What a gate actually costs, and what makes the price move

Gate quotes vary wildly for what looks like the same thing, which makes them hard to compare. Here is what is actually being priced.

Span

Cost does not rise in a straight line with width. Past about four metres the frame section has to step up to stay rigid, and a sliding gate needs a counterbalance roughly half its span again in track and tail. A 4.5-metre gate costs noticeably more than a 3.5-metre one.

Infill

The frame is a fraction of the labour. What fills it is where the hours go: plain vertical bars are quick, a decorative pattern with curves and repeated elements can double the fabrication time.

Finish

Brush paint over mill scale is the cheapest and shortest-lived. Blasted, primed and powder coated costs more and lasts years. Galvanised and then coated costs more again. This is the single biggest reason two quotes differ.

Automation

A gate built for a motor needs a heavier frame, a proper track and a rack mounting. Building automation-ready and fitting the motor later is sensible; retrofitting a motor to a gate that was never designed for one usually means a new gate.

Comparing quotes fairly

Ask every supplier for the frame section size, the infill spacing, the preparation and coating process, and whether installation and fixings are included. Once those four are stated, the quotes usually turn out to be much closer than they first appeared — or the cheap one turns out to be missing a step.