How much does a custom metal gate cost?

These are general DFW and national market ranges for custom and semi-custom metal gates, not CJM prices. Treat them as a starting point and request a quote for your exact project.

Pedestrian / walk gates: roughly $600 to $3,000 installed. A simple steel garden gate sits at the low end; a hand-built ornamental steel gate with custom scrollwork sits higher.

Single-swing driveway gate (manual): roughly $1,500 to $5,000. A basic narrow gate can come in around the low end, while a wider, heavier ornamental gate runs toward the top of the range.

Double-swing driveway gate (manual): roughly $1,900 to $5,000 or more. The two-panel design suits wider driveways and balances weight across two posts.

Sliding driveway gate: often comparable to or slightly above a swing gate, and commonly $4,000 to $12,000 or more once automated, because it adds a track, rollers, and a heavier-duty operator. Sliding gates make sense where there is no room for panels to swing inward or on a sloped drive.

Automated driveway gates: a full motorized gate system commonly runs about $7,000 to $15,000 installed, versus roughly $3,500 to $7,000 for a comparable gate operated manually. Simpler or smaller automated setups can land lower; large ornamental spans with full access controls can run higher. Ornamental steel gates in particular range widely, from a few hundred dollars for a small manual gate to well past $10,000 for a large automated, hand-detailed installation.

Size and weight: a wider, taller gate uses more steel and needs stronger posts and hinges. Heavier gates also call for a more powerful operator if you automate them, which raises the total.

Material: ornamental and solid steel cost more than tubular steel or aluminum, both in material and in the labor to work them. Aluminum is lighter and naturally rust-resistant but generally less rigid than steel for large spans.

Ornamentation and design: a plain panel is far less work than hand-forged scrolls, pickets, custom patterns, or an integrated house number or monogram. Custom design and hand fabrication are where a craft gate earns its cost and its character.

Finish: a quality finish protects the steel from Texas heat, sun, and humidity. Hot-dip galvanizing coats inside and out and protects sacrificially even if scratched, because the zinc corrodes before the steel does. Powder coat gives color and a clean look but can fade and, if the coating is breached, allow rust under heavy UV. A duplex system, powder coat over galvanizing, is the most durable option and costs more up front.

Automation: a swing-gate operator typically adds roughly $1,200 to $3,000, and a full automation package with sensors, a keypad, remotes, or solar can add more. Support posts set in concrete add to the cost, and electrical work for the opener adds to the total.

Site conditions: a sloped driveway, long cable runs to power, poor soil for footings, or removing an old gate all affect labor and price.

A custom gate is designed, welded, and installed by hand for one opening, so a flat per-foot number rarely reflects the real job. The honest way to price it is to look at your actual driveway or walkway, the style you want, the material, the finish, and whether you want it automated.

At CJM Metals we build one project at a time and quote each gate on its own terms. We serve Arlington and the wider DFW metroplex, including nearby suburbs like Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Kennedale, and Fort Worth.

For an exact figure, request a quote: call (214) 603-9142 or email support@cjmmetals.com with your gate location, rough dimensions, and the look you are after.

A manual fence or gate may not require a building permit on its own, depending on its height and type, but that does not exempt it from zoning, setback, easement, or HOA rules. Anything involving electrical work, such as an automated or electric gate operator, generally does require a permit in Arlington because it adds wiring and a powered system.

Rules and fees change, and your HOA may have its own design requirements. Before you build, confirm the current requirements with the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services / Permitting team. A reputable fabricator can help you understand what the project involves, but the property owner is responsible for permits.