Electric gates cost guide

Whether you want to know the prices for parts, installation, maintenance, day-to-day running of electric gates, or even the average cost of electric gates, we have crunched the numbers for you.

Before jumping into the costs – safety first

We must highlight the importance of working with professionals who hold the legal standards of electric gate installation.

If an electric gate is not installed correctly or to the legal standards, it can lead to death of users. This is why all contractors must adhere to the standards. Failure to do so could result in the charge of Corporate Manslaughter for both the contractor and the end-user in the event of a death.

So should you wish to move forward with installing an electric gate, any contractor you approach should be able to show their compliance with current standards listed on the HSE website

How much do automatic gates cost?

If you’re thinking about getting electric gates, it’s best to get an idea of the price ahead of time. We recognise the importance of keeping within budget, so we’ve spoken to the online estimators at My Build Estimate – a professional estimating company monitored by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

We‘ve summarised the costs to give you an at a glance look at the typical costs of automatic gate installation.

In total, you can expect to spend anywhere from £1,500 to £5,000+ for the raw materials and £2,000 to £3,000+ for the installation.

There are also quite a few additional costs you should take into account when budgeting your project, we have listed them in our table of costs. Below, we’ve gone into detail on the factors that affect the costs of electric gates including installation, maintenance and parts.

Electric gates cost calculator

To calculate the cost of electric gates, you’ll need to start by measuring the size of the space that you want to be covered by the gates. From there you’ll choose the material and design of the gates themselves – the cost of the gate materials will affect the price you pay.

And finally, the installation cost needs to be added on top to include the labour.

Electric gate installation quote

Getting quotes is an important step for planning any home improvement project, and we always recommend speaking to a number of different local tradespeople. When planning a budget for the cost of electric gate installation you’ll want to make sure you’re being quoted fair and competitive prices in your area.

It’s also a good idea to ask for each quote to include a detailed breakdown of all the costs, so that you can easily compare all the quotes you get.

We recommend obtaining three quotes from our trusted tradespeople. Our request a quote feature is perfect for this, simply enter the details about your job and we’ll send it to tradespeople near you. 

Electric gate installer hourly rates

The labour costs of an electric gate installation project tends to be about a third of the total overall cost, and will usually be included as a total labour cost rather than an hourly rate. That said, you can expect the installation costs to be in the region of £35 to £65 per hour. The time it takes to complete the installation and the number of engineers required will depend on the size and mechanism of the gate and the complexity of the installation.

Factors affecting the cost of an electric gate

In terms of the parts required the largest cost is the gate itself. How much this costs will come down to four factors:

1) The method of opening: If you choose a 4G intercom this may be more expensive to buy than a hardwired intercom but you will typically have to pay more for cabling by an electrician for the hardwired system.

2) The size: The higher and wider the gate, the more it will cost. If your entrance is an unusual size this can increase how much your electric driveway gates cost as well.

3) The design: Ornate and intricate designs cost more than standard designs. There are also many designer brands and bespoke options that have a premium price. The type of finish and colour further adds to the cost.

4) The material:

• PVC: The lightest and cheapest option, that is easy to maintain but not very durable or secure.
• Softwood: Electric wooden gate costs are some of the lowest around. Softwood is a cheap option but high maintenance, with low durability and security.
• Hardwood: A mid-priced option that’s more durable and secure than softwood with lower maintenance.
• Steel/aluminium: A mid-priced option that’s very durable and low maintenance, with good security and privacy.
• Wrought iron: The most expensive option, offering good security (but less privacy than wood). It can be prone to rust so it needs a lot of maintenance.

Depending on your answers to the questions above your automatic gates will cost £1,500+.

Types of gate automation

Next, you’ll need to choose a motor type and how you’d like the gate to open. Here are some of the most common approaches and how they affect the cost of electric gates.

Methods of opening:

Swing gates: With swing gates, there are usually one or two ‘wings’ that open inward or outward (think of any country mansion on any TV show and you get the idea). They tend to be cheaper than sliding gates as they have a simpler automation system. They are however not well suited to sloped driveways.

Sliding gates: With sliding gates, homeowners can have one gate that slides across the entire opening or two gates that slide across and meet in the middle. This option is more complex to install as it can require groundworks for a track and drainage which pushes the cost up. You must also have sufficient space for the gates to slide away from the opening.

Motor types:

Articulated arm gate motors: Powered by a gear kit near to the gate, this is a simple and low-cost approach to electric gate movement. It involves attaching a swinging arm to the gate.

Ram and swing arm openers: For this method, a piston is mounted to the gate which is attached to a motor on the pillar. As the piston is pulled or pushed by the motor, the gate opens or closes.

Underground system: Below ground automation is the most discrete and secure option but also the most expensive, with considerable groundwork required for installation and resolving any future issues.

Round-the-corner sliders: If space is an issue then a curved track can be fitted with a gate that’s split into sections. This is the perfect choice for those locations where a standard sliding gate would not fit.

In-post gate motors: The motor itself can be hidden inside specially crafted posts. This is by no means a cheap option but is a good solution to having the secrecy and security of an underground system without extensive groundworks.

We recommend paying for a good quality motor as this is where most problems can occur. A problematic motor could mean expensive call-out fees and a lot of frustration as well. You can expect to pay anywhere from £1,000 to £1,800 for the motor, in addition to the cost of your electric driveway gates.

The final cost is for the intercom and access system. Depending on how many access points you want throughout the house, this will vary the price. For example, do you want a portable remote control for access, smartphone access, controllers by the gate, intercoms in the house, or in other locations? There are lots of great technological solutions that can be tailored to your location and requirements.

We recommend you budget around £500 - £1,500 for the intercom.

What does installation involve and how long does it take?

Before installing automated gates you need to investigate whether planning permission is required. If your gate is higher than two metres, or higher than one metre and close to a highway or a footpath adjacent to a highway, then you will need planning permission. Planning portal is an excellent resource with more information on this topic.

Installation initially involves conducting groundworks to ensure a solid foundation for the gate and to fit any automation methods or drainage as required. At this stage a certified electricity supply can be run to the gates or a remote power solution can be installed.

Next, pillars are installed into a deep concrete foundation on which to support the gate. Lastly, the automation mechanism is installed to attach the gate panels to the pillars and to provide the means of opening.

The time it takes to install an electric gate will vary on the sourcing time of the materials, the extent of the groundworks and the availability of your contractors.

Electric gate installation costs in the region of £2,000 to £3,000 depending on the supplier and the extent of the works.

FAQs

What is the cost of automatic driveway gates?

The average automatic driveway gates cost can be broken down depending on the type of gate and whether you wish to add extras like an intercom. Below are the most common types of automatic gates and their average prices:

• Swing automatic driveway gates cost- From £2,000
• Sliding automatic driveway gates cost – From £2,600
• Bifold automatic driveway gates cost – From £5,000
• Adding an intercom – £500 - £1,500

How much do residential electric gates cost?

To calculate the average residential electric gates cost, we can look at the price of a driveway gate, plus the price of a gate automation kit. You may still need to hire a tradesperson to install the automation kit, but you can save money overall on the average residential gates cost.

• First, you have to pay the driveway gate cost – £1,350
• Then add on a gate automation kit, which costs – £1,000
• Which makes the average residential electric gates cost – £3,000.

How much do electric wooden gates cost?

Wooden gates can be affordable but aren’t the most durable option. However, if these stunning gates are properly protected and maintained you can extend their life for years to come. The average electric wooden gates cost will depend on the type of wood you choose, plus a number of factors as we discovered earlier.

Electric wooden gates cost between £675 and £4,050.

How much do electric gates cost to run?

Running costs for automated gates are thankfully very low. When on standby, gates typically only use around 100 watts per day, which peaks to around 700 watts when opening for a few seconds. In total, you shouldn’t expect to spend more than £15 a year for the running costs in a home. A very small price to pay for the convenience.

You do need to consider maintenance costs including annual system checks, remedial works and replacement parts, as well as any treatments for the gates such as anti-rust or reapplying any paint. One way to reduce costs here is to review the guarantee from gate manufacturers and to take out an electric gate maintenance plan. Maintenance plans cost around £150 per year.

Key takeaways for electric gates

• Electric gates cost less if using lower quality gates, budget motors and only a single intercom.
• Consider the size of the space. Larger spaces have higher electric driveway gate costs and certain gates can’t be used on sloping driveways.
• Planning permission is needed for gates above two metres, or above one metre and close to a highway or a footpath adjacent to a highway.
• Installation costs will increase if extensive groundworks are required. To save money, choose visible motors and openers.
• Running costs are only a very small ongoing fee.
• Remember to ask for and keep manual release keys. These are required to manually push electric gates open in the case of power cuts, motor failure, or control problems.