Identify the door first
Most UK garage doors fall into four groups: steel up-and-over doors, timber up-and-over or side-hinged doors, roller doors in aluminium or steel, and GRP (fibreglass) doors. Each needs a slightly different approach.
| Door | Primer | Paint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel up-and-over | Metal primer on bare or rusty areas | Exterior metal paint or satin | Most common type; dents and rust spots need treating |
| Timber | Wood primer, knot sealer | Exterior wood paint | Check bottom edge for rot |
| Aluminium roller | Etch primer if bare | Compatible metal paint | Paint must stay flexible; check warranty |
| GRP / fibreglass | Adhesion primer | Exterior paint suited to plastics | Light sanding to key the surface |
Garage door materials and how to paint them
Preparation
Most of the quality of the finish depends on this stage. A glossy coat on top of poorly prepared metal will look good for a few months and then rust will start to lift it.
- Wash down with sugar soap or a degreaser – garage doors collect road grime
- Sand the surface to give a key and feather out chips
- Treat rust spots back to bright metal and prime immediately
- Fill dents with a two-part metal filler, sand smooth
- On timber, cut out soft areas and fill or splice in new wood
- Mask handles, locks, the frame and the drive
Which finish to choose
Satin finishes hide small dents and imperfections better than high gloss and are the most popular choice on steel doors. Gloss looks crisp on timber doors and period houses. Colour-wise, matching the garage door to the front door or window frames is a classic way to tie the front of the house together. Anthracite grey, deep green and navy are popular, but darker colours absorb more heat, which can make steel doors expand and move more on south-facing drives.
If you're also repainting other exterior woodwork or uPVC, see painting windows and front doors and the cost to paint uPVC windows and doors.
Brush, roller or spray
A small foam or short-pile roller gives a smooth finish on flat panels, with a brush for grooves and edges. Ribbed steel doors suit a brush or spray. Spraying gives the most factory-like finish but needs careful masking and still air. Two topcoats are normal.
Rather leave it to a professional?
Roller doors and warranties
Roller doors are made from many slats that bend round a drum as the door opens. Thick or brittle paint can crack, and some manufacturers' warranties don't cover doors that have been repainted. Check the paperwork first, and use a paint designed to stay flexible. Many owners of newer roller doors choose to have them professionally sprayed or replaced rather than repainted.
What it costs
Many decorators will add a garage door to a front-of-house job for much less than a standalone visit. If your door needs a lot of rust repair, ask whether repainting is still the best option – sometimes a replacement isn't much more.
| Door | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Single steel up-and-over door | £150 – £300 |
| Double steel door | £250 – £450 |
| Single timber door with repairs | £200 – £450 |
| Spray finish on a single door | £250 – £500 |
| Garage door, frame and fascia together | £300 – £650 |
Indicative prices for painting a garage door (2026)
Getting it done
A single garage door is usually a one-day job, with drying time between coats. Book it in dry weather, ideally between April and October. Request prices from local exterior painters and read painting metal railings and gates for more on metal primers.
