Do Driveway Gates Add Value to Your Home?
This driveway improvement could be the gateway to big financial returns
Highlights
Home Value Rating: 3/5
Driveway gates yield moderate returns that you can maximize with the help of a pro.
The return on investment (ROI) for a driveway gate is approximately 50%.
Many factors like materials, size, and location can impact the total value.
Investing in a high-quality, automatic driveway gate can increase your home’s curb appeal, ease of access, and safety, leading to a higher home value. You could see an ROI of roughly 50%, which amounts to $1,200 recouped for a typical $2,400 driveway gate.
The exact amount of value a driveway gate has to offer is dependent on the size, materials, location, quality, and more. Learn more about the ROI of driveway gates to see if it’s worth it to install driveway gates for your home.
Factors That Influence Driveway Gates Value
The value of installing a driveway gate on your property depends on several factors, including your location, gate size, gate type, and more. Let’s see how you can increase your ROI when installing a driveway gate.
Location
Driveway gates add security to your home, so if you live in an area where securing your home is a top priority, then you could see a higher ROI than, say, on a home in an area with low crime. Likewise, homes in rural settings could benefit from a driveway gate for other reasons entirely—a driveway gate can prevent livestock and pets from leaving the property. This could appeal to house hunters looking for ways to secure their properties.
Driveway Gates Size
Driveway gates come in all shapes and sizes, but most are 10 or 12 feet wide. Larger, custom driveway gates cost more to install and may have a higher ROI than smaller driveway gates. You'll also want to remember that wider driveways require more gate material, which can increase the value of your home along with the price of the driveway gates.
When looking at the resale value of your driveway gate, you’ll typically see an ROI of around 50%. That being said, here’s a breakdown of driveway gate sizes and possible resale values.
| Driveway Gate Size (linear feet) | Average Resale Value |
|---|---|
| 10 | $150–$2,500 |
| 12 | $180–$3,000 |
| 14 | $210–$3,500 |
| 16 | $240–$4,000 |
| 18 | $270–$4,500 |
Driveway Gates Type
There are two types of driveway gates: manual and automatic driveway gates. A manual gate requires you to get out of your car to open and close it, which could actually make your home less enticing to buyers. Meanwhile, an automatic driveway gate creates an easy way to get in and out of the driveway. For this reason, you could find automatic driveway gates offer the highest ROI.
At the same time, these gates come at a cost. Automatic driveway gates cost $1,600 to $4,800 more than manual driveway gates, so if you’re looking for a quick boost in your home value without investing as much money, then an automatic driveway gate might not be the best choice.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Whether you decide to install a driveway gate yourself or with the help of a pro can significantly impact the value of your finished project. Driveway gates are heavy and require professional know-how to get the most out of the installation. If you don’t know how to install an automatic gate opener, then a poor installation can detract from your curb appeal and even lead to improper installations that negatively impact the mechanisms of an automatic gate.
Because driveway gates have such a high up-front cost, you'll want to recoup as much as possible, so work with a gate installer near you to ensure a professional installation.
Construction and Materials
High-quality construction and materials may come at a higher cost, but the look of a luxurious build can make your home’s driveway gate a major selling point. Before you decide to invest, consider the potential ROI for splurging on materials. Vinyl driveway gates are the most budget-friendly to install but won’t necessarily offer the highest ROI, while aluminum will cost you the most but may come with a higher ROI.
Curb Appeal
By increasing your home’s curb appeal, you can potentially pull in more prospective buyers and increase the selling price of your home. Remodeling’s 2024 Cost vs. Value report suggests that 90% of home improvements with the highest ROIs were exterior projects, and driveway gates are no exception.
How to Estimate the Added Value of Driveway Gates
There’s not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to estimating the added value of a driveway gate. Every home is unique, and depending on where you live and other factors, it can be a little challenging to estimate how valuable this financial decision could be for your property. At the same time, there are several steps you can take to calculate a rough estimate, including:
Compare similar properties. Property websites aren’t just for pretending to shop for homes outside of your budget. You can also use cost information from these websites to compare homes with and without driveway gates and see if there’s a noticeable increase in prices for homes with driveway gates.
Consider market demand. While comparing properties, try to gauge if there’s a potential correlation between increased prices and driveway gates. This could mean gated driveways are in high demand in your area. Also, make note of how frequently you see homes that have driveway gates. Higher demand typically equates to a higher ROI.
Calculate the driveway gate cost against returns. In addition to materials, you’ll want to consider labor, permits, and other parts of your project’s scope and compare those expenses to any potential increase in property value.
Ask a real estate agent. Contact a local real estate agent to ask them about trends in the area for homes with driveway gates. They might have more intel on how much value a driveway gate could add to your home.
Get an appraisal. Work with a local property appraiser to conduct a professional assessment of your home’s value. Your appraiser can help estimate the potential ROI of installing a driveway gate and recommend other upgrades you can make to further increase your home’s value.
Cost to Install Driveway Gates
Driveway gates cost anywhere from $300 to $6,000, or an average of $2,400, depending on the type of gate you choose. Since most driveway gates fall between 10 and 12 feet wide, you’ll spend between $30 and $500 per linear foot to install one. If you spend $2,500 on a driveway gate, its resale value falls around $1,250. Automatic gates made with high-quality materials will give you the biggest recoupment.
Is Installing Driveway Gates Worth It?
Before installing a driveway gate, you’ll want to determine whether or not it makes sense for your budget. Because driveway gates have such high upfront costs, many homeowners might not find them to be worth the investment. If you can see a 50% ROI, however, you might find the investment to be well worth it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Increased property value | Costly investment |
| Secure parking | Manual gates may put off buyers |
| Added curb appeal | Can reduce yard space |
| Automatic gates are more convenient | May have local zoning and permit requirements |
| Added privacy | Increased maintenance |
How Angi Gets Its ROI Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners maximize the value of their investments, we gather ROI data from reputable sources, including industry reports, real estate studies, and interviews with market experts. We calculate the average resale value for projects by multiplying the ROI against the project’s average cost according to our cost data, which is sourced from thousands of real Angi customers.
Want to help us improve our data? Send us a recent project quote or home appraisal value to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Driveway gates can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years, depending on how well you maintain your gate, the material type, how frequently you use it, and whether you choose an automatic or manual gate. Automatic gates generally require more maintenance than manual gates due to their added sliding gate mechanisms, which can go out from frequent use.
Yes, driveway gates can help secure your home by deterring burglars from accessing your property. Climbing a gate slows down burglars while also attracting attention to your gate. If you live further down your property and want to increase security, you can also install a gate security camera that connects to your gate and monitors the area for suspicious activity.