Interior designers have long held sway over how homeowners present the rooms in their houses. Exteriors, aside from those in high-end homes or estates, have generally received less thought other than to make sure that all elements were in good repair. However, over the years, the exterior image of your residence has become just as important as the interior. Curb appeal is more than just a buzz phrase. Gone are the days when homeowners would slap any old door on their garages when the time came for replacement. With virtually all new homes in the United States sporting attached garages that are part of the building’s front facade, selecting a garage door to match your residence’s architecture has become not only a trend but a necessity. Imagine placing a modern aluminum and glass door on a Tudor-style home or a barn door garage on a contemporary residence. Not only do these scenarios not work, but they also make the element look decidedly out of place. Different garage door styles are available to make the look of your homes exterior stand out.
This guide will help you identify what different styles of garage doors look like, what types and materials they come in, options, and how much you can expect to pay. By the time you finish reading, you should know what style and type of garage door will work best for your home. When selecting your door, consider its functionality. It should match your lifestyle, be durable and provide privacy, and provide curb appeal that when you choose a design that complements your home. Note that all of these styles can have automatic garage door openers attached.
Garage Door Styles
The following images provide a quick overview of the various different styles of residential garage doors available to buy in the US currently.
- Wood Style Garage Doors
- Mediterranean Style Garage Doors
- French Style Garage Doors
- Mission Style Garage Doors
- Colonial Style Garage Doors
- Ranch Style Garage Doors
- Farmhouse Style Garage Doors
- Cottage Style Garage Doors
- Barn Door Style and Carriage House Style Garage Doors
- Shaker Style Garage Doors
- Contemporary Style Garage Doors
- Modern Style Garage Doors
- Spanish Style Garage Doors
- Craftsman Style Garage Doors
Craftsman Style Garage Doors
The Craftsman architectural style, which grew out of the British Arts and Crafts movement and the American Arts and Crafts movement, was a response to what many considered the over ornamentation of Victorian design. Craftsman doors have a distinctly crafted look that emphasizes straight lines. Raised or exposed beams, such as a lintel over the garage door and raised boards on the door itself, are common, as well as horizontal lines with a simplicity of form. These doors often have a boxy look and can go well with many different types of architecture.
Brands Who Supply Craftsman Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Sectional
- Tilt-Up/Up and Over
Materials
- Wood
- Steel
- Composite
- Fiberglass
Price Range
Generally, these doors are medium-priced. Expect to pay $1,000 to $3,000 for a two-car garage, depending on the features and materials chosen.
Spanish Style Garage Doors
Spanished-influenced architecture is characterized by white plaster walls and terracotta tile roofs along with iron forged balconies. Garage doors in this style usually have decorative iron clavos. Manufacturers typically use distressed rustic woods such as cedar and alder. Because the exterior walls of Spanish homes are white or tan with brown and red accents, garage doors are usually made in dark colors to provide contrast. Lines are also straight. Recessed panel designs often go well with Spanish architecture.
Brands Who Supply Spanish Style Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- Wayne Dalton Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Sectional
- Side-hinged/Carriage house
Materials
- Steel
- Fiberglass
- Wood
Price Range
As wood is a popular material in this style, homeowners can expect to pay more money. Prices range from $1,500 to about $5,000.
Modern Style Garage Doors
You may think that modern and contemporary garage doors are the same, but subtle differences characterize both types. Modern design describes a specific period from the early to mid 20th century, but it’s a precursor to contemporary design. Modern design is minimalist with crisp lines and balance and encompasses mid-century modern, an architectural style popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
Brands Who Stock Modern Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
- Wayne Dalton Garage Doors
- Raynor Garage Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Sectional
- Bi-fold
- Slide-to-the-side
Materials
- Aluminum
- Glass
- Steel
- Fiberglass
- Wood composite
Price Range
You’ll find a wide price range here, depending on what you want to achieve with your door. Some “wow” materials and designs may cost more. Expect to spend at least $1,500 and up to about $7,000.
Contemporary Style Garage Doors
Contemporary architecture doesn’t refer to a specific period but reflects the aesthetics of the present day, borrowing from modernism, minimalism, Art Deco and other styles. These doors usually have simple lines but make a bold statement and attract attention to your home and offer more creativity and striking elements than other styles. They often incorporate lots of natural light, which is why you’ll see contemporary doors incorporating glass.
Many contemporary garage door styles feature large windows, which come in a variety of configurations.
Brands Who Have Contemporary Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
- Wayne Dalton Garage Doors
- Raynor Garage Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
- Roll-up
- Slide-to-the-side
- Bi-fold
Materials
Combinations are popular for contemporary garage doors and include:
- Aluminum and glass
- Wood and steel
- Wood and copper
- Wood and zinc
Price Range
These doors are pricier than most others, somewhat because they are frequently custom products but also because of the materials used. Their placement as a feature on high-end homes can also affect the price. Expect to spend $3,000 and up, with some high-end custom products ranging $10,000.
Shaker Style Garage Doors
The Shaker style of architecture is similar to craftsman but predates it. Clean, simple lines characterize these garage doors with an emphasis on craftsmanship. Shaker styles are simple as they reflect the concepts of order, utility, and durability embodied by the religious clan from which this style gets its name. A lack of ornamentation characterizes them. Manufacturers mimic this style through stamped designs on panels.
Brands Who Stock Shaker Style Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
Materials
- Wood
- Wood composite
Price Range
Even though Shaker style doors evoke a simpler era, they can get rather pricey depending on the material used along with the options. Price can range from $1,000 to $7,000.
Barn Door Style and Carriage House Style Garage Doors
These two styles are virtually the same. While larger ones may resemble doors that one would find on barns, smaller ones tend to look like the carriage house doors from the Victorian era that would swing outward to allow horses pulling carriages to enter and exit. True carriage doors require specialized automatic openers the make both sides of the entrance open simultaneously. Barn door styles that remain true to their heritage usually are custom-made. While wood and wrought iron hardware are the original materials, many homeowners opt for wood composites and other metals for a less expensive and lighter yet authentic look.
More often, you’ll hear this style referred to as carriage house. While carriage style doors are ideal for rustic and older houses, they also complement a variety of architectures, providing a pleasant contrast because of their versatile designs, which can incorporate various types of windows along with decorative hardware. Instead of traditional doors that swing out, most carriage style garage doors take advantage of modern accommodation and open overhead, using typical track door openers.
Brands Who You Can Buy Barn Style Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- The Overhead Door Company
- Wayne Dalton Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
- Raynor Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
- Barn door/side-hinged
Materials
- Wood
- Composite
- Galvanized steel
Price Range
Unless you plan to install a massive, traditional barn door made of wood, these popular garage doors pretty much fall in the middle range. Expect to pay somewhere between $1,000 to $4,500, with custom doors costing more.
Cottage Style Garage Doors
This style is a derivative of carriage house style garage doors, featuring an old-fashioned feeling. Cottages generally have a lot of character despite their small size, so do the garage door styles that match them. Cottage style doors are appropriate for homes near the ocean or a lake and often have two-toned exteriors with raised board or panels in a darker or lighter contrasting color to provide interest.
Brands Who Have Cottage Style Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- The Overhead Door Company
- Wayne Dalton Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
- Raynor Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
- Side-hinged/Carriage house
- Up and over
Materials
- Steel
- Wood
- Fiberglass
Price Range
As some cottages may only have single car garages, these doors may be less expensive, starting at about $700 to about $3,500. Homeowners living near coastal areas may want to think about adding wind load protection for tropical storms, which can add to the door’s overall cost.
Farmhouse Style Garage Doors
Farmhouse style has been a staple in American architecture for as long as colonial style. Its look is similar to vintage carriage house and ranges from painted white classic doors to sleep modern glass. In other words, you’ll find no set style for farmhouse garage doors as homeowners tend to go with styles that best fit their homes best. Natural light, achieved by incorporating lots of windows into the door, gives the door rustic warmth. Painted finishes are common. You can choose a color similar to your home for continuity or a complementary base color with an accent overlay for added interest. Unlike traditional farmhouse garage doors, contemporary ones can have an extra layer of insulation for protection, which increases energy efficiency.
Brands Who Stock Farmhouse Style Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- The Overhead Door Company
- Wayne Dalton Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
- Raynor Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
- Side-hinge/Barn door
Materials
- Steel
- Wood
- Fiberglass
- Composite
Price Range
As these garage doors are derivative of carriage house styles, you can expect prices to be similar, ranging from about $1,000 to $4,000.
Ranch Style Garage Doors
Ranch style homes in the United States arose out of Spanish Colonial architecture characterized by wide eaves and low rooflines. A variety of materials, typically wood, brick, stone and stucco, characterize exterior construction along with lots of windows. Ranch homes were among the first in the United States to have attached garages. Because of the range of influences, ranch style garage doors can accommodate many different looks.
Brands Who Keep Ranch Style Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- Overhead Garage Door Company
Popular Types
- Panel
- Side-hinged/carriage house
- Tilt-Up/Up and Over Canopy
Materials
- Wood
- Wood composite
- Steel
- Aluminum
Price Range
You’ll spend about $800 to $1,500 with some variations on either end.
Colonial Style Garage Doors
These doors emphasize natural and traditional elements and the balance found in colonial architecture, which is characterized by symmetrical facades and rectangular shapes. They offer an eye-catching look with durable construction. Often, colonial style doors have raised panels for a classic look, and home with a variety of window styles, including double-top, decorative and architectural.
Brands Who Will Sell Colonial Style Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- The Overhead Door Company
- Wayne Dalton Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
- Raynor Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
- Side-hinged/Carriage house
Materials
- Steel
- Fiberglass
- Composite
Price Range
These garage doors have competitive prices ranging from about $1,000 to $4,000.
Mission Style Garage Doors
Mission style garage doors reflect the mixture between colonial revivalism and 19th-century Spanish mission architecture in California. Imagine California or somewhere in the southwest in the 1850s, and that’s the style you get. Spanish heritage has a big influence on the style, so expect arches entryways for garage doors and natural materials.
Brands Who Have Mission Style Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- Wayne Dalton Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Sectional
- Side-hinged/Carriage house
Materials
- Steel
- Fiberglass
- Wood
Price Range
These doors are competitively priced, ranging from approximately $1,000 to $3,000.
French Garage Door Styles
French style garage doors have a decidedly Old World flavor, inspired by art and the French countryside. Like shabby chic and American farmhouse style, French style garage doors are an ideal complement to stone facades. They almost always incorporate natural materials such as distressed or reclaimed wood and rustic and ornate iron hardware that complements the door and the home’s architecture. For those who choose this style, it’s more than just a garage door. It’s an architectural element.
Brands
These doors are generally specialty products, so you’ll probably have to go with a small manufacturer who makes custom doors. Manufacturers are often local, building in areas with high-end homes, so if you are interested in doors of this type, you may want to perform a local search.
Popular Styles
- Side-hinged/Barndoor
- Sectional
- Tilt-up/Up and over Canopy
Materials
- Wood
Price Range
As these are almost always custom projects, expect the prices that custom commands.
Mediterranean Garage Door Styles
This eclectic design style is popular in coastal communities in California and Florida, along with other warm areas such as Arizona, where people tend to build custom homes. Mediterranean garage doors incorporate intricate details that indicate an affinity for luxury. Because of the custom nature of these residences, their accompanying garage doors are also generally custom made, often with exotic woods. These garage doors are ideal for large, sprawling residences that have garages housing more than two vehicles and evoke a scenario of Italian castles and villas as well as simpler times.
Brands Who Stock Mediterranean Style Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- Wayne Dalton Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
- Side-hinged/Carriage house
Materials
- Wood
- Wood Composite
Price Range
As these are mostly custom creations, expect to pay $4,000 and up.
Wood Style Garage Doors
Also called faux wood doors, wood-style garage doors have the look of wood without the high maintenance. Made of aluminum, steel or fiberglass, they have a composite overlay with a stamped surface that mimics wood grain and texture. These doors provide the ideal blend of fashion and function and may be easily used with automatic garage door openers. Sometimes exterior cladding uses real wood pieces to make the overall effect seem more real. Another advantage of wood-style doors is that you won’t have to pay exorbitant prices that some types of wood command.
In addition to requiring less care, faux wood doors offer other advantages over real wood that include:
- Easier to clean
- Resists damage like dings and crack
- Tend to last longer
- More weather-resistant as they don’t rot, bow, warp or rust
- Lightweight
- Available in a variety of colors and finishes
Brands Who Sell Wood Effect Garage Doors
- Clopay Garage Doors
- The Overhead Door Company
- Wayne Dalton Doors
- Amarr Garage Doors
- CHI Garage Doors
- Raynor Garage Doors
Popular Types
- Panel
- Side-hinge/carriage house
Materials
- Fiberglass
- Wood composite
- Steel
Price Range
Even though wood look doors are generally less expensive than real wood doors, the price range is wide, ranging from about $1,000 for a single door to $10,000 and more depending on the type of features included.
