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Dog Door for Garage: 3 Ways to Add One (and the Door You Shouldn't Cut)
The best place for a garage dog door is an exterior garage wall or the garage's side (service) door. Both take a standard wall-mount or door-mount pet door and let your dog get from the garage to the yard. Overhead garage doors are a poor fit for regular pet doors, and the door between the garage and your house is usually a fire-rated door that shouldn't be cut.
Your options at a glance
| Location | Works? | Pet door to use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior garage wall | Yes, often the best choice | Wall-mount dog door | Put it where it suits the yard; unfinished garage walls are easier to cut |
| Garage side (service) door | Yes | Door-mount dog door | Door must be 1 1/4" to 2" thick; easiest DIY |
| Overhead garage door | Not recommended | Ask your garage door maker | Thin panels that roll up and flex |
| Door from the garage into the house | No | - | Usually required to be fire-rated and self-closing |
Option 1: Through an exterior garage wall
A wall-mount pet door goes through the wall with a tunnel that lines the opening, so you can put it wherever it opens onto the yard or dog run. Many garages have bare studs on the inside, which makes this one of the easier wall installs: there's no drywall to cut and you can see the framing, wiring and pipes before you start.
- SB Standard Wall Mount: walls 2" to 10" thick; the lowest-cost wall door.
- MaxSeal Wall Mount and MaxSeal PRO for Walls: trim-to-fit 10" or 16" tunnel; insulated flaps; sizes up to 15.75" x 32".
- SB72W Insulated Wall Mount: aluminum-clad flap for dogs that chew flaps and very cold climates.
Step by step: how to install a dog door in a wall.
Option 2: In the garage side door
If your garage has a side or service door to the yard, a door-mount pet door is the simplest install. Security Boss door mounts fit doors 1 1/4" to 2" thick. Keep the opening at least 3" from the edges of the door.
- SB Standard Door Mount from $181
- MaxSeal Door Mount from $229
- MaxSeal PRO for Doors from $238
Garage side doors are often steel. That's fine, see how to put a dog door in a metal door.
Option 3: The overhead garage door (why we don't recommend it)
Overhead garage doors are made of thin panels that roll up on tracks and flex as they move. Standard door-mount pet doors are built for solid doors 1 1/4" to 2" thick, and cutting a garage door section can weaken it and affect how it rolls. If you really want the opening in the garage door, ask the garage door's maker whether they offer a section with a pet door. In most cases a wall-mount door right beside the garage door is the better choice.
The door you shouldn't cut: garage to house
The door between an attached garage and your home is there to slow a fire or fumes from the garage. The International Residential Code (R302.5.1), which many US cities adopt, requires that door to be solid wood or steel at least 1 3/8" thick, or 20-minute fire-rated, and to have a self-closing or automatic-closing device. Cutting a pet door into it defeats that protection.
The wall between the garage and the house is part of the same fire separation. If you want your dog to go between the house and the garage, talk to your local building department before cutting anything. Often the easier answer is a pet door from the house to the yard, and another from the yard to the garage.
Keeping a garage dog safe and comfortable
- Temperature: garages get hot in summer and cold in winter. Security Boss recommends a dual-flap pet door when it leads to an unheated garage. For real cold, see our best dog doors for cold weather.
- Chemicals: store antifreeze, fertilizer, pesticides, rodent bait and paint up high or locked away. Many are toxic to dogs.
- Cars: never run a vehicle in the garage while your dog is in there.
- Security: every Security Boss pet door has a security panel that slides in and locks the opening. Lock it at night and when you're away. More ideas: how to secure a dog door.
- Rain: if there's no overhang above the pet door, add a Rain Guard.
How to size the pet door
Measure your dog's height at the shoulders and their widest point. The top of the flap opening should be 1.5" to 2" above their shoulders, a little wider than their chest, and low enough to step over easily. Size for your biggest dog.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a dog door in a garage door?
Not easily. Overhead garage doors are thin, sectional and move on tracks, so standard door-mount pet doors aren't made for them. A wall-mount pet door next to the garage door, or a door-mount in the side door, is the better choice.
Can you put a cat door in a garage door?
The same limits apply. A small wall-mount or door-mount pet door in the wall or side door works for cats too; Security Boss notes that cats can use even its largest sizes.
What's the best dog door for a garage?
An insulated, lockable wall mount such as the MaxSeal PRO for Walls or SB72W, or a door mount in the side door. Choose a dual flap if the garage isn't heated.
Is it OK to keep a dog in the garage?
Only if the garage stays at a safe temperature, has fresh water and ventilation, and is cleared of chemicals and tools your dog could get into. A pet door to the yard helps, but it isn't a substitute for a safe space.
How much does a garage dog door cost?
Cost guides put installed wall pet doors at about $200 to $2,000+ and door installs at $150 to $800. See dog door installation cost. Need an installer? We can arrange one anywhere in the US: call 737-215-3211 or email support@puppyfeverpro.com.
Shop dog doors for walls, dog doors for doors or insulated dog doors.
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