Low headroom sectional garage doors
A low headroom sectional garage door uses a track and spring arrangement that sits much closer to the ceiling, so it can be fitted where there is only a small gap between the top of the opening and the ceiling, beam or lintel. It suits garages under rooms, older garages with low ceilings and openings with steel beams just above.
- Rear-mounted springs: Moves the spring shaft away from the opening.
- Low headroom track: Tighter top radius so the door parks close to the ceiling.
- Matched operator: Operator and bracket suited to the low headroom set-up.
How much headroom does a standard door need?
Published figures for standard tracks run from about 100 mm to a little over 200 mm above the opening, depending on the range, the spring type, whether there is an operator and whether the door has a pass door. When that space is not there, a low headroom kit changes the track geometry and spring position to fit in less, with some systems quoting as little as 70 to 125 mm.
What changes on a low headroom door?
The springs may be moved to the rear of the tracks or replaced with a different spring system, and the top section follows a tighter path. The door works the same way from outside and looks the same.
Are there trade-offs?
Low headroom systems can cost more, can need a little more depth inside the garage, and some operators need a specific bracket or a different drive. We check all of this at survey.
What if there is almost no headroom?
If even a low headroom kit will not fit, a side sectional door, which parks against a wall, or a roller door are the alternatives we will talk you through.
Can a low headroom door be electric?
Yes. Operators are available for low headroom installations, though the operator position and rail length must suit the reduced space.
What options are there?
- Rear-mounted springsMoves the spring shaft away from the opening.
- Low headroom trackTighter top radius so the door parks close to the ceiling.
- Matched operatorOperator and bracket suited to the low headroom set-up.
Key facts
| Typical use | Ceilings, beams or rooms just above the opening |
|---|---|
| Headroom | From about 70–125 mm on some systems; measured at survey |
| Depth | May need slightly more depth inside the garage |
| Look from outside | Same as a standard sectional door |
| Guide price | £2,295–£3,295 inc VAT |
Who is it for?
Best suited to garages under bedrooms, garages with a beam above the opening and older garages with low ceilings.
Do I need permission?
Replacing a garage door does not normally need planning permission anywhere in the UK. The usual exceptions are listed buildings, conservation areas, Article 4 areas in England and newer estates where planning conditions restrict changes to garages. Planning rules by nation →
Questions people ask
How much is a low headroom sectional garage door?
Low headroom doors are typically around £2,295–£3,295 supplied and fitted, as the special track and spring parts add to the cost.
How little headroom can a sectional door work with?
It depends on the range and door size. Some low headroom systems quote figures from about 70 mm for manual doors, with more needed once an operator is added. The survey measures exactly what you have and matches a system to it.
Will a low headroom door look different?
From the outside it looks the same as any sectional door in the same finish.
What if a low headroom door still will not fit?
A side sectional door that slides along the wall, or a compact roller door, are the usual alternatives.
You might also need
Low headroom sectional garage doors near you
Choose your area for local details, nearby towns and planning contacts.
England
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Wales
Scotland
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Angus and Dundee
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Fife
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow and Dunbartonshire
- Highlands and Islands
- Lanarkshire
- Moray
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Scottish Borders
Northern Ireland
Ready for your low headroom sectional door?
Get a guide price in under a minute, then book a free survey for a fixed written price.