Gate installation spans a wider price range than almost any other fencing or property infrastructure project. A straightforward manual pedestrian gate added to an existing fence can be completed for a few hundred dollars in materials and a couple of hours of labour. A custom-fabricated, automated double swing driveway gate with intercom, keypad access, and smart home integration on a substantial residential property can cost $15,000 or more. Both are gate installations. Both are legitimate answers to the question in the title, and neither one is particularly helpful without the context that makes the range make sense.
This guide provides that context. It covers realistic pricing for the most common gate types across Metro Vancouver in 2026, explains what actually drives cost within each category, and describes the factors that cannot be accurately priced without a site visit. The goal is to give you a working budget framework before you call a contractor, not a false sense of precision that evaporates when the actual quote arrives.
Pedestrian and Side Yard Gates: The Most Common Residential Installation
The majority of residential gate installations in Vancouver are not driveway gates. They are pedestrian gates, three to four feet wide, added to an existing fence line to provide access to a side yard, back lane, pool enclosure, garden, or secondary entry point. These are the most cost-effective gate installations and the ones where a realistic budget is easiest to establish.
Galvanized chain link pedestrian gate
A standard single swing pedestrian gate fabricated from galvanized chain link to match an existing residential fence typically adds approximately $400 to $700 to a fencing project when installed concurrently. When installed as a standalone addition to an existing fence, the cost is similar in materials but includes the additional mobilization cost of a crew visit for a single item, which typically brings the total to $500 to $900 depending on the contractor and the specific circumstances.
This is the most common pedestrian gate we install across the Lower Mainland. It is durable, low maintenance, and appropriate for the majority of residential applications where the gate needs to function well rather than make a design statement.
Ornamental or custom fabricated pedestrian gate
A custom-fabricated pedestrian gate in powder-coated steel, ornamental aluminum, or a decorative design moves the price meaningfully higher than a standard chain link alternative. Pricing for custom pedestrian gates in Metro Vancouver typically starts around $800 to $1,500 and increases with the complexity of the design, the width of the opening, and the hardware specification.
For residential front yard applications where the gate is a visible design element complementing an ornamental fence, a front garden, or a heritage property aesthetic, the additional cost of a custom fabricated gate is generally justified by the finished result. Our in-house fabrication shop means we produce these to your specific dimensions and design requirements rather than adapting a catalogue product.
Manual Driveway Gates: Single and Double Swing
A manual driveway gate is a gate that operates by hand, without a motor or automation system. It is the right choice for homeowners who use the gate infrequently, who want the simplicity of no mechanical system to maintain, or whose project budget does not extend to automation.
Single swing manual gate (standard residential)
A single panel manual swing gate covering a standard residential driveway opening of approximately ten to twelve feet, fabricated in galvanized chain link or light ornamental steel, typically costs in the range of $1,200 to $3,000 installed in Metro Vancouver. The range reflects variation in material (chain link sitting at the lower end, heavier ornamental or custom fabrication at the higher end), hardware specification, and the post work required to support the gate’s weight and swing.
The arc clearance requirement for a swing gate is the most important site constraint to establish before committing to this configuration. If your driveway slopes upward from the street or has obstructions within the gate’s swing radius, a swing gate may require a custom design to avoid those constraints, which affects cost.
Double swing manual gate (wider openings)
A double swing gate uses two panels meeting in the middle to cover wider driveway openings, typically twelve to sixteen feet or more. Double swing configurations are the more common choice for larger residential driveways and properties where the symmetrical appearance of two matching panels is preferred aesthetically.
Manual double swing driveway gates in Metro Vancouver typically cost in the range of $2,500 to $5,000 installed depending on width, material, and hardware. The posts required for a double swing gate are heavier than those for a single panel, and the hinge hardware and balancing requirements are more complex. Both factors contribute to the higher cost relative to a single swing configuration.
Automated Driveway Gates: The Biggest Variable
Automation is where gate installation cost diverges most dramatically, and where the range within a single gate type is widest. Adding a motor and access control system to a driveway gate adds meaningful cost in materials, electrical work, and installation time, and the right automation specification for a basic residential driveway gate is very different from what is appropriate for a high-use commercial or strata property.
Automated single swing gate
An automated single swing driveway gate, covering a standard residential opening and fitted with a residential-grade hydraulic arm operator, keypad, and remote controls, typically costs in the range of $4,500 to $8,000 installed in Metro Vancouver. This covers a standard mild steel gate with galvanizing and powder coat. Wider openings, heavier gauge material, or ornamental detailing push toward the top of the range.
The gate operator alone accounts for a significant portion of this total. Gate operators for residential swing gates start around $1,500 for a basic hydraulic arm system and run to $4,000 and above for dual-arm systems with battery backup and smart home integration. A battery backup is worth specific mention for Vancouver: power outages during significant weather events are a real and recurring event in the Lower Mainland, and a gate that cannot be opened manually or by backup power during an outage is a genuine practical problem.
Automated double swing gate
Dual driveway swing gates covering a twelve to sixteen foot opening typically cost $6,000 to $12,000 for the gate fabrication and installation. Add automation and the total project cost including electrical can reach $15,000. The higher cost relative to a single swing automated gate reflects the need for two matched panels, two operators, coordinated hinge hardware, and the additional electrical work for a dual-motor system.
For properties where the gate sees frequent daily use, heavy-duty commercial-grade operators with higher-torque motors and more robust cycle ratings are a better long-term investment than residential-grade systems, even at a meaningful cost premium. An operator that is underspecified for its actual usage frequency will fail faster and cost more in repairs and replacement over time than one that was correctly specified at the outset.
Automated sliding gate
Sliding gate operators are slightly less expensive than swing gate operators, typically $1,200 to $3,000, because they drive a single panel on a track rather than controlling two swinging leaves. However, the track installation and the lateral clearance requirement, approximately one and a half times the opening width in clear fence line, add their own cost considerations that can make a sliding gate more expensive overall than a comparable swing configuration on some sites.
The right choice between sliding and swing automation depends primarily on your site geometry. If you have insufficient arc clearance for a swing gate, or if your driveway slopes significantly from the street, a sliding gate may be the only mechanically viable option regardless of relative cost. A site assessment establishes this before any specification decisions are made.
Access Control: What It Adds to Automated Gate Cost
The gate operator is the mechanical system that moves the gate. The access control system is what determines who can activate it, and the two are separate line items that are worth understanding independently.
Basic keypad and remote
The most cost-effective access control configuration for a residential automated gate is a keypad mounted at the gate entry and one or two remote controls. This setup is appropriate for most single-family residential applications where the primary users are household members who can be issued remotes or a code. It adds relatively little to the overall project cost and involves minimal ongoing maintenance.
Intercom and video entry systems
For properties where visitors need to request entry from a distance, an intercom or video intercom system adds both functionality and cost. Basic audio intercoms allowing two-way communication between the gate and the house typically add $1,000 to $2,000 to the project. Video intercom systems with remote viewing on a smartphone add more, typically in the range of $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the system and the cable run required to connect the gate to the house.
Smart home and keyless entry integration
For homeowners who want the gate integrated with a broader smart home system, or who want keyless entry options beyond a standard keypad, the access control specification becomes more complex and more expensive. These systems vary widely in both capability and cost and are best discussed during a consultation once the gate configuration itself has been established.
Garbage Enclosure and Commercial Property Gates
Commercial property and strata corporation gates differ from residential driveway gates in ways that affect both specification and cost. Higher daily usage, heavier vehicles accessing service areas, regulatory compliance requirements for access widths and security hardware, and the need for access control that accommodates multiple users rather than a single household all push commercial gate specifications beyond what residential products are designed to handle.
A basic commercial swing gate for a parking lot or storage yard access point, fabricated in galvanized chain link, typically starts in the range of $1,500 to $4,000 depending on width, height, and hardware. Automated commercial sliding gates for industrial yard access, like our installation for Tenold Transportation in Abbotsford, move into higher specifications with heavier-duty operators, CSA-compliant safety edges, and access control systems designed for multiple users.
Garbage enclosure gates, which are a specific and common commercial application across Metro Vancouver strata and commercial properties, are quoted as part of the broader enclosure project and are not typically priced as standalone gate installations. See our guide to [garbage enclosures in Vancouver] for more detail on this specific application.
What Moves a Gate Project Higher Than the Baseline
Within any of the price ranges above, several factors consistently push projects toward the upper end or beyond.
Custom fabrication requirements. A non-standard opening width, a specific design that does not correspond to a standard catalogue gate, or a match requirement against existing ornamental fencing all require custom fabrication rather than a standard product. Our in-house fabrication shop handles this, but custom work carries higher material and labour cost than a standard installation.
Post work on sites with no existing posts. The price ranges above assume appropriate gate posts are either already in place or will be installed as part of a concurrent fencing project. Installing new gate posts as a standalone item on a site where no existing posts are present adds concrete, post material, and setting time that is not reflected in the base gate price.
Electrical supply to automated gates. An automated gate needs a power supply. If your driveway gate location is close to your electrical panel and a straightforward run is possible, the electrical cost is modest. If a long cable run is required, if conduit needs to be installed through hard surfaces, or if a separate circuit is needed, the electrical component of the project can add meaningfully to the total. Remember to account for permit fees from $150 to $300, site preparation, and electrical upgrades in your budget.
Sloped driveways. A driveway that slopes significantly from the gate toward or away from the street complicates both swing gate clearance and sliding gate track installation. In some cases, a standard swing gate on a sloped driveway requires a custom design to prevent the panel from catching on the rising or falling grade. This is a site-specific factor that the assessment will identify.
Removal of an existing gate. Replacing an existing gate includes the cost of removing and disposing of the old gate and potentially the old posts if they are not suitable for reuse. This is not always included in a base gate price and should be confirmed during quoting.
What We Cannot Quote Without Seeing Your Site
The price ranges in this article give you a realistic planning framework, but they are not a substitute for an on-site assessment. The most important variables in gate pricing, the width of your opening, the specific geometry of your driveway, the soil conditions at the post locations, the distance from your electrical panel for automated projects, and any existing structure that affects gate configuration, all require eyes on the site to assess accurately.
What a free consultation produces is a quote specific to your property and your project scope, not a generic range that may or may not reflect what your installation will actually involve. That conversation is always the right starting point.
Every gate installation we complete is backed by our COR-certified safety standards and a 1-year parts and labour warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A standard galvanized chain link pedestrian gate is the most cost-effective option, typically in the range of $400 to $700 when installed as part of a fencing project. Manual driveway swing gates in galvanized chain link for standard residential openings typically start around $1,200 to $2,000 installed.
An automated single swing gate for a standard residential driveway typically costs between $4,500 and $8,000 installed in Metro Vancouver. An automated double swing gate covering a wider opening typically runs $6,000 to $12,000 and can reach $15,000 or more including electrical when fully specified. Sliding gate automation typically costs slightly less for the operator but has its own site-specific requirements.
The gate fabrication cost is broadly comparable between sliding and swing configurations of similar size and material. The operator for a sliding gate is generally slightly less expensive than a comparable swing gate operator. However, a sliding gate requires clear lateral space equal to approximately one and a half times the opening width, and the track installation adds cost not present in a swing gate project. The right configuration depends primarily on your site geometry rather than cost alone.
Automated gate installations that require electrical work may require an electrical permit. The gate structure itself generally does not require a separate building permit when it is within the standard fence height limits for its yard location. Permit requirements should be confirmed with your local building department for your specific project. Your contractor can advise during the consultation.
Commercial gates are generally specified to a heavier standard than residential ones, with heavier gauge fabrication, higher-cycle-rated operators, and more robust access control systems. This typically pushes commercial gate costs above comparable residential configurations. The specific cost depends on the width, height, material, operator, and access control requirements of the project and is best established through a site assessment.
For a standard residential driveway swing gate, the difference between a manual and automated installation is primarily the cost of the gate operator and the access control system, plus the electrical work to power them. This typically adds $2,000 to $5,000 or more to the gate installation cost depending on the operator specification and the electrical run required.
A standard manual pedestrian or driveway gate installation typically takes one day or less. Automated gate installations take longer due to the operator mounting, wiring, and commissioning involved. Custom fabricated gates require a fabrication lead time before installation can begin. Your project manager will confirm the full timeline during your consultation based on your specific project scope.
Measuring your opening width and confirming the location of your property line before the consultation saves time on site. If you have a preference for manual versus automated operation, a rough sense of your budget range, and any design references for the aesthetic you are looking for, bringing those to the conversation helps the assessment produce a more accurate and relevant recommendation.
Raybern Erectors has been designing and installing custom gates across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland since 1964. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation site consultation and estimate on your gate project.
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