchronised control board. 

A single gate opener requires one of each. If your opening is 2.5 metres wide and your pillars are 300mm square, a single leaf is the correct call regardless of how a double gate would look.

When a Single Gate Is the Right Call

A single leaf gate is the right choice for openings up to 3.5 metres wide, for properties where only one pillar is substantial enough to mount a motor, and for any site where budget is a real constraint. A single automated gate is also easier to maintain, because there is one motor to service, one control board to diagnose, and one remote to programme.

• Opening width: 3.5m or less works well with a single leaf
• Motor count: one motor, one control board, lower upfront cost
• Maintenance: simpler fault diagnosis and fewer parts to replace over time
• Space: single leaves need clearance on one side only, not behind both pillars

A single gate on a 4.5m opening is a compromise that creates a heavy, unbalanced leaf. That is the point at which a double gate becomes the better structural solution.

When a Double Gate Is the Better Answer

A double gate is the right call for openings wider than 3.5 metres, for driveways where the visual balance of the entrance matters, and for any property where a single leaf would be so long that its weight exceeds the motor rating of most standard residential openers.

Each leaf of a double gate is shorter and lighter than the equivalent single leaf would be for the same opening. 

A 5m opening split into two 2.5m leaves is far easier to automate reliably than a single 5m leaf. Two 150kg leaves are also structurally more stable under wind load than one 300kg equivalent. 

For rural properties with prevailing wind exposure, that structural argument matters as much as the width argument.

What Automation Changes About This Decision

If you are automating the gate, double configurations add cost and complexity that are worth understanding before you commit. 

Two motors must be synchronised so both leaves open and close in the correct sequence. Most quality double-gate kits manage this via a shared control board, but the wiring, bracket placement, and limit setting for each leaf must be done independently.

For a DIY install, a double-gate setup takes roughly twice as long as a single-gate setup. 

Budget three to four hours for a competent first-timer on a double gate, versus one to two hours for a single. 

The complexity is manageable. Just don’t buy a double-gate kit expecting it to be as straightforward as a single-gate kit.

The Cost Comparison No One Shows You Up Front

The gap between single- and double-gate automation is wider than the product price difference suggests.

• Single gate automation: one motor, one board, one remote set. Entry-level kits cost between $400 and $600 in Australia.
• Double-gate automation: two motors, shared board, two remote sets, and additional wiring. Entry-level kits start from around $700 to $1,000.
• Professional install add-on: an electrician connection for a double gate typically adds $100 to $200 more than a single gate due to the extra motor wiring run.

Over a ten-year ownership period, double gates also have two motors that may need service or replacement. Factor that into your decision if long-term maintenance costs matter to you.

One Layout Test Before You Decide

Measure your opening width between the inside faces of both pillars. If that number is under 3.5 metres, a single gate is your answer. If it is over 3.5 metres, a double gate will perform better under automation.

Then check both pillar faces. Each motor needs at least 120mm of flat surface to mount correctly. 

If one pillar is a round post or a heritage stone column, a surface mount may not be possible, and an underground motor becomes the right fit regardless of single or double configuration.

The right gate configuration is the one your site supports, not the one that looks best in a catalogue photo. 

Measure first. Decide second.

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