Sizes by Long Island housing era
| Era | Typical homes | Common door setup |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | Village homes in Rockville Centre, Garden City, Manhasset | Narrow or detached single doors, often custom wood |
| 1945–1960 | Levittown, Hicksville, Massapequa, Syosset | Single 8x7 or 9x7 doors; many garages added later |
| 1960–1985 | Commack, Smithtown, Dix Hills | Attached two-car 16x7 doors |
| 1985 and newer | Riverhead, Southampton Village | Two-car and multi-door garages, taller doors |
What the Census says about Long Island’s housing
From the Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates:
- Nassau County: median home built in 1955; about 66% of homes predate 1960.
- Suffolk County: median home built in 1970; about 31% predate 1960.
- Oldest town we cover: Manhasset, median 1942, with about 47% of homes predating 1940.
- Most 1950s housing: Hicksville, where about 58% of homes were built in that decade.
- Newest: Southampton Village (median 1985) and Riverhead (median 1984).
How to measure
- Width and height of the finished opening.
- Headroom: from the top of the opening to the ceiling or the lowest obstruction. Low headroom needs special tracks or a wall-mount opener.
- Side room on each side for the vertical tracks.
- Backroom: depth from the opening back into the garage.
Non-standard openings
Older garages often don’t match standard sizes. A custom-size door costs more and takes longer. Published Long Island prices for a standard single-car steel door ran $1,550 – $1,995 installed. See garage door replacement and permits if you plan to change the opening.
Need it done? Call for garage door replacement & installation on Long Island. Local guides: garage door repair in Levittown, garage door repair in Manhasset, garage door repair in Hicksville, garage door repair in Riverhead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard garage door size?
Common residential sizes are 8x7 and 9x7 for single doors and 16x7 for doubles. 8-foot-tall doors are more common on newer homes and for taller vehicles.
How do I measure for a new garage door?
Measure the finished opening width and height, the headroom from the top of the opening to the ceiling, the side room on each side, and the depth back into the garage. Headroom decides which track and spring setup fits.
Can I make my garage door opening bigger?
Yes, but widening or raising an opening means a new header and framing, and that needs a building permit everywhere on Long Island.