Single vs Double Garage Door: Which Should You Choose?

Single or double garage door: which is right for your home?

A double garage door is right when you have an open two-car garage and want one wide, post-free opening with a clean front elevation. A single door, or two singles with a post between them, is right when you want narrower openings that are easier to handle, more wall strength, or independent access to each bay.

The answer depends on the framing of your opening, how many cars you park, and the look you want from the street. Most Ottawa two-car garages came with one 16x7 double, so a like-for-like swap is simplest. Switching configurations means structural work, which adds cost. This guide covers sizes, cost, pros and cons, and when two singles win, then bridges to new single and double door installation in Ottawa for a free measure.

What are the standard sizes for single and double garage doors?

The standard single garage door size in Canada is 8x7 or 9x7, meaning 8 or 9 feet wide by 7 feet high. The standard double garage door size is 16x7. Wider options are 10x7 for a single and 18x7 for a double, used for trucks, vans, trailers and larger garages.

Here is how the common widths line up. Height is almost always 7 feet on residential doors, with 8 feet available when you need extra clearance for a lifted truck or a car hoist.

• 8x7 single: the tight single, common on older Ottawa homes and one-car garages. Fits a compact or mid-size car with room to open a door.
• 9x7 single: the most popular single width today. Roomier for an SUV or pickup and the safest single size if you ever park close.
• 10x7 single: the wide single for full-size trucks, work vans and trailers.
• 16x7 double: the standard double for a two-car garage, two cars side by side with no post between them.
• 18x7 double: the wide double for big garages, three-quarter-ton trucks or two larger SUVs.

Measuring matters, because the door size is the rough opening, not the finished frame. We confirm exact width, height, headroom and backroom on site so the door and tracks fit the first time. For the full size breakdown and how headroom affects spring choice, see standard garage door sizes for Ottawa homes.

One double door or two single doors for a two-car garage?

For a two-car garage you can run one 16x7 double door across the whole opening, or two single doors, usually 8x7 or 9x7, with a structural centre post between them. The double gives one clean opening and the widest drive-through. Two singles add a load-bearing post, narrower openings and the option to use one bay at a time.

Both layouts park two cars. The difference is the post. A double spans the full 16 feet with no support in the middle, so the header above carries more load and the door is heavy and wide. Two singles put a framed post in the centre of the opening, which carries the roof load and divides the garage into two bays. That post is exactly what some homeowners want and others want gone. If your garage was built for one double opening, splitting it into two singles is a framing project, not a swap.

Single vs double garage door cost: how they compare in Ottawa

A new single garage door starts from $1,500 installed and a 16x7 double typically runs from around $1,800 to $3,500 depending on insulation, windows and brand. Two single doors usually cost more than one double, because you pay for two doors, two spring systems and a second opener, starting near $3,000 before that extra opener.

Cost climbs with insulation level, window inserts, decorative hardware and the door brand. As an Authorized Garaga Dealer we quote insulated double-skin steel doors that hold up to Ottawa winters, and every quote is free with no obligation. Financing is available from $89 a month, so a new double door or a matched pair of singles fits a monthly budget. Here is the rough picture across configurations.

• One single door (8x7, 9x7 or 10x7): from $1,500 installed, one opener.
• One double door (16x7 or 18x7): roughly $1,800 to $3,500 installed, one opener, no centre post.
• Two single doors (two 8x7 or 9x7): roughly $3,000 and up for the two doors, plus a second opener and any framing for the centre post.

For a full line-by-line breakdown by material, size and brand, see what a new garage door costs in Ottawa. Converting a double opening to two singles also carries a carpentry cost for the post, which is why it rarely pays for itself on price alone.

Single vs double: pros and cons at a glance

A double door wins on a clean look, the widest opening and lower total cost for a two-car garage. Two single doors win on structural strength from the centre post, easier handling of smaller, lighter doors, and the ability to open one bay while the other stays sealed against the cold.

Use this as a quick reference.

One double door (16x7), pros: one wide, post-free opening; simplest like-for-like replacement; lowest cost for a two-car garage; one opener to install and maintain; a clean, modern front elevation.

One double door, cons: heavy and wide, so the torsion spring and opener work harder; the whole garage is exposed every time you open it; a long header carries the full span with no centre support.

Two single doors, pros: a load-bearing centre post adds strength; each door is lighter and easier to lift by hand; you can open one side and leave the other closed to keep heat in; if one opener fails you still have a working bay.

Two single doors, cons: higher total cost; two openers and two spring sets to maintain; the centre post narrows each opening, which can make parking tighter; a busier look on the front of the house.

When two single doors beat one wide door

Two single doors beat one double when you want a structural centre post for a long header, when you frequently use only one side and want to keep the other sealed against winter cold, or when you want backup access if one opener fails. They also handle and lift more easily because each door is smaller and lighter.

The standout case is the centre post. On wider openings, or where the header above the door carries significant roof load, builders sometimes prefer two singles so the post shares that load instead of bridging the whole span. The energy case matters too in Ottawa: opening a single 9x7 bay lets out far less heat than swinging up a full 16x7 door in January, which is worth real money over a cold-climate winter. And if you value redundancy, two openers mean a dead motor never traps a car, while you sort out garage door opener repair.

How door width affects springs, the opener and wind load

A wider, heavier door needs a heavier-duty torsion spring, a stronger opener, and on exposed sites a wind load rated panel. A 16x7 double weighs far more than an 8x7 single, so the spring carries more, the opener pulls more, and the door faces more wind pressure across its larger surface.

Width is not just a sticker number, it sets the whole hardware spec. Springs are sized to the door’s weight and width, which is why a double uses a heavier torsion spring than a single, and why a snapped spring on a double is a job for a pro. See why broken springs are dangerous to handle before you touch one. The opener must be rated for the weight too, so a double usually pairs with a 3/4 horsepower-equivalent or belt-drive unit. On exposed lots, a WindLoad rated door braces the larger panel against gusts. We spec all of this to your door and carry the right springs and openers on the truck.

Which configuration adds more resale value?

A new, insulated garage door adds resale value either way, and the configuration matters less than condition, insulation and curb appeal. A clean 16x7 double reads as modern and uncluttered, while well-matched twin singles suit traditional and heritage-style homes. Buyers respond most to a door that looks new, well insulated and in keeping with the house.

Garage doors consistently rank among the highest-return exterior upgrades, because they fill so much of the front elevation. The smart move is to match the door to the architecture: a contemporary build looks sharp with one wide double, while a century home in the Glebe or a coach-house style in Riverside South often looks right with two singles and carriage-house detailing. Insulation, colour and window inserts move the needle more than single versus double, so see windows and insulation options for your new door and the complete new garage door buying guide to weigh the full picture.

Get sized up for a new single or double door in Ottawa

The fastest way to settle single versus double is a free in-home measure. We confirm your rough opening, headroom and backroom, show you single and double Garaga doors in the right size, and quote both configurations so you can compare on real numbers, not guesses. As an Authorized Garaga Dealer we install across Ottawa, Gatineau, Barrhaven, Kanata and Riverside South.

New single doors start from $1,500 installed, doubles from around $1,800, with financing from $89 a month and every quote free. We offer same-day quotes 7 days a week and back the install with our 90-day done-right guarantee. To get started, explore new single and double door installation in Ottawa, book a free measure and new-door quote, or call HUSH at (613) 255-1968 to talk through your garage.