Two single garage doors vs one double: the comparison
Same two-car garage, two different setups. Here is how they stack up on the factors homeowners actually weigh.
| Two Single Doors | One Double Door | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Two 8 to 9-ft openings, separated by a structural post | One 12 to 18-ft opening, no centre post |
| Parking | Each vehicle uses its own bay; tight for wide trucks and SUVs | One wide opening; easier entry and exit for larger vehicles |
| Curb appeal | Traditional look; reads as original construction to many buyers | Reads current and updated; a common resale upgrade |
| Heat loss | Two smaller doors, two sets of seals and tracks | One larger panel; insulation rating matters more than door count |
| Redundancy | If one door or opener fails, the other bay still works | One door, one opener; a failure affects the whole garage |
| Cost | Replacing each door separately typically runs $2,000 to $4,500 CAD installed, per door | Replacing a double door in an existing double opening typically runs $2,000 to $4,500 CAD installed; converting two singles into one wide opening is a separate structural job, priced below |
Widths and prices are typical GTA ranges for planning purposes, not a quote for your specific garage. For exact size options by garage type, see our double garage door sizes guide.
What does a single or double garage door cost?
Two different price tags apply here, and they get confused often. A straight door replacement, in an opening already sized for it, is one job. Converting two single openings into one wide opening is a different, structural job.
A new insulated double door, installed in an opening already sized for it, typically runs $2,000 to $4,500 CAD in the GTA. That is a typical range for planning purposes, not a quote for your model.
$16,000 – $18,000
CAD, all-in · converting two single doors into one wide double · bump-out or detached garage · nothing load-bearing above the opening
That all-in band covers the structural assessment, engineering, centre post removal, the engineered beam, exterior finishing, and a custom-width double door. Municipal permit fees, typically a few hundred dollars, are extra. If a room sits above the opening, the beam design changes and the price is confirmed at a free assessment. See the full breakdown on the cost guide.
Does a wider garage door add resale value?
Industry Cost vs Value reporting has repeatedly ranked garage door replacement among the top-ROI projects a homeowner can make, often ahead of kitchen and bathroom updates. That data is directional and US-derived, so treat it as a general signal rather than a Canadian appraisal figure.
What we see across GTA listings lines up with that direction: one modern insulated wide door photographs better, reads newer, and makes two-vehicle parking look easier than two narrower doors flanking a visible post. Some buyers still prefer the look of two separate doors, so it is not a universal answer, but for most two-car GTA garages the wide door reads as the upgrade.
Already have two single garage doors?
If your garage already has two single doors and you want the double-door look and parking, converting them into one wide opening is a defined, permitted process, not a full renovation. The centre post comes out, an engineered beam replaces it under a municipal building permit, and a custom-width door goes in.
See the full step-by-step process, the exact price breakdown, and municipal permit details on converting two single garage doors into one. For representative profiles of this conversion by structure type, see our projects page.
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Single vs double questions, answered plainly
Does a single or double garage door add more resale value?
Most GTA buyers respond better to one modern double door: it reads current, parks two vehicles more easily, and photographs better for listings. Industry Cost vs Value reporting has repeatedly ranked garage door replacement among the highest-ROI home projects, though that data is directional and US-derived. Two single doors keep their own appeal for buyers who value redundancy over a wide opening. .
Can I convert my two single garage doors into one double?
In almost every case, yes. Converting two single garage doors into one wide opening means removing the centre post, installing an engineered beam under a municipal permit, and fitting a custom-width door. Where nothing load-bearing sits above the opening, such as a bump-out or detached garage, the all-in price is $16,000 to $18,000 CAD; a room above changes the beam design and is priced at a free assessment. .
Is one double garage door cheaper to maintain than two singles?
Generally, yes, on an ongoing basis: one door means one set of springs, cables, and an opener to service instead of two. Two single doors offer a different advantage, redundancy, since a spring or opener failure on one door still leaves the other working. Upfront, replacing a single door is usually cheaper than converting two openings into one wide opening. .
Do double garage doors lose more heat than two single doors?
It's a fair question, and buyers raise it. A single wide door does have more panel surface area than one narrow door, but it also has one continuous seal and one track system instead of two, so a modern insulated double door often performs comparably to two older single doors on total heat loss. Door insulation rating matters more than door count. .
What widths do double garage doors come in?
Standard double garage doors typically run 12 to 18 feet wide, with 16 feet the most common size for a two-car garage. When two single doors are converted into one, the resulting opening is often wider than a standard 16-foot door, so the new door is frequently custom-width. .
Is one double door or two single doors more secure?
Two single doors give you redundancy, not necessarily more security: if a break-in targets a garage door, panel type and locking hardware matter more than door count. A wide double door with a quality opener and auto-reverse safety sensors is not inherently less secure than two narrower doors. .
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