Pricing checked: 12 August 2026. A standard pedestrian gate currently models at $650–$1,700 each, with $900 as the planning midpoint. A manual driveway gate uses a separate $2,200–$5,200 range. Automation, electrical work, access control and major groundwork are not assumed.
A gate is not simply a missing metre of fence. It is a moving structure with dedicated supports, hardware, clearances and a defined operating path. Cost should be built opening by opening, because a pedestrian gate, double swing driveway gate and automated slider share very little scope beyond the word “gate”.
Choose the opening system before comparing prices
| Gate type | Site requirement | Cost-sensitive components |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian swing | Clear walking width and room for the leaf to swing | Frame, infill, two posts, hinges, latch and stop |
| Single driveway swing | Large swing arc and a strong hinge-side foundation | Leaf stiffness, wind area, hinge post and ground stop |
| Double driveway swing | Two arcs plus a stable centre meeting point | Two leaves, hinges, latch, drop bolts and receivers |
| Tracked sliding | Level run-back beside the opening and a clean track zone | Track/ground beam, rollers, guides, catcher and drainage |
| Cantilever sliding | Longer run-back and substantial support foundation | Extended frame, carriage set, concrete and fabrication |
| Automated system | Safe movement zone, power and commissioning | Motor, controls, safety devices, cabling and servicing |
Geometry can rule out the cheapest-looking option
Measure the clear opening rather than the distance between uncertain existing posts. Then record driveway slope, cross-fall, kerbs, drainage channels, vehicle turning, pedestrian paths and the space available beside or behind the opening. A swing leaf that strikes rising ground is not fixed by buying a stronger hinge. A slider needs run-back beyond the opening; a cantilever frame is longer again because it includes a counterbalance section.
Existing fence integration also matters. A light residential fence post may not be a suitable hinge post for a wide solid gate. Reusing it can reduce the initial quote while creating movement, latch misalignment or foundation failure. Ask whether the price includes dedicated posts and how loads are transferred into the ground.
Material, infill and wind loading
An open tubular or picket gate allows air through and is relatively light. Close timber boards, aluminium slats or solid panels increase weight and wind area. The frame, hinges, posts, automation and foundations must match the completed leaf—not the bare frame shown in a product price. On exposed Auckland sites, a large solid swing gate can behave like a sail.
Matching a fence exactly may require custom fabrication, non-standard powder coating, selected timber boards or a stepped transition. If appearance matters, specify the view from both sides, the board or slat spacing, top line, frame visibility and colour. If repairability matters, ask whether infill and hardware can be replaced independently.
Automation is a safety and electrical package
Automation adds more than a motor. A complete scope can include a dedicated electrical supply, isolator, underground ducts, controller, remotes, keypad or intercom, photocells, safety edges, warning devices, manual release and commissioning. WorkSafe New Zealand has warned that automated gates can create crushing and trapping hazards during opening as well as closing, and recommends risk-appropriate detection, warning, emergency stop and release measures.
Ask who designs the safety system, who completes electrical work, what happens during a power failure, where the manual release is located and what servicing the manufacturer requires. For a business, school or shared driveway, usage cycles and pedestrian interaction can be more important than residential convenience features.
Illustrative planning examples
Side access: one pedestrian gate at the structured midpoint creates a $900 opening allowance before any unusual post foundation, lock, pool hardware or custom finish. The adjoining fence metres should be priced separately.
Manual driveway entrance: the $3,200 midpoint is suitable only for early budgeting. A sloping driveway that requires custom leaves, deeper foundations or a sliding solution can move outside the range even without automation.
Automated sliding entrance: do not add a generic motor allowance to the manual gate midpoint. Obtain a complete proposal for frame, track or cantilever hardware, concrete, power, controls, safety, access control and commissioning. Public Auckland guides show wide price variation because those scopes differ.
Pool gates require a different brief
A gate forming part of a residential pool barrier must be designed and installed as part of the compliant barrier. Building Code F9 guidance includes gate direction, self-closing and self-latching performance, climb-zone and dimensional requirements. A general pedestrian gate price is not evidence of pool compliance. Start with the pool fencing regulation page and use the pool fence calculator for the complete barrier.
What an itemised gate quotation should show
- Clear opening, leaf dimensions, operating direction and run-back or swing envelope.
- Frame material, infill, finish, wind assumption and total gate weight where relevant.
- Post sections, foundations, track/beam, drainage, guides, stops and catchers.
- Hinges, latch, lock, drop bolts and replaceable wear components.
- Automation equipment, power boundary, safety devices, controls and manual release.
- Demolition, temporary security, paving cuts, reinstatement, commissioning and handover.
- GST, fabrication drawings, lead time, warranty and maintenance responsibilities.
Explore materials and gate formats on Gates Auckland. Add openings to the fence cost calculator, but use a site-specific gate quotation for the final budget. For a complete opening specification and matched fence scope, submit dimensions and photographs through the quote form.
Sources and limits
Pedestrian gate data: TradieSync gate range and current Auckland market review. Manual driveway gate data: Current Auckland gate contractor market review. Both checked 12 August 2026. Safety reference: WorkSafe automated gates safety alert. Figures are planning ranges, not installed offers.