- Most single-car garages in Central Florida use a 9x7 or 10x7 door; double garages typically take a 16x7 or 18x7.
- Measure the rough opening — width and height of the framed hole — not the existing door.
- Add at least 4 inches of headroom clearance above the opening for tracks and hardware.
- Oversized vehicles, RVs, and trucks may need custom 8-foot-tall or 10-foot-wide doors.
You'd think picking a garage door size would be simple. It's not. Central Florida homes were built across several decades, with garages ranging from tight single-car bays in 1970s ranches to sprawling three-car setups in new Osceola County communities. Order the wrong size and you'll spend extra on returns, re-framing, or — worse — an installer visit to fix what should have been straightforward.
This guide covers how to measure correctly, what standard sizes exist, and when you need to go custom. When in doubt, call Classic Garage Doors at (407) 859-0080 — we've been sizing and installing doors in St. Cloud, Kissimmee, and Orlando since 1995.
How to Measure Your Garage Door Opening
The "garage door size" that matters is the rough opening — the width and height of the framed hole in your wall, not the width of the existing door or the outside of the frame.
Width: Measure from inside the left jamb to inside the right jamb at the widest point. Do this at the top and middle of the opening — older homes sometimes settle unevenly. Use the narrower of the two measurements.
Height: Measure from the floor to the top of the rough opening (the underside of the header). This is your clear opening height. Your door will typically be cut 1–2 inches smaller than this in each direction to allow for weatherstripping and a clean fit.
Also measure your headroom — the distance from the top of the opening to the ceiling (or lowest obstruction). Standard torsion-spring hardware needs at least 10 to 12 inches; low-headroom conversion kits are available if you're tight on space but they add cost.
Standard Garage Door Sizes in Central Florida
| Door Type | Common Width | Common Height | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single car | 8 ft or 9 ft | 7 ft | Compact cars, older garages |
| Single car (modern) | 10 ft | 7 ft | Full-size sedans, small SUVs |
| Double car (standard) | 16 ft | 7 ft | Two cars side by side |
| Double car (wide) | 18 ft | 7 ft | Two trucks or SUVs |
| Tall clearance | 8–18 ft | 8 ft | Lifted trucks, vans, cargo vehicles |
| RV / boat | 10–12 ft | 10–14 ft | Class A/B RVs, taller boat trailers |
The most common residential door in Central Florida new construction is a 16x7 for a two-car bay. Older 1980s and 1990s homes often have a 15x7 or 14x7 — non-standard sizes that limit your choices and add cost if you need a replacement.
Single Door vs. Double Door: Which Is Better?
This comes up constantly with two-car garages. You can install one large door (16 or 18 feet wide) or two separate 8- or 9-foot doors side by side.
One large door costs less to buy and install, operates with a single opener, and gives a cleaner look. The downside: if it breaks or comes off track, both bays are blocked.
Two separate doors cost more up front but are independent — one can be open while the other stays closed, which is useful if one person leaves earlier. They also handle Florida winds slightly better because each panel is narrower and carries less load. If you're in a hurricane-rated door zone, this distinction can matter for code.
For most standard Florida homes, one double door is the practical choice. Two separate doors make sense for households with very different schedules or if you want hurricane-rated panels without the cost of a full-width rated door.
When You Need a Custom or Oversized Door
Florida has a lot of trucks, trailers, and RVs. Standard 7-foot-tall doors don't fit a lifted F-250 or a Class B camper van. Here's when to consider going taller:
- 8-foot height: Fits most full-size pickup trucks, vans, and taller SUVs. Strongly recommended for homes with a boat on a trailer — a 7-foot door catches the top of many outboard motor covers.
- 9 or 10-foot height: Needed for Class A motorhomes, horse trailers, and commercial vehicles. Less common in residential builds — may require re-framing.
- 10-foot or wider single door: Useful for a third stall or a tandem garage where you park two cars front-to-back in one bay.
Custom-size doors are available from most major manufacturers at a lead time of 2–4 weeks. Expect to pay a 15–30% premium over stock sizes. Contact us for a measurement appointment before you order anything non-standard.
Choosing the Right Height for Florida Garages
The standard residential door height is 7 feet in Florida — it's what builders spec and what most opener hardware is designed for. But as vehicles get taller, 8-foot doors are becoming the new default in new construction.
If you're replacing an existing door, matching the current height is almost always the right call unless you're willing to re-frame. Changing height requires new framing, new jamb trim, and potentially new weather seal — a project that adds several hundred dollars to what could have been a straight swap.
If you're building or renovating and have flexibility, go with 8 feet of height. It future-proofs the space and costs very little extra during new construction.
Getting the Measurement Right Before You Call
Before you call a garage door company — including us — have these three numbers ready:
- Rough opening width (inside jamb to inside jamb)
- Rough opening height (floor to underside of header)
- Headroom clearance (top of opening to ceiling)
If your opener is mounted on the ceiling, note its position relative to the opening — some older side-mount openers limit your options for newer hardware. A quick photo of your current setup is worth a thousand words when you call.
Classic Garage Doors serves St. Cloud, Kissimmee, Orlando, and all of Central Florida. If you're not sure what you have or what you need, call us at (407) 859-0080 — we'll walk you through it in five minutes and get you the right door the first time.
Ready to replace or upgrade? See our installation services or call to schedule a free estimate.