Custom garage doors
Garage door decorative hardware from $30 to over $600 a door.
Handles, strap hinges and trim are how a plain steel door gets its carriage-house look. The same look can cost about $30 a door or more than $600, and we’ll help you figure out where yours should land.
Quickest is a call: (615) 810-6415
Why does the same look cost so much more?
Because “the same look” hides a lot of differences. From the street, a light set and a heavy forged one can read alike; up close, the material, the finish, the size of each piece and how many go on the door are what separate a $30 door from a $600 one.
That’s quite a range, and it’s why we match the style to the budget before anything is ordered. The hardware also has to suit the door under it. A set that looks right on a Carriage House Doors wood door can look lost on a modern flush panel, which is why Clay Caro curates handles alongside the wood finishes and stains.
Magnetic or permanent?
Permanent, for most people. Exterior trim comes both ways now, a bit like wallpaper. Magnetic trim is the renter-friendly option, or a way to try a look out, or to dress up the house for a sale.
The catch is that a garage door is almost always on the move, and every trip flexes the sections around the curve of the track. That’s why we recommend permanent hardware fastened to the door. Magnets riding through that motion day after day are a poor bet to stay where you put them.
Where does the hardware go?
On a carriage-house design, the handles usually sit near the center of the door at about hand height, with strap hinges at the outer edges of the sections, so the door reads as a pair of swing-out doors meeting in the middle. On a double door that’s often two sets, one for each “leaf” the design suggests.
Each piece has to sit within a single section, never across the joint between two, because the sections hinge apart as the door rolls over the top of the track. Every fastener also has to land where the door can hold it. That’s the part to leave to us, even when you pick the pieces yourself.
Can you find vintage trim?
Yes. Everybody knows the carriage-house set, but some very good vintage trim looks are coming back, and you won’t find most of them in an online door designer. If you have something particular in mind, describe it or send a picture to Clay or Chad, and we’ll track down the pieces. A pin from Pinterest or a screenshot from Instagram is plenty; our own boards are at pinterest.com/kingdomgaragedoors.
Bring us the house, too. Vintage trim tends to look best on a house with some age to it, and a style that suits a 1950s ranch can look odd on a new build in a subdivision that went up last year.
Hardware is one part of a door built to order; the rest is on the custom garage doors page. A door with no glass gives it the most room to work, which is one more argument for a solid door.
Answers
Garage door decorative hardware: questions people ask
How much does decorative garage door hardware cost?
For the same basic look, from about $30 to more than $600 per door. Where a set lands depends on the material, the finish, the size of the pieces and how many go on each door. We help you settle the style first, then the price point that fits it.
Do magnetic garage door handles and hinges stay on?
They can shift or fall off over time, because a garage door flexes and moves every time it opens and closes. Magnetic trim is fine for a rental or a short-term look, like staging a house to sell. For a door you own, we recommend permanent hardware fastened to the door.
Can you add decorative hardware to an existing garage door?
Yes. Handles, strap hinges and trim go on most existing steel and wood doors, so a plain door can get a carriage-house look without being replaced. We check how the door is built first, so the fasteners go into material that will hold them.
What styles of decorative garage door hardware are there?
The classic is carriage-house style: handles and strap hinges that make an overhead door look like a pair of swing-out barn doors. Beyond that, vintage trim looks are coming back into style, most of which the online design tools don’t show, and simpler modern pulls suit contemporary doors.
Is decorative hardware worth it on a garage door?
For the money, it’s one of the simpler ways to change the front of a house without replacing the door. Even the $30-a-door end of the range changes how the door reads from the street, and the higher end adds weight and detail you notice up close.