The Short Answer
On our estimates, a pair of electric swing gates costs about £2,500 to £5,500 supplied and installed, with motors and controls. A sliding gate, which needs a track and space beside the opening, is £3,500 to £7,500. Automating gates you already have is £1,200 to £3,500. Fitting usually takes one to two days.
The motor type moves the price most: underground motors are the dearest. Get power to the gate sorted first, and ask for the safety devices in writing.
Electric gate prices
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Pair of swing gates, automated | £2,500 to £5,500 |
| Sliding gate, automated | £3,500 to £7,500 |
| Automate existing gates | £1,200 to £3,500 |
Swing or sliding?
- Swing: simpler and usually cheaper, with less groundwork. They need clearance to open, don't work on a sloping drive, and large solid gates can struggle in the wind.
- Sliding: don't open into the drive, so they suit short or sloping drives and large, heavy gates. They need space to the side to slide into, cost more to automate, and usually need more groundwork and maintenance.
- Bifold: swing gates that fold in the middle, so they need less space, but they run on a track that has to be kept clean.
Which motor?
Swing gates can be driven several ways:
- Ram (hydraulic) arms on the gate pillars: reliable and good for heavy steel or hardwood gates, but they need strong pillars and are quite visible.
- Threaded-shaft motors: look like rams and are the cheaper, simpler option, but aren't the best for heavy gates and wear faster with frequent use.
- Articulated arms on the wall beside the gate: easy to fit with fewer structural changes, but visible, need more space and suit lighter gates.
- Underground motors buried at the base of the pillars: hidden and quieter, but the dearest, more complex to fit, dearer to maintain, and impossible where there's no room to dig.
Sliding gates come with their own motor. I'd match the motor to the weight of the gate first and the looks second.
What the quote should include
Ask for an itemised quote that covers the gates, the motors and automation, any intercom, the electrical work, groundworks, testing and commissioning, taking away waste, and whether VAT is included. Also ask:
- whether a servicing or maintenance plan is available;
- where the manual release key is kept and how to open the gates in a power cut;
- how the installation meets current safety requirements.
To keep the cost down: standard sizes, simpler designs, fewer access points and intercoms, and visible motors instead of concealed ones.
Safety
Automated gates can trap, crush or drag someone. Gate Safe, the charity that campaigns on gate safety, says every automated gate should have at least two different types of safety device: photocells, light curtains or laser scanners, plus pressure edges. It also says gates should be inspected by a trained installer, usually every six months. I'd ask for both in the quote, and for a service plan.
Planning
Gates can be up to 2m high without planning permission, or 1m next to a road used by vehicles; anything at a listed building needs consent. More on our fencing page. Driveway gates beside a road used by vehicles fall under the lower limit.
Manual gates
For timber or metal gates you open by hand, see garden gates.
Get electric gates quotes
Electric gates are priced by type, width and the groundwork for power and motors.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do electric gates cost?
On our estimates, about £2,500 to £5,500 for a pair of automated swing gates and £3,500 to £7,500 for a sliding gate, installed.
How much does it cost to automate existing gates?
About £1,200 to £3,500 on our estimates, if the gates and posts are strong enough to take motors.
Do electric gates need planning permission?
If they're over 1m high next to a road used by vehicles, or 2m elsewhere, yes. Listed buildings need consent.
Are swing or sliding gates better?
Swing gates are simpler and usually cheaper; sliding gates suit short or sloping drives and heavy gates.
Can electric gates be opened in a power cut?
Yes, with a manual release. Ask the installer where the release key is kept and how to use it.
What is the best motor for electric gates?
It depends on the gate: rams suit heavy gates on strong pillars; articulated arms are easy to fit on lighter gates; underground motors are hidden but cost the most to fit and maintain.
How long does it take to install electric gates?
Usually one to two days of work on site.
How we priced thisView sources (2, 1 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 2 (gates, fences, walls; means of access), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryHow to ensure your electric gate is safe, Gate Safe. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
