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What changes the cost of electric gates?
The cost of electric gates depends on whether they swing or slide, the size and material of the gates, the motor and safety devices, the power supply to the gate and the groundwork at the entrance. This page does not print a price, because we could not find two dated public sources that agree on one.
Last reviewed:What an electric gates price covers
Electric gates are two jobs in one: a gate, and a machine that moves it. A quote for a Cheshire driveway entrance will usually include the gates themselves, posts or pillars, the motor or motors, the control board, safety devices, the cable from the house, and the groundwork needed to fix it all in place. It may also include an intercom, keypad or phone control, and making good the drive afterwards.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns, and anyone in the UK can post a job. We have not printed a price on this page, because we could not find two dated public sources that agree on what electric gates cost. A made-up range would not help you compare real quotes. The sections below set out what changes the total, so that every quote you collect covers the same job.
Swing gates or sliding gates?
The first choice, and the one that shapes everything else, is how the gate opens.
Swing gates open like doors, as a single leaf or a pair. They need space on the drive to swing into, or occasionally out over a path where that is allowed. Each leaf hangs on a post or pillar strong enough to carry it, and each usually has its own motor. The motors can be arms fixed to the side of the gate or units hidden underground beneath the hinge.
Sliding gates move sideways along the boundary. They need a clear run alongside the opening at least as long as the gate, and usually a track or a foundation along that run. A single motor at one end drives the gate. A sliding gate can suit a sloping drive or a short drive where a swinging leaf would hit a car.
Neither is always the more costly choice. A sliding gate may need more groundwork. A pair of swing gates needs two motors and two sets of posts. Ask each installer which type suits your entrance, and ask them to price the same type so the quotes compare.
What changes an electric gates quote
| What changes | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Gate type | Swing and sliding gates need different motors, fixings and groundwork | Which type do you recommend for this entrance, and why? |
| Opening width and height | Bigger gates are heavier and need stronger motors and posts | What width and height have you priced? |
| Gate material | Timber, steel and aluminium differ in weight, finish and upkeep | What material and finish is included? |
| Posts or pillars | Existing pillars may not carry a heavy leaf | Will you use my pillars, or fit new posts? |
| Motor type | Arm motors, underground motors and sliding motors suit different sites | Which motor, and is it suited to the gate's weight and use? |
| Safety devices | Sensors and force limits stop the gate hurting someone [S1] [S2] | Which safety devices are included, and how do you test them? |
| Power supply | A new supply to the gate is electrical work [S5] | Who runs the cable, and how is it certified? |
| Groundwork | Tracks, foundations and ducting under the drive add labour | Is digging, ducting and making good included? |
| Access control | Remotes, keypads, intercoms and phone control vary | What controls are included, and how many remotes? |
| Old gates | Removal and disposal is extra work | Is taking the old gates away in the price? |
When one quote is much lower than another, compare it against this table. A missing line for the power supply, the safety devices or the groundwork usually explains the gap.
Safety: the part that must not be skipped
A powered gate is a heavy object that moves on its own. HSE's guidance on powered gates says safety comes from designing out hazards such as crushing points where gaps close, access to the mechanism, and gaps between a moving leaf and fixed parts [S1]. It calls for fixed guarding over drive gears, and for speed control, including deceleration near the end of travel where crushing hazards may arise [S1].
An HSE safety alert on electrically powered gates sets out actions to stop people being trapped and crushed [S2]. It says closing and opening forces should be measured with proper test equipment, that the gates should reverse if they hit someone or something, that sensors such as light beams should stop the gate when a person is detected, and that there must be an emergency release in case someone is trapped [S2].
HSE writes this guidance for the businesses that make, fit and look after gates, so it is a useful list of questions for you to ask:
- What safety devices will the gate have, and where will they be fitted?
- Will you measure the closing force with test equipment, and give me the results?
- What happens if the gate meets a person, a child's bike or a car?
- How do I release the gate by hand in a power cut or an emergency?
- What servicing do the safety devices need, and how often?
If an installer cannot answer these clearly, ask another one. This page gives no steps for fitting, adjusting or bypassing gate safety devices yourself.
The power supply
Every electric gate needs power at the gate. That usually means a cable from the house, run in a duct under the drive or along a wall, to an outdoor isolator and the gate's control board. Some systems use solar panels and batteries instead, which can suit a remote entrance but has its own limits.
The Planning Portal says that in England a complete new circuit is notifiable electrical work, and that a registered installer can self-certify it, while an unregistered installer has to tell building control before the work starts [S5]. Some gate companies do the electrical work themselves; others bring in an electrician. Ask who does it, and make sure the quote names how it will be certified.
Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician; NICEIC; NAPIT. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
You can look up a registered electrician through Electrical Safety First, the NICEIC or NAPIT.
Planning permission and building regulations
The gate structure and the electrics are treated differently.
For planning, the Planning Portal says you will not need permission for a new gate, or to alter one, if several conditions are met [S3]. On height, a gate next to a highway used by vehicles, or the footpath of such a highway, should not exceed one metre, and elsewhere it should not exceed two metres [S3]. The right to put up gates can be removed by an article four direction or a planning condition, and listed buildings have their own rules [S3]. A tall pair of gates right on a road boundary is the case to check with the council first.
For building regulations, the Planning Portal says fences, walls and gates do not need building regulations approval, but they must be structurally sound and maintained [S4]. The electrical supply is separate, as above [S5].
If you share the drive or the entrance, talk to your neighbours before you ask for quotes. This page does not decide who owns a boundary or a right of way.
Groundwork, pillars and the drive
Much of the hidden cost sits in the ground. A sliding gate may need a concrete foundation or a track along its full run. Underground swing motors need a pit at each hinge, with drainage so water does not collect around the motor. Cables need ducts under the drive.
Existing brick pillars may look solid but not be built to carry a heavy gate. Ask the installer whether they will use your pillars, strengthen them or fit steel posts. If a block paved or resin drive has to be lifted for ducting, ask who relays it and whether that is in the price.
How to compare electric gates quotes
Give every installer the same details, and ask for a written, itemised quote. Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is only a rough guess [S6]. It also suggests getting written quotes from more than one trader and asking to see their insurance [S6].
Each quote should state:
- The gate type, width, height, material and finish.
- The posts or pillars, and how they are fixed.
- The motor make and model, and the control board.
- Every safety device included, and how the gate will be tested.
- The power supply, who installs it and how it is certified.
- Groundwork, ducting and making good.
- Access controls and the number of remotes.
- Removal of old gates.
- Whether VAT is included. A business must register for VAT when its taxable turnover goes over £90,000 [S7].
- What servicing is recommended after installation.
Agree any extras in writing before they are done.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Want a pair of timber swing gates with motors on the existing brick pillars. Drive is block paved and about four metres wide at the entrance."
- "Looking for a sliding steel gate across a sloping drive. There is space beside the opening for it to slide back."
- "Electric gates fitted years ago have stopped closing properly. Would like them checked and quoted for repair or replacement."
Give the opening width, the slope of the drive, the gate type you want, where the nearest power is, and a few photos from the road and from the house side.
Get quotes for electric gates
Describe the entrance and your postcode. Up to five matched local businesses can send you a quote [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See electricians, fencing contractors and driveways and paving for the trades involved. The fencing cost guide and the driveway cost guide cover the boundary and the drive around the gate.
Questions about electric gates prices
How much do electric gates cost?
This page does not print a figure. Swing and sliding gates are built differently, gate size and material vary widely, and the power supply and groundwork can be a large part of the job. Ask for itemised written quotes for the same gate type, opening width and safety devices.
Are sliding gates or swing gates more expensive?
It depends on the site, so we do not say one is always more. Sliding gates need a clear run beside the opening and usually a track or foundation along it. Swing gates need room to open and strong posts or pillars. Ask each installer which suits your entrance and why.
Do electric gates need planning permission?
Often not, but height matters. The Planning Portal says a gate next to a highway used by vehicles, or its footpath, should not exceed one metre, and two metres elsewhere. Listed buildings, an article four direction or a planning condition can change that. Ask your council if unsure.
Are electric gates dangerous?
They can be if they are badly installed or maintained. HSE's guidance on powered gates says safety comes from designing out hazards such as crushing points where gaps close, access to the mechanism, and gaps between a moving leaf and fixed parts. Ask the installer how the gate will stop and reverse, and how they test it.
Who should wire the power to electric gates?
A registered electrician, or a gate installer who uses one. The Planning Portal says a complete new circuit is notifiable work in England, which a registered installer can self-certify. Ask who does the electrical work and what certificate you will get.
Do electric gates need servicing?
Ask the installer what servicing they recommend and whether they offer a service contract. HSE's guidance for powered gates covers safety devices and force limits, and those need checking over time. Keep the installer's paperwork and the manufacturer's instructions for the motor.
Does QuoteZila check the businesses?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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Related pages
- Electrician Costs in Cheshire: What Affects the Price. An electrician is around £400 a day in Federation of Master Builders guides. That is not a Cheshire price. Prices vary. QuoteZila does not set prices.
- Fire alarm installation: what to ask. Fire alarm work in Cheshire depends on the building and whether alarms are mains-powered. No installation price is printed. See what the quote should list.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ and app README.
- S1: Ensuring powered doors and gates are safe, HSE. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/powered-gates/safety.htm
- S2: Risks to pedestrians from crushing zones on electrically powered gates (2), HSE. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/electricgates2.htm
- S3: Planning permission: fences, gates and garden walls, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/fences-gates-and-garden-walls/planning-permission/
- S4: Building regulations: fences, gates and garden walls, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/fences-gates-and-garden-walls/building-regulations-general-information/
- S5: Electrics: building regulations general information, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electrics/building-regulations-general-information
- S6: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S7: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat