Low Cost Simple Main Gate Design for Home and Small Houses
- Designs
- 12
- Group
- By style
- Checked
- Oct 2026
A low cost simple main gate design does not have to look cheap. This page shows 12 original gates that use plain bars, flat sheet and light sections, each with notes to help your fabricator keep weight and cost down.
In a low-cost simple main gate design, most of the money goes into steel weight. Fewer bars, smaller sections where safe, and a straight top instead of an arch save the most. Paint, hinges and fitting are smaller parts of the bill.
Want a sharper look with the same budget? See the slat ideas in modern main gate design, and pick a colour from main gate colour design.
Simple Iron Main Gate Design With Plain Bars
Straight bars are the cheapest pattern to cut and weld, and they never look out of date. These are the simple main gate design for home picks most fabricators can build in two or three days.
| Size | 8 x 5.5 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40, 16 mm bars |
| Finish | Black enamel |
Evenly spaced square bars with a top and bottom rail. Nothing to break, rust or go out of style, so it suits any small house.
Fabricator tip: Keep bar gap at 90 to 100 mm, weld bars both sides, and use red oxide primer before paint.
| Size | 9 x 6 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40, 12 mm round |
| Finish | Dark green enamel |
Small cast spear tips on each bar add a finished look for very little extra cost. Dark green suits houses with plants and gardens.
Fabricator tip: Ask for tips welded, not screwed, and touch up the weld with primer after grinding.
| Size | 10 x 5 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 1.5 in pipe + frame |
| Finish | Grey enamel |
Five or six horizontal pipes make a modern, open gate with very little steel. Fine where privacy is not a worry, like a gated colony.
Fabricator tip: Plug the pipe ends with welded caps so rain water does not go inside and rust from within.
Main Gate Low Budget Simple Iron Gate Design
If you need a main gate low budget simple iron gate design, cut steel weight first. Lighter sections, fewer bars and plain enamel paint bring the bill down most.
| Size | 10 x 5 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 25x25 + 12 mm bars |
| Finish | Silver aluminium paint |
A thin frame with a single diagonal brace stays straight without heavy box sections. It is a sensible gate for a plot that will be built on later.
Fabricator tip: The brace must run from the bottom hinge corner up to the top latch corner, or the leaf will drop.
| Size | 8 x 5 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40, 18g band |
| Finish | Sky blue enamel |
A flat sheet band at waist height stops small animals and adds a little colour block. Sky blue is common on homes in hot regions because it stays cool.
Fabricator tip: One band of 18 gauge is enough here; full sheets add weight and cost without much gain.
| Size | 9 x 5.5 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40 + 25x5 flat |
| Finish | Brown enamel |
Flat strips are cheaper than tubes and look neat in a simple cross pattern. Good for a rented or ground floor house.
Fabricator tip: Flats bend easily, so weld every crossing point and keep panels no wider than 2 ft.
Small House Low Cost Simple Main Gate Design
On a narrow front, a small main gate design for home should open easily and leave room to walk. A small gate beside the main gate is often the best plan.
| Size | 8 + 3 ft, double+single |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40 + 16 mm bar |
| Finish | Black, gold tips |
The main leaves stay shut most of the day, and the small side gate handles walking in and out. It also saves wear on the big hinges.
Fabricator tip: Hang the small gate on its own pillar so its swing does not hit the main gate leaf.
| Size | 5 x 5.5 ft, single |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40 + 12 mm bar |
| Finish | Maroon enamel |
A single 5 ft leaf fits a row house where only a scooter needs to go in. It costs less because there is one leaf, one lock and fewer hinges.
Fabricator tip: Use three hinges and a wheel or a floor stopper at the free end so the leaf does not sag.
| Size | 9 x 6 ft, double+wicket |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40 + 16 mm bar |
| Finish | White enamel |
The small door inside one leaf gives walk-in access without a third pillar. Best when the frontage is too short for a separate side gate.
Fabricator tip: Frame the wicket opening with the same 40x40 section, and fit a separate latch and stopper.
Simple Sheet Gates and Gates With a Small Grill Top
A full sheet gate gives privacy for a modest cost. A small grill strip at the top lets air through and keeps the gate from looking like a wall.
| Size | 10 x 6 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40, 18g sheet |
| Finish | Dark grey enamel |
Plain sheet below and a one foot bar strip on top gives privacy and airflow. One of the best value gates for a house on a main road.
Fabricator tip: Add one horizontal stiffener in each leaf behind the sheet so it does not drum in wind.
| Size | 11 x 6 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40, ribbed sheet |
| Finish | Cream enamel |
Ribbed sheet is stiffer than flat sheet of the same gauge, so you can use thinner material. The cream colour hides dust well.
Fabricator tip: Ribs should run vertically so water drains down, not sit on the ribs and rust.
| Size | 9 x 6 ft, double |
|---|---|
| Material | MS 40x40, 16g sheet |
| Finish | Olive green enamel |
A row of small rectangular slots near the top gives a clean modern touch without a full grill. Slots can be cut with a plasma cutter at low cost.
Fabricator tip: Grind the slot edges smooth and prime them well; cut edges rust first.
How to Keep a Low Budget Main Gate Design Cheap and Strong
- Pick a straight top. Arches and curves need extra cutting and bending.
- Use the right section. 40x40 mm box frame with 12 to 16 mm bars is enough for gates up to 10 ft. Do not go thinner on the frame.
- Use enamel paint over primer. PU costs more; good enamel over red oxide or zinc primer lasts well on a simple gate.
- Buy fittings once. Cheap hinges wear out and the gate sags. Spend on good hinges and a solid drop bolt.
- Measure clear width. 8 to 10 ft for a small car, 3 to 4 ft for a walk-in gate.
Cost is worked out as total MS weight multiplied by the fabricator's rate per kg, plus paint, hinges, lock, fitting and transport. Ask for the weight in the quote. More detail is on our main gate price guide.
Simple Gate Sizes and Sections
| Gate | Clear width | Frame | Infill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-in gate | 3 to 4 ft | MS 25x25 or 40x40 | 12 mm bars |
| Scooter, single leaf | 4 to 6 ft | MS 40x40 | 12 to 16 mm bars |
| Small car, double | 8 to 10 ft | MS 40x40 | Bars or 18g sheet |
| SUV, double | 10 to 12 ft | MS 50x50 | Bars or 16g sheet |
Leave a 40 to 50 mm gap under the gate for rain water, and slope the ramp away from the house. For wider double leaves, see double door main gate designs.
Main gate questions
What is the cheapest simple main gate design?
A gate of plain vertical bars with a straight top and enamel paint is the cheapest that still lasts. A 40x40 frame with 12 mm bars keeps the weight low. Add a sheet band only if you need to stop small animals.
Is a modern low cost simple main gate design possible?
Yes. Horizontal pipes, a flat sheet with a small slot row, or plain bars in grey or black all look modern. The modern look comes from straight lines and one colour, not from costly work.
What size main gate design suits a small house?
For a scooter only, a single leaf of 4 to 6 ft is enough. For a small car, go for 8 to 10 ft double leaves. Add a small gate if the frontage allows, so you do not open the big gate every time.
Which is cheaper, a sheet gate or a bar gate?
For the same size, an 18 gauge sheet gate and a bar gate are close in weight. Sheet gives privacy; bars give air and light. A sheet below with a short bar strip on top is a good middle path.
How long will a low budget iron gate last?
Fifteen years or more if it is primed well, repainted every three to four years and kept off standing water. Most simple gates fail at the bottom rail, so keep the drain gap clear.
Can I add a small gate to my existing main gate later?
Usually yes. A fabricator can cut a wicket door into one leaf and frame it, or add a separate small gate on a new pillar. Check the old leaf for rust first; weak frames should not be cut.
