Electric Gate Installation Cost in the UK: What Changes the Price
Electric gate quotes are hard to compare because two suppliers rarely price the same scope. One includes ducting, safety photocells and an intercom; the other quotes a gate and a motor and leaves the rest to your electrician.
This article breaks the cost into the parts that actually move the number, so you can read any quote — including ours — and know what is missing.
The five things that set the price
- Opening width and leaf height — the biggest single driver of both gate and motor cost.
- Infill density — solid or close-boarded leaves catch wind and need stronger posts and motors than slatted designs.
- Motor type — underground motors cost more than articulated arms but hide the hardware entirely.
- Groundworks and power — ducting under a driveway and a fused spur at the posts are real costs, not extras.
- Access control — keypad, fob, video intercom or app control each add to the bill and to day-to-day convenience.
Where people over-spend
Oversizing the motor for a heavy leaf is common, and it is usually a symptom rather than a solution. A lighter aluminium leaf of the same size lets you specify a smaller, quieter motor that will last longer because it is not working at the edge of its duty cycle.
The other avoidable cost is retrofitting power after the driveway is finished. If there is any chance of automating later, duct the cable run while the ground is open.
Where you should not save
Safety devices and a properly rated control board are not the place to trim a budget. Photocells, force limitation and a manual release are what make an electric gate legal to operate and safe around children, pets and delivery drivers.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you automate an existing gate?
- Often yes, if the leaf is straight, rigid and the posts are sound. We survey the hinges, posts and ground clearance first and tell you honestly whether automation is a good investment on that gate.
- Do electric gates work in a power cut?
- Yes. Every installation includes a manual release so the gate can be opened by hand, and battery backup can be added if you rely on the entrance daily.
- How long does an electric gate installation take?
- A typical domestic install is one to two days once groundworks and power are in place.