Double driveway gates are two leaves that meet in the middle of the opening. They suit a wide driveway where both leaves have a clear arc to swing through, and they give the entry a symmetrical, formal look. Whether they are the right gate for your property depends on site geometry first and style second. This guide walks through how to decide, how to size the opening, which materials hold up, how automation fits, and what drives the price.
TL;DR
- A double swing gate suits a wide driveway when both leaves have a clear path to open. If the driveway slopes up or the front setback is short, a sliding or pivot gate may fit better.
- Size the opening from the vehicles and the posts, not the other way round. Post spacing, footing depth and soil type matter as much as the gate itself.
- A split gate is not automatically stronger or more secure. Frame, hinges, posts, footings and installation decide performance.
- Automated gates in Australia must meet AS/NZS 60335.2.103, so safety sensors, auto-reverse and a manual release are part of the design from day one.
- Price depends on width, material, automation and site works. Published figures for simple manual gates are a fraction of a bespoke automated entry.
Table of Contents
- What a double driveway gate is, and when it suits your property
- Swing or slide: which suits a double driveway gate?
- Sizing the opening, posts and footings
- Materials and finishes
- Automating double gates safely
- Perspective: why the gate and the architecture have to agree
- What affects the cost of double driveway gates
- Keeping double gates working well
- Our approach to double gates in Melbourne
- FAQ
- Sources
What a double driveway gate is, and when it suits your property
A double gate has two leaves, each hinged to its own post, closing at the center. Compared with a single wide leaf, each half is lighter and shorter, so the hinges and posts carry less leverage. It is the classic format for a grand entry, and it works for a wide residential driveway, a rural entrance or a small commercial access point.
The starting point is the ground, not the catalog. Fence Report advises that a double swing gate suits a wide driveway when the property provides a clear operating path for both leaves, and that the decision should begin with site geometry rather than appearance. In practice that means checking four things before you fall in love with a design:
- Swing arc. Each leaf needs room to open fully, usually inward. Look for garden beds, steps, retaining walls, trees and parked cars in the arc.
- Gradient. A driveway that rises from the street makes an inward swing scrape the pavement unless the hinges and bottom rail are planned around the slope.
- Setback. If a car waiting for the gate to open would block the footpath or road, you need a deeper setback or a different gate type.
- Opening width. Two-car driveways and side-by-side entries are where double gates look their best. Our guide to driveway gate width covers typical openings from 3.0 m to 7.3 m.
One common misconception is worth clearing up. The same Fence Report guidance notes that a divided gate is not inherently stronger, safer, more secure or more resistant to wind. Those outcomes depend on the frame, infill, fasteners, hinges, posts, foundations, operator and installation. A double gate is a layout choice. The quality of the build is what protects the property.
Swing or slide: which suits a double driveway gate?
Most people searching for double driveway gates assume swing, but the question to settle early is whether swing is actually the right operation for the site.
| Site condition | Double swing | Sliding | Pivot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat, deep setback | Suits well | Works, needs side run-back space | Suits well |
| Short setback, car must clear the street | Leaves may not clear | Often the better fit | Depends on arc |
| Rising driveway | Needs planned hinge geometry | Often easier | Needs engineering |
| Narrow side boundary | Fine | Needs a long run-back | Fine |
| Formal, symmetrical frontage | Strong match | Cleaner, more modern | Strong architectural statement |
There is also a regulatory angle. Local rules differ between councils and states, so check yours. As one example, the City of Perth Fencing Local Law 2015 says a gate in a fence must open into the lot or slide parallel on the inside of the fence, unless the local government gives written approval. That is a Western Australian local law, not a Victorian rule, but it shows why a gate that swings out over a footpath can be a problem. In Melbourne, confirm height, setback and permit requirements with your council before design is locked. Our notes on driveway gate height and permits list the checks we run on every project.
If your site fits neither a plain swing nor a plain slide, a pivot gate can offer an architectural alternative. Architects and developers can read our permit checks for pivot gate design. For commercial frontages where sliding makes sense, see our commercial sliding gate design guide.
Sizing the opening, posts and footings
Start with the vehicles that actually use the driveway: the widest car, any trailer or caravan, and delivery access. Add room for mirrors and for a driver to approach at a slight angle. Then decide whether the leaves are equal or whether one is a narrower pedestrian leaf. Equal leaves look best on a formal facade. An unequal split can suit a driveway where a person walks in daily and cars only occasionally.
Post spacing is where small errors become expensive. A manufacturer installation guide from BlueScope's Steeline fencing documentation gives a useful rule of thumb for double gates: the distance between post centers should be the total gate width, measured edge to edge of the outside gate posts, plus 30 mm. It also specifies 600 mm deep holes for clay or firm earth and 900 mm for sand or loose fill. That guide covers a particular panel system, so treat it as an illustration of how much soil matters. Heavy bespoke gates, especially automated ones, are engineered to their own load and often need deeper or larger footings. Our overview of Australian gate footing requirements explains the ranges and what changes them.
A few other planning points worth settling on paper:
- Gate height. Taller leaves catch more wind and need stronger posts. Keep height within what your council allows.
- Ground clearance. Allow for the driveway crown, drainage and a rising grade, so the leaves do not drag.
- Hinge type. Heavy leaves call for hinges rated to the weight, set in posts sized to match.
- Stops and latching. A drop bolt or a mechanical stop keeps the leaves from swinging past their line in wind.
- Services. Power, data and intercom cable should be run before paving or landscaping, not after.
Materials and finishes
The material shapes how a gate looks, how heavy it is and how much care it needs. Here is how the main options compare in general terms for Australian conditions.
| Material | Look | Weight | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powder-coated aluminum | Clean, modern, wide range of profiles | Light, good for automation | Low: rinse periodically |
| Powder-coated steel | Strong, traditional or contemporary | Heavy, needs sturdy posts | Keep coating intact, touch up chips |
| Wrought iron style | Classic, ornate | Heavy | Coating care to resist rust |
| Timber | Warm, residential | Moderate to heavy | Regular re-oiling or sealing |
| Mixed material | Steel frame with timber or aluminum infill | Varies | Depends on each component |
Three choices matter more than people expect.
Infill. Vertical bars, horizontal slats, flat panels and decorative scrollwork change privacy and wind load. Solid infill gives privacy but acts like a sail. Open infill lets you see the house and cuts wind load.
Coating. Powder coating is the usual finish for metal gates. The quality of surface preparation underneath decides how long it lasts, particularly near the bay, where salt air is harder on metal. For Bayside and coastal properties, ask what the coating system is and how edges, welds and fixings are treated.
Color and detail. Black and deep charcoal are the long-standing favorites for traditional and contemporary houses alike. Choose a tone that picks up the window frames or roof, and keep hardware in a matching finish. A bespoke gate is at its best when the details, such as the top rail, post caps and letterbox, were designed together with the house.
Automating double gates safely
Double swing gates automate well, with either an arm operator on each leaf or an underground operator for a cleaner look. Two operators need to be synchronized so the leaves open and close in a set order, usually with a slight delay so the overlapping edges do not clash.
Safety is not optional. According to a Gatomate article from March 2026, automatic gates in Australia must comply with AS/NZS 60335.2.103:2024, which calls for photoelectric beams, force-sensing edges, auto-reversal, emergency manual release and visible warning signs, with at least a two-second warning before movement begins. Saint George Group likewise points to AS/NZS 60335.2.103 as the standard for drives on gates and recommends an annual professional check, mainly of the safety systems such as obstacle detection and emergency stop. We cover where beams belong in our guide to mounting gate safety sensors at 600 mm.
For a swing gate, the safety design has to account for the sweep of the leaves, the pinch points at the hinges and the center meeting edge. That is why the operators, sensors and edges are specified as a system with the gate, not added afterward. Remote controls, keypads, intercoms, phone apps and vehicle recognition can all connect to the same controller, so the entry stays discreet.
Perspective: why the gate and the architecture have to agree
We build gates for houses where the entry is part of the design, so we begin with the building, not a catalog. Before we draw a leaf, we look at the facade, the driveway levels, the paving and the line of the fence, and we ask how the gate should feel when you arrive.
That is why we lean toward bespoke work. A double gate that is simply a standard size will often fight the site: the arc hits a garden bed, the posts sit off the building line, the automation shows up as bulky hardware. When the frame, infill, operators and access control are designed together, the gate looks calm and works quietly.
Our approach is built on craftsmanship and premium materials. We aim for security and elegance without bulky hardware, with automation and access control integrated into the design instead of bolted on. For homeowners, builders, developers and architects commissioning a specific project, we believe that is what makes an entry feel finished.
Rhys
What affects the cost of double driveway gates
No two double gates cost the same, and a price per gate is meaningless without the specification behind it. The main drivers are:
- Width and height. More metal, bigger posts, heavier hinges.
- Material and finish. Aluminum, steel, timber and mixed builds differ in fabrication effort and coating.
- Infill complexity. Simple vertical bars cost far less than custom laser-cut or hand-finished panels.
- Automation. Operators, safety sensors, controllers, keypads, intercoms and wiring.
- Site works. Footings, rock or poor soil, sloping ground, trenching for power, removing an old gate.
- Approvals and engineering. Council permits, structural engineering on heavy or tall gates.
For a sense of the low end, a Sydney fencing cost guide published in 2026 lists a manual double driveway gate in Colorbond or timber at $920 to $2,875 installed, with a typical price of $1,375. That is a basic manual gate in a different city. A bespoke architectural gate with premium materials, artisan finishes and integrated automation is a different category of project, and we scope it individually. Our Melbourne driveway gate cost guide breaks down what moves a Melbourne quote, and our piece on whether driveway gates add value looks at the return side.
Keeping double gates working well
Maintenance is mostly small, regular habits.
- Rinse the gate. Fresh water and a soft cloth remove dust and salt. Do it more often near the coast.
- Check the coating. Touch up chips and scratches promptly so bare metal does not start to corrode.
- Look at the hinges and latches. Listen for squeaks and watch for sag. A leaf that drops at the latch edge is asking for attention before it damages the operator.
- Keep the arc clear. Trim plants and remove debris from the swing path and the track of the sensors.
- Test the safety features. Check that the gate reverses on contact and that the manual release works. Wipe the photo-eye lenses.
- Book a professional service. Annual checks of an automated gate focus on the safety systems. If you need a second opinion on an operator, electric gate repair services show what a service visit typically covers.
Timber leaves need regular sealing or oiling. Metal gates need little beyond cleaning when the coating is sound.
Our approach to double gates in Melbourne
We design, fabricate and install luxury driveway gates and architectural fencing across Melbourne, from Toorak, Brighton and Armadale to the eastern suburbs and the Dandenongs. Our architectural gates are made for boutique residential, high-end commercial and development projects, and our designer fencing carries the same design language along the boundary so the entry and the fence read as one composition.
If you are planning double gates, tell us about the site, the architecture and how you want the entry to feel. We will look at swing, slide or pivot, the materials and the automation as one package. Start at gatecon.com.au to talk through your project.
FAQ
Are double driveway gates better than a single gate?
Not automatically. A double gate suits wide openings and formal frontages, and each leaf is lighter. Strength and security still come from the frame, hinges, posts, footings and installation, not the split.
How much space do double swing gates need?
Each leaf needs a clear arc equal to its width, plus room for the hinge posts and any operators. Garden beds, steps and rising ground are the usual obstacles. A site visit confirms whether swing works or sliding is the better fit.
Do double driveway gates need council approval?
It depends on your council and the gate's height, position and design. Some local rules also restrict gates that open outward over a public footpath. Check with your council before design is fixed, or ask your installer to run the checks.
Can double gates be automated?
Yes. Each leaf can have its own operator, synchronized by one controller. In Australia automatic gates must meet AS/NZS 60335.2.103, so sensors, auto-reverse and a manual release are part of the installation.
How deep should the gate posts go?
It depends on soil, gate size and weight. One manufacturer guide for a panel system specifies 600 mm in clay or firm earth and 900 mm in sand or loose fill. Heavy bespoke gates are engineered to their own footing specification.
Sources
- 6 Double Swing Gate Planning Checks, Fence Report
- City of Perth Fencing Local Law 2015
- Steeline panel fencing installation guide, BlueScope
- Upgrade your existing gate to a smart gate in Australia, Gatomate
- Residential gate automation in Australia, Saint George Group
- Fencing cost Sydney 2026
- Electric gate repair and installation