Roller Garage Doors NZ: Prices, Options & Buying Guide
Wondering what a roller garage door will cost in New Zealand — and who can supply it without showroom mark-ups? For a standard single domestic door, budget roughly NZ$1,200–NZ$2,800 supply-only, with an automatic opener adding another NZ$400–NZ$900. Double or wider commercial units step up from there, but the principle is the same: you’re paying for curtain width, material grade and any labour you decide to outsource.
Roller doors remain the go-to choice for Kiwi garages because they free up ceiling space, shrug off salty coastal air and are straightforward enough for a weekend DIY install. In the guide below you’ll find clear price tables, measuring tips, a steel-versus-aluminium rundown, automation features, installation routes, maintenance pointers and a head-to-head on where to buy — including cost-saving online suppliers such as DoorsNZ. Read on and order with confidence, knowing the door you choose will suit both your garage and your budget.
How Roller Garage Doors Work and Why They Suit NZ Homes
Roll-up doors earn their keep by doing one job brilliantly: coiling a single metal curtain around a barrel so it disappears above the opening. With no ceiling tracks or swinging panels to dodge, they fit short Kiwi driveways, tight carports and low-headroom sheds that would frustrate sectional or tilt options.
Basic Mechanism Explained
A corrugated steel or aluminium sheet is attached to an 80–100 mm
axle drum mounted on steel brackets. Torsion springs inside the drum counterbalance the curtain’s weight on manual models, while an electric motor handles the lifting on automatics. Side guides fixed to the jambs stop the curtain from drifting and keep the wind out. Picture a window blind on steroids — same idea, beefier hardware.
Benefits Over Sectional and Tilt Doors
- Zero ceiling intrusion — store kayaks or lighting overhead.
- Generally cheaper to buy and repair.
- Fewer moving parts, so better tolerance of coastal salt spray.
- DIY-friendly: the whole curtain ships as one roll.
Is a Roller Door Right for You?
They shine on bungalows with limited headroom, lifestyle sheds, and small commercial units up to about 5.1 m wide. If you need higher insulation values or statement street appeal, a sectional door may edge ahead; otherwise, roller garage doors NZ buyers choose them for pure practicality.
Roller Garage Door Price Breakdown in NZ (2025 Guide)
Prices swing on size, material, finish, freight and whether you call in a pro, but the ballparks below will stop you buying blind. All figures include GST and reflect current quotes from leading manufacturers and online suppliers.
Residential Single & Double Door Price Ranges
Size (W × H) | Supply-only | Supply + Install* |
---|---|---|
2.4 m × 2.1 m (single) | NZ$1,200 – $2,000 | NZ$1,550 – $2,650 |
4.8 m × 2.4 m (double) | NZ$2,000 – $3,300 | NZ$2,800 – $4,300 |
*Install figure covers standard timber framing, disposal of old door and basic set-up. Inclusions: pre-rolled curtain, drum, guide tracks, lock set and fixings.
Commercial & Semi-Industrial Door Costs
Heavier-gauge steel or aluminium shutters start around NZ$2,500 for a 3 m shopfront and can exceed NZ$6,000 for wide warehouse openings. Extras such as wind-lock slats, chain drive gearing and safety brakes add 10–20 %.
Automation & Accessory Add-Ons
- Roller-door opener (600 N–1000 N): NZ$400 – $900
- Extra remotes: $40 – $80 each
- Wireless keypad: $95 – $145
- Smartphone/Wi-Fi hub: $140 – $250
- Battery back-up: $120 – $180
Bundled kits often shave $100+ off buying items separately.
Ways to Save Without Compromising Quality
- Buy direct online from low-overhead retailers like DoorsNZ — the same NZ-made curtain at a leaner margin.
- Choose Zincalume if you plan to paint later; Coloursteel carries a 10–15 % premium.
- DIY the install or at least the site prep, leaving final tensioning to a tech.
- Order during winter when factories run specials; freight rates also drop outside the summer build rush.
Key Materials and Finish Options
Choosing the right curtain material and surface finish does more than set the colour of your street frontage – it dictates how well your roller door stands up to New Zealand’s UV, wind and salt-laden air. Below is a quick primer on the three options you’ll see most often when shopping for roller garage doors NZ-wide.
Steel: NZ-Made Coloursteel & Zincalume
Coloursteel starts with galvanised steel then bakes on a tough paint layer available in 24+ standard colours. It carries specific coastal warranties (check the fine print for zones within 100 m of surf). Zincalume has the same galvanic core but swaps paint for an aluminium-zinc alloy coating, giving a silvery sheen and roughly 10–15 % lower price. Perfect if you’ll repaint to match future cladding.
Aluminium Roller Doors
Aluminium weighs about one-third of steel, making it ideal for wider spans or windy regions where lighter curtains reduce motor strain. It’s naturally rust-proof and can be colour-anodised or powder-coated. Expect to pay a 20–30 % premium over Coloursteel for the privilege.
Insulation, Noise & Weather-Sealing Upgrades
Add-on kits include thin foam backers, felt side strips and a rubber bottom seal. They cut rattles and drafts but deliver modest thermal gains (R-value ≈ 0.4–0.6
), so don’t expect fridge-like insulation. Still, for workshops or rumpus rooms, the small outlay is worth the comfort boost.
Choosing the Right Size and Measuring Correctly
A roller door is built to the millimetre, so one sloppy measurement can cost you weeks and a remake fee. Grab a steel tape, not a laser, and work with a helper—garage floors are rarely perfectly square in older Kiwi homes. Once you have accurate figures you can decide whether an off-the-shelf size will do or if custom manufacture is safer (and often only a few dollars more).
Standard NZ Door Sizes vs Custom-Made
- Singles: 2 400 mm wide × 2 100 mm high is the default, with 2 000 mm and 2 400 mm heights common.
- Doubles: 4 800 mm × 2 400 mm covers most new builds.
- Stick to these when possible for faster turnaround and sharper pricing.
- Go custom for carport conversions, skewed masonry openings or heritage sheds where nothing is plumb.
Step-by-Step Measuring Guide
- Opening width: measure across the lintel at top, middle and bottom; record the smallest.
- Opening height: floor to underside of lintel on both jambs; take the lowest.
- Headroom: lintel underside to ceiling/obstruction (minimum 420 mm for domestic drums).
- Side room: edge of opening to nearest wall/obstacle—need 90 mm each side for guides.
- Reveal depth: inside face of lintel to garage back wall; aim for 400 mm clear.
Ordering a Custom Door
Allow 2–4 weeks from approved drawings. Your supplier will ask for the five figures above, preferred colour, wind zone and whether the drum will sit inside or outside the opening (handedness). Triple-check before you hit “submit”—getting it right now is cheaper than grinding concrete later.
Manual vs Automatic Roller Doors: What You Need to Know
Choosing between a hand-operated door and a powered unit mostly comes down to budget, convenience and where the door is located. You can retrofit a motor later, but doing it from day one avoids double handling and often works out cheaper overall.
Manual Spring-Balanced Operation
A pre-tensioned torsion spring inside the drum counteracts the weight so you can lift the curtain with a light pull. Lock-bars slide into the side guides and are released with an internal handle or external key. Manual roller garage doors suit remote sheds with no mains power and buyers chasing the lowest upfront price, but remember someone has to get out of the car in the rain to open them.
Automatic Openers: Features and Specs
Domestic roller door motors range from 600 N
to 1000 N
lift force, plenty for curtains up to 5 m wide. Look for soft-start/soft-stop, auto-close timer, in-built LED courtesy light and a quiet gear drive. A competent DIYer can bolt the motor to the drum wheel and wire it into an existing power point in about two hours.
Smart Home & Security Integrations
Add a Wi-Fi hub or Bluetooth module and the door joins your Google Home or Alexa routine: voice commands, activity logs and push notifications if it’s left open. Safety beams and auto-reverse are mandatory under NZS 4505 when you add automation—cheap insurance against kids, pets or the boat trailer bumper.
Installation Pathways: DIY vs Professional
Getting your new roller door on the wall is a job most competent DIYers can tackle, but paying a technician can still be money well spent if time, confidence or insurance cover are concerns. Below are the two main routes Kiwi homeowners take.
DIY Installation Checklist
- Essential tools: impact driver, masonry drill, 12 mm socket set, level, step-ladder, safety glasses and gloves.
- Two people required for lifting the 40–60 kg rolled curtain.
- Allow 4–6 hours: mount brackets, seat drum, unroll curtain, fit side guides, tension spring or attach motor, test balance.
- Follow the supplier’s sequence—short-cuts usually bite back later.
- Photograph each stage; handy for warranty queries.
Hiring a Professional Installer
Expect to pay NZ$350–NZ$650 for a single domestic door, including disposal of the old unit. Pros bring calibrated tension bars, laser levels and experience squaring up frames that aren’t. You also get installation warranty coverage and an insurance-friendly compliance certificate.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Guides out of plumb → curtain binds. Use a long level before fixing.
- Insufficient spring tension → heavy lifting or opener strain. Follow the specified turn count.
- Power point too far from the drum → messy extension leads. Plan cabling before you hang the door.
Address these early and your roller garage door will glide for years.
Where to Buy Roller Garage Doors in New Zealand
Kiwi shoppers have four main supply channels, each balancing price, convenience and support differently. Compare them quickly below before committing your hard-earned cash.
Local Garage Door Dealers & Showrooms
- Pros: on-site measure and quote, full install service, demo doors you can touch.
- Cons: higher overheads mean 10–20 % steeper prices, usually tied to one or two brands.
Big-Box Hardware Chains (e.g. Mitre 10, Bunnings)
- Ready-made sizes you can click-and-collect; weekend DIYers love the convenience.
- Limited colours, few custom options, freight to site is extra, and you’re on your own for tensioning.
Online Direct-to-Consumer Suppliers (highlighting DoorsNZ)
- Lean e-commerce model slashes showroom costs.
- DoorsNZ ships custom NZ-made Coloursteel or Zincalume doors nationwide, with free North Island delivery and subsidised South Island freight.
- Ideal for builders or confident DIYers wanting supply-only but still needing expert phone support.
Buying Second-Hand or Refurbished Doors
Cheapest route, yet risky: check curtain dents, drum wear and spring fatigue; missing remotes or warranties can erase the savings in a hurry.
Care, Maintenance and Expected Lifespan
Treat a roller door like the mechanical asset it is and 20-plus years of hassle-free service are realistic.
Routine Cleaning and Surface Protection
Hose salt and dust off quarterly, use mild detergent for bird droppings, and wax painted steel annually to preserve gloss.
Lubrication, Tension Checks and Minor Adjustments
Spray silicone on guides and rubber seals twice yearly; test balance — a half-open door should stay put unaided.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Slow travel often means dirty tracks; squeaks signal dry bearings; remote range dips usually trace back to a $5 battery.
When Repair Isn’t Enough: Signs You Need a Replacement
Replace the door when slats crease, surface rust penetrates through coating, or opener logic boards become obsolete and unserviceable.
Warranty, Wind-Zone and Compliance Essentials
A roller door is only as good as the paperwork behind it. Warranties, wind ratings and insurer sign-off vary by brand, so confirm the fine print before you swipe the card. A couple of quick checks now can save a rejected claim—or a mangled curtain—later.
Typical Warranty Coverage
- 5–10 years on the steel or aluminium curtain against perforation and cracking
- 2–5 years on motors, remotes and electronic accessories
- Paint finish cover is conditional on quarterly washing in coastal zones and no abrasive cleaners
NZ Building Code & Wind-Zone Requirements
Domestic doors must meet AS/NZS 4505
wind-loading. Tell the supplier your site’s wind zone (Very High or Extra High in many coastal and alpine areas) so they can spec thicker slats or wind-lock guides. Councils may request producer statements for openings wider than 5 m.
Insurance and Security Considerations
Insurers treat the door as a primary security device. Fit an internal lock-bar or motor dead-latch, keep remotes coded, and record serial numbers on your policy. Non-compliant or poorly maintained doors can void burglary and storm-damage claims—another reason to stick to reputable suppliers.
Ready to Roll?
Tick off the must-haves before you hit “buy”:
- Budget: be honest about the total, including opener and freight.
- Material & colour: Zincalume for no-frills value, Coloursteel or aluminium for extra durability.
- Size: measure twice, order once; the smallest figure rules.
- Automation: manual works, but a motor costs less stress in the rain.
- Install route: DIY if you’ve got the tools and a mate; book a tech if time is tight.
- Supplier: compare two or three quotes, but don’t ignore warranty depth and wind-zone compliance.
Once those boxes are green-ticked, getting a door delivered is straightforward. Most custom units land on your driveway inside four weeks, ready for a weekend install. Need sizing advice or instant pricing? Pop over to DoorsNZ for free measuring sheets, live chat support and nationwide shipping. Your garage will be rolling smoothly in no time.