The 6 Best Baby Gates

Dimensions: 29-43"W x 30"H | Mounting Type: Pressure

The Evenflo Barn Door Walk-thru Baby Gate gate was a standout choice during testing. Every now and then, a product comes along that is so superior compared to the competition that it stands alone and deserves more kudos and praise than the standard contender. This gate is that once-in-a-review product. We were instantly impressed with the quick assembly, the one-hand operation, the color-coded closure, and the self-closing door. This option swings either way and can lock in place to prevent accidental baby escapes or be left to swing both ways. We like the satisfying soft clunk sound when it self-closes, so you know it's closed without visual confirmation. Most of the gate is natural wood and works with various interior designs. This gate will fit most average-sized doorways and stays put after you tighten the tension mounts. We tested this gate on bedroom and bathroom openings and were very impressed. Even after 3 years of use, it is still the superior product in this review we'd choose again and again.

This product can be more expensive than some competitors (depending on sales). However, after testing, we feel it is worth the price if your budget allows it. This gate feels like it will last longer than cheaper versions, and the quality is higher than similar contenders. The closing can be somewhat loud if it self-closes and could potentially wake a sleeping baby. However, if you want a softer sound, you can guide the gate in place for a much quieter connection. If you want a more basic gate or the Barn Door doesn't fit your decor, the Cumbor Auto Close Safety Baby Gate is a simple, straightforward option. Overall, we can't say enough positive things about the Evenflo gate; we love it and think most parents will, too.

Dimensions: 37.8-43.3"W x 30.5"H | Mounting Type: Pressure or Hardware

The Cumbor Auto Close Safety Baby Gate is a straightforward, standard baby gate with a simple assembly that is easy to use. This gate isn't an eyesore, but it isn't stylish either and looks fairly basic. The Cumbor has auto-close, lock-open, and two-way swinging. This choice includes an easy and secure latch system, and you can purchase extensions for wider openings. The pass-thru gate is relatively wide at 23.6 inches and works well for most average-sized adults to pass through, which is not true for all competitors. You can install this option using pressure mounts (suitable for non-critical locations) or hardware with wall cups for safety-critical areas like stairwells.

The Cumbo has a crossbar on the bottom that can create opportunities for accidental tripping. This feature is relatively standard for pressure-mounted options. Tripping can result in personal injury, the gate dislodging from the opening, potential damage to the wall or gate, or injury to the user. Some users say their gate arrived with missing parts, so you'll want to assemble it soon after you receive it in case it needs to be returned. This gate is not suitable for all openings (it will not fit 35-37.8") as the extension panels' sizes limit the width it can span. We encourage measuring your space twice to ensure a good fit before buying. While it may not be perfect for every scenario, this gate is good at what it does, and if it fits your opening, we think you'll find it up to the baby-proofing task. If you need a more predictable size option or one with a more polished look, the Evenflo Barn Door Walk-thru Baby Gate is the one we prefer.

Dimensions: 29-38.5"W x 30"H | Mounting Type: Pressure or Hardware

The Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Baby Gate gets the job done and includes a JPMA and ASTM certification. This gate consists of a safety lock to increase toddler-proofing. It feels durable and strong, with additional extensions available to increase the size of your opening is larger than average. It is lighter than some competition and easily moves if you use pressure cups instead of hardware.

While some testers feel this gate is easy to assemble, others experienced missing parts and parts that didn't go together smoothly, and in our experience, it is one of the most convoluted in the groups. The walk-through portion of the gate is surprisingly narrow at only 16" wide, and some adults may not be able to get through without turning sideways, which could be a deal-breaker. This gate has a typical trip bar on the bottom. The bar is typical in most gates, but this one is two pieces and isn't as stable as one piece. This gate only swings one way, and some users feel the latch is hard to use and can require two hands. The Evenflo Barn Door Walk-thru Baby Gate swings either way and is much easier to open with one hand; plus, it looks great. While the Regalo has a few issues, we think the price makes it an attractive option for many families. And most problems are apparent upon setup, and it can quickly be returned if it doesn't meet your needs.

Dimensions: 38.3-72"W x 30"H | Mounting Type: Hardware

The Toddleroo Deluxe Décor Baby Gate is a 3-panel straightforward gate that articulates to fit irregular or wider openings. This gate can also go around smaller fireplaces or wood stoves to protect little ones from hot surfaces or sharp corners. We like how easy this gate is to use with a one-hand operation and a simple button push/lift gate to move. The Toddleroo is lightweight for its size, sturdy, and once hard-mounted, it stays in place well. The gate opening is wide and easy to walk through, and the bottom crossbar is small and more straightforward to cross than some of the competition.

The gate opening on this option only swings one way, and there is no “lock” to prohibit inquisitive, older toddlers from opening the gate. However, it does require pressing the button to open the gate, which is enough to prevent younger and less gregarious toddlers from getting through. We like this large gate and everything it offers, and it could be one of the only options that work for wider openings. While you need tools to screw it in place, and it won't pressure mount, it does a great job solving some homes' awkward angle or wider opening problems. If you don't need something this wide, the Evenflo Barn Door Walk-thru Baby Gate is our favorite standard door opening gate.

Dimensions: 30-48"W x 32"H | Mounting Type: Hardware

The Summer Deluxe Stairway Wood Gate is a warm and inviting stairway gate that is easy to use and has a straightforward design. This option mounts to the wall using screws and has an attachment point you mount on the opposite wall or banister to lock the gate closed. This product is a hardware mount design, but the directions are good enough that installation isn't challenging, even if you typically find the task daunting. We think the latch is easy to operate even though it requires lifting the gate once unlocked. This gate is very adjustable, with two parts sliding against one another for a custom fit instead of extensions that can be somewhat lacking. The gate opening is broad and swings both ways for easy pass-thru.

You should limit the space under this gate when you mount it. Without the dreaded trip bar, little ones can potentially slide under the gate if you install it too high, which could be dangerous if you have stairs on the other side. Also, we don't think it is a good idea for a gate to open out and over the stairs, as this could accidentally happen if a baby places enough weight on the gate. However, most stairway gates share this design, and we like the look and feel of the finished wood gate and the easy latch that comes with it. This is a good choice if you want a hardware-mounted wood gate instead of the more common metal option. If your stairway could benefit from a landing space near your gate, the Toddleroo Deluxe Décor Baby Gate can create a standing space and be a possible solution, depending on the location.

Dimensions: 28-48"W x 36"H | Mounting Type: Pressure or Hardware

The Summer Infant Extra Tall Gate is a nice-looking taller gate to prevent little ones from trying to go over. It can be pressure mounted in place or installed with hard mount screws. The gate is easy to install, use, and sturdy using either installation method. We like how straightforward this option is, and the fancier curved top makes it somewhat more pleasing to the eye than a traditional gate you typically find at the big box stores.

This gate has a reasonably narrow opening, which could be challenging for larger adults or moving objects between rooms. It also has the standard trip bar along the bottom, typical in almost every modern baby gate. This gate only swings one way, and it has a top and bottom latch that requires a thumb shift and lifts to operate, but it isn't hard to accomplish once you get a few turns under your belt. While this gate may not be perfect, it is a good-looking, easy-to-use option that can be the problem solver for escape artist toddlers or larger pets you're trying to keep away from your baby. If a shorter gate is in order, the Summer Decorative Wood & Metal Safety Baby Gate is a nice-looking, easy-to-use gate for areas where wider might be more important than taller.

Dimensions: 36-60"W x 32"H | Mounting Type: Pressure

The Summer Decorative Wood & Metal Safety Baby Gate is a stained wood and metal gate that is more stylish (depending on your decor) than most of the competition, fitting in with some home decor better than traditional metal or plastic gates might. It installs easily with pressure mounts and includes a small wrench to help turn the adjustment knobs on the mounting circles. Once installed, the gate is relatively stable, and the door opens both ways with one hand. It has a child lock you shift with your thumb to release the gate and then lift up and off the floor crossbar to swing in the direction of your choice. This gate felt durable and was tested for over two years with giant dogs, proving it can more than withstand the typical toddler without a problem.

This gate has a typical floor crossbar that can create a trip hazard if you aren't careful. However, this feature is standard on most pressure mount gates and many hardware mount options. Depending on the number of extensions you use, it can become somewhat unstable, so for wider openings, it could be easier for a hearty or active toddler to push it over. Also, the wood slats can break if enough force is put on them, though it is unlikely the average toddler can manage this feat without help from a canine pal. The Evenflo Barn Door Walk-thru Baby Gate has a more solid design and is less likely to become damaged over time, though it is meant for smaller openings. Overall, we like how the Summer Decorative gate looks and its ability to withstand time with valuable features like a one-handed child lock and swinging both ways. We think most families will find much to love with this high-end, stylish option that is arguably less of an eyesore than some traditional gates.

Dimensions: 192"W x 28"H | Mounting Type: Hardware/Self-connect

The Regalo Super Wide Baby Gate and Play Yard is a versatile gate that can be hard-mounted to the wall across a wide opening up to 192 inches wide or works as a play yard. The multi-panel gate system can be rotated and moved as needed, but it only comes with one set of hard-mounting plastic brackets and screws if you plan to set it up in a single location. If you have a wide opening like those in homes with open floor plans, this could be one of the few baby-centric options that aren't super colorful or intended for pets. The opening on this gate swings both ways, and it has a lock that operates with one hand and some practice. There are also bottom turn-style safety locks to help further dissuade toddlers who sort out the top latch design (and some definitely will!).

This wide-opening barrier has a very narrow walk-through gate, which many adults will find too small to pass through naturally, requiring a side-step motion through the opening. Even a tester of only 120 lbs and 5'7" tall had to turn sideways to avoid hitting the edges while walking through. As a play yard, this product is small. Only stationary wee ones or babies learning to crawl will find the size suitable; older toddlers will be frustrated by the limited real estate and the lack of space for various toys. While this gate has a smaller opening and is better as a barrier than a play yard, we think it is one of the best options to cover a wider distance, and parents with an “open floor plan” problem will like what it offers. If you need wider, but not this wide, the Toddleroo Deluxe Décor Baby Gate is a good wider opening gate that has a classic design and fits larger spaces well.

How We Test Baby Gates

We researched over 20 baby gates before settling on the current selection. Each gate was tested for ease of assembly and setup, quality, features, and more to determine the best and why. We considered how well they work at keeping little ones where you want them and what their durability might be over time. We set up and used the gates for extended periods with babies, toddlers, and big old dogs. Some gates have been in our homes for more than five years, giving us a unique perspective on what you might expect in your home. Our testing and feedback from users influence the ranking and award winners. The award winners reflect the gates we use in our homes and are our genuine favorites.

Why Trust GearLab

We've been testing all kinds of baby gear since 2012, including top-ranking diaper gear, the best baby soothing gear, nursing gear, and more. We buy and comprehensively test each product hands-on with real families and little ones. We aim to provide the details and information you need to make the right buying decision for you and your family with an unbiased analysis. Each baby gate in this review was assembled and used by Wendy Schmitz, mother of two and Senior Review Editor for BabyGearLab since 2014. The gates were tested side-by-side for stability, ease of use, and installation before being used in situ for an extended time with kids and pets alike.

How to Pick the Best Baby Gate

Finding the right baby gate requires some consideration before clicking on buy. Each has something slightly different to offer, and to ensure you're happy with your final decision, we recommend asking yourself a couple of questions to narrow your options.

Location

The first thing is to determine where you plan to use the gate, how wide the opening is, and if there are special considerations for mounting. Some of the gates are not suitable for top-of-stairs installation. Others are super long and best for wide spaces or around hearths. You wouldn't want a door opening size gate for all applications. We recommend measuring the space you need to span, as not all gates will work in all spaces.

Features

What features you want can depend on your goals or living space. Having a gate that can lock might be the ticket, or others might need a gate with a wider opening. Consider how the gate will be used and what is most important to you to determine which features matter the most. Things like the ability to hard mount the gate or open it with one hand might be important to some and irrelevant to others.

Analysis and Test Results

We performed various tests for ease of use, stability, and installation, rating each gate compared to the competition for everyday use to give you an idea of how well the gates perform in the real world under normal circumstances.

Stability

Stability encompasses how well a gate stays in place and whether or not little ones can manage to knock it over or potentially injure themselves trying to knock it over.

Many of the pressure-mounted gates can become unstable when you begin adding extensions. Depending on your child's strength or determination, this kind of gate can be pushed out of place, so we don't recommend this style for stair protection. The most stable gates use screws to attach to the door frame, stud, or wall (drywall anchors) and should be the only mounting style used above stairways.

The Toddleroo Deluxe Décor Baby Gate is stable when installed correctly, though the three-panel design can allow the gate to shift as you walk through it. Still, it stays connected to the mounting points. Several gates can be mounted using hardware, making them more stable than pressure mounting; these include Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Baby Gate, Summer Deluxe Stairway Wood Gate, Summer Infant Extra Tall Gate, Cumbor Auto Close Safety Baby Gate, and Regalo Super Wide Baby Gate and Play Yard. The best pressure-mounted gate is the Evenflo Barn Door Walk-thru Gate, which feels so secure you think it was mounted with hardware. Ours didn't shift or move slightly over several months of use with children of various ages.

Ease of Use

Ease of use testing includes how easy the gate is to go through, unlatching, locking, open/closed, and opening size. Some of the latches can be operated one-handed, and others cannot, which might be a deal breaker if you are toting a little one in your arms. Some have narrow gates that are challenging to pass through (who are these openings made for?), while others have gate openings wide enough for dads carrying toddlers to pass easily.

The Cumbo and Toddleroo gates are some of the easiest in the group to use, with a wider opening to walk through, one-handed latches, and relatively quick setups. The Summer Deluxe Stairway Simple to Secure Wood Gate is also easy to use for a stairway gate, as those tend to be more challenging, thanks to stronger safety concerns. The Summer Decorative Wood & Metal 5-Foot Pressure Mounted Baby Gate and the Summer Infant Multi-Use Deco Extra Tall Walk-Thru Gate are more challenging as you need to unlock the gate and lift it to move it. The Evenflo Barn Door has a one-hand latch and self-closes so you can walk through and let the gate go so it can do its thing with a satisfying clunk.

The Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Baby Gate is a more complex option to use with a clumsy assembly and a lock/latch that claims to be one-handed but is far easier with two. This model's narrow gate makes it challenging for the average adult to walk through and nearly impossible for larger parents. It isn't going to work if you are carrying something that hangs down low. Also, because the gate comes in multiple pieces you assemble, it has a rickety feeling not shared by the competition.

Ease of Installation

How easy a gate is to install varies from gate to gate and seems to be a primary reason parents return gates to retailers. While none of the gates are impossible to install, and many manufacturers offer videos to help users, some still require a little patience or tools to finalize the installation. The gates are either pressure-mounted or hard-mounted using screws that come with the gate. Pressure mounting can cause damage to paint and walls over time, but hard mounting puts permanent holes in the wall. What type you need and its impact on your home will be up to you and the gate you choose. We believe hard mounting is safer for stairways and entrances into potentially dangerous areas, as pressure-mounted gates are more likely to fail under the weight of pushy toddlers. However, the occasional failure might be acceptable in areas where little ones are being monitored and can't get hurt by anything on the gate's opposite side. Most damage that gates cause can be easily repaired with a trip for some supplies to the hardware store.

Pressure-mounted gates like the Evenflo Barn Door, Cumbor, or the Summer Decorative Wood Gate are quick to set up and use and relatively stable depending on the location. Wider gates and gates at the top of stairwells require hard mounting to function safely. The Summer Deluxe Stairway Gate and the Toddleroo by North States mount on the wall with screws and are relatively easy, but you will need some tools to get the job done. The Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Baby Gate is also challenging to install as it is the only traditional gate that requires “building” before the setup, with at least five parts you need to assemble before you try to mount it in place. If you loathe putting something together, then this is not the gate for you.

Conclusion

Finding the right baby gate is often a mandatory gear type for most parents with crawling babies. Most parents start baby-proofing before their baby is on the move and beginning to explore. Whether you want to prevent a fall down the stairs or stop the exploration of sharp utensils and cleansers, blocking access to specific areas is typically easier than locking loads of cabinets or potential danger zones. Unfortunately, in our experience, not all of the gates work well or do what they claim, and finding the right baby gate for your needs and opening type could be more challenging than you think. Once you determine your gate-blocking goals and the sizes of your openings, you'll be on your way to choosing the best gate for your needs in our lineup of impressive and sometimes stylish contenders.