Kent spans a wider range of residential markets than most English counties. The Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells corridor produces gate specifications that rival anything in the Home Counties, driven by commuter wealth and high-value rural properties. North Kent around Dartford and Gravesend operates at a different price point, with practical automation on modern builds forming the bulk of demand. East Kent, from Canterbury through to the coastal towns of Whitstable, Deal, and Folkestone, brings its own considerations: period properties in the historic centres, and salt air exposure on coastal installations that affects material specification.
The figures below come from completed installations across Kent in 2025 and early 2026. They represent what installers in the county are actually quoting and completing, not manufacturer list prices or estimates based on national averages.
Electric Sliding Gates: £4,800 to £12,500 Installed
Electric sliding gates start at around £4,800 for a standard aluminium single-leaf gate on a flat site. This covers gate supply, ground-track foundation, a branded motor, two remote handsets, and safety commissioning to BS EN 12453. Bespoke fabricated steel or wrought iron systems with video intercom and smartphone control push toward £11,000 to £12,500.
Cantilever systems for the sloped driveways common along the North Downs ridge between Wrotham and Folkestone add £800 to £2,500 over standard tracked installations. The Wealden hills around Cranbrook and Goudhurst produce similar gradient challenges.
No Cost, No Obligation
Looking for a Kent gate installer?
We match you with up to three vetted specialists. Free site surveys, written quotes, zero fees.
Electric Swing Gates: £3,800 to £11,500 Installed
Electric swing gates start at approximately £3,800 for a standard flat-driveway installation. Underground motors, strongly favoured in the West Kent premium market around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells for the clean entrance they create, add £400 to £800 over equivalent ram-arm systems. Premium installations with wrought iron, full access management, and pillar work reach £11,500 and above.
Wooden Driveway Gates: £2,800 to £8,500 Installed
Hardwood gates suit the character of many Kent properties, particularly in the High Weald AONB, the Kentish Downs villages, and the conservation areas of Canterbury, Faversham, and Tenterden. Iroko and oak are the standard timber choices. Accoya, with its 50-year manufacturer guarantee, is the favoured specification for coastal East Kent properties where salt air accelerates the degradation of untreated softwoods.
Metal Driveway Gates: £3,000 to £9,500 Installed
Fabricated mild steel with hot-dip galvanising and powder coating starts from £3,000 including automation. Coastal properties between Whitstable and Folkestone should specify marine-grade powder coat or aluminium to address the higher corrosion risk from salt-laden air. Wrought iron gates, hand-forged for period properties, start from around £6,500 and are regularly specified in the Sevenoaks and Canterbury conservation areas.
Getting an Accurate Quote for Your Kent Property
A site survey is the only route to a reliable price. Gate installation costs are site-specific in ways that cannot be assessed remotely. Driveway gradient, soil conditions, proximity to the coast, planning designations, and the physical condition of any existing pillars all influence the final figure. Compare a minimum of three quotes from specialist installers, with each quote broken down by gate, groundwork, motor, and access control separately.
