The 4 Best Baby Gates

Our Picks of Baby Gates

Best Overall Baby Gate

Safety 1st Easy Walk-Thru

Dimensions: 38"W x 28"H | Mounting Type: Pressure

Measurements	38"W x 28"H
Opening Measurement	22"
Lock	Yes-Slide
Swing	Two Directions
Spec #3

The Safety 1st Easy Walk-Thru baby gate is a simple, easy-to-use metal gate that is pressure mounted for stability and features a push/slide dual-action open. We like that it includes a built-in lock indicator for maximum safety, and additional extensions can easily be purchased for wider openings. One tester noted, “I love that the lock indicator changes from green to red to let me know that the lock has engaged, so if I have my hands full, I can quickly glance down and see it is secure.” This gate is easy to open and close, features a lower turn-style lock to control the direction it opens, and the walk-through space was wider than some competitors. This gate is also available in a taller option for adventurous toddlers who like to climb over every obstacle. The Safety 1st gate was also one of the most affordable options we tested and delivers a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to corralling little ones.

This gate doesn't offer much in the way of a nice aesthetic design. If the overall look of a gate is an important part of your decision-making process, we love the Summer Infant Extra Tall. This gate is visually appealing, and while it also pressure mounts, it features a taller-than-average height and a lovey, rounded profile that looks fancier. The Summer Infant scored similar to the Safety 1st, but it has a narrow walk-through opening of only 19 inches, compared to the 22inches of the Safety 1st. One tester noted, "I love the fancier look of the Summer Infant, but the door opening is super small.Overall, we feel the Safety 1st Easy Walk Thru gate is a standout safety choice for ease of installation and usage, at an affordable price.

Best Baby Gate for Stairs

Summer Deluxe Stairway

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

Measurements	30"-48"W x 32"H
Opening Measurement	Wide as space opening
Lock	Yes-Push/Slide
Swing	Two Directions
Spec #3

The Summer Deluxe Stairway baby 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. Our tester said, “I was worried about installation, but it wasn't a problem with the enclosed template.” 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-through.

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. Our in-house tester said, “I installed it too high the first time, and my baby slid right under it; luckily, I was there to catch her.” 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. The Summer Deluxe Stairway is a versatile, secure, easy-to-install option that checks all the boxes for stair safety.

Great Baby Gate for Awkward Angles

Toddleroo Deluxe Décor

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

Measurements	38.3"-72"W x 30"H
Opening Measurement	26"
Lock	Yes-Push
Swing	One Direction
Spec #3

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 at 26 inches, and the bottom crossbar is small and more straightforward to navigate than some of the competition. Our in-house tester reported, “I loved how versatile this gate was and it solved more than one weird opening problem I had.”

The gate only opens in one direction, and it has 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. The Safety 1st Walk-thru has a lock, but it isn't going to work for awkward angles. We like the Toddleroo 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, it does a great job solving some homes' awkward angle or wider opening problems. Our lab tester said, “It makes sense, given the shape, that you must use hardware to mount it, but I think some parents might not want to put holes in the wall.” If you don't need something this wide, the Summer Infant Extra Tall is an excellent standard door opening gate that is also taller and harder for toddlers to climb. Overall, though, the Toddleroo unique shape fills the gap between standard-width gates and the super-wide gates, to provide parents a uniquely configured third option for those hard-to-secure areas.

Perfect Super Wide Baby Gate

Regalo Super Wide

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

Measurements	192"W x 28"H
Opening Measurement	Wide as space opening
Lock	Yes-Slide/Lift
Swing	Two Directions
Spec #3

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. Our tester remarked, “I love that I could change this gate into a bunch of shapes for large openings.” If you have a wide opening like 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 measuring only 16 inches wide, 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 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 appreciate it. If you need more than usual coverage, but not something this wide, the Toddleroo Deluxe Décor is a good gate with a wider opening that fits larger spaces. However, if you need a longer gate to secure an area and like the flexibility of folding it up for appearance or transport, we believe that the Regalo Super Wide is the way to go.

How We Tested

We did a deep dive of over 20 baby gates before purchasing 9 for our current lineup. Each gate was tested for ease of assembly and setup, quality, features, and more to determine the best. 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 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.

We tested 3 metrics:

• Ease of Use — (60% weighting of final score) We used each gate in this review anywhere from a month to over five years. We graded them based on their ease of use, including the handle (can you do it with one hand), locking mechanism, and moving through them.
• Gate Stability — (30% weighting of final score) We considered how well gates stayed in place over time and regular use. We didn't deduct points for toddlers hanging, pushing, pulling and other wise trying to dislodge them, but more for how well they stayed in place with people using them regulalry.
• Ease of Installation — (10% weighting of final score) We tested how time-consuming or difficult installation was and how often it had to be repeated. Hardware-mounted gates should be a one-and-done proposition, but pressure-mounted gates take more effort and might need frequent adjustments.

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. We buy and comprehensively test each product hands-on with real families and in our lab. 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 Review Editor, Averi Hughes. Averi has three kids and years of experience using and evaluating products for babies. Also contributing to this review is Senior Review Editor, Wendy Schmitz, who has been with BabyGearLab since 2014. She rounds out our review process with her experience as a mother of two and many years of in-depth baby gear experience. Wendy tested and wrote our initial baby gate review in 2020.

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.

What's the Best Value?

Luckily, baby gates come in a variety of price ranges, and in our experience, the price didn't necessarily directly relate to the quality or functionality of the gate. Because this kind of gear is a safety barrier to help prevent accidents, injury, or death, we do not think it is the right place to try to save a few bucks, and instead encourage you to choose the right gate for the job that is both stable and installs securely. Our favorite gate is also one of the lower-priced options. The Safety 1st Walk-Thru is a budget-friendly option that feels stable and is easy to use and install. Similarly, the Summer Deluxe Stairway is a good value and comes with sturdy hardware to mount it to the wall to prevent stair access.

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. 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 easily pass.

The Safety 1st and Toddleroo gates are some of the easiest in the group to use, with good-sized openings to walk through, one-handed latches, and relatively quick setups. The Summer Deluxe Stairway is easy to use for a stairway gate, as those tend to be more challenging, thanks to stronger safety concerns.

The Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru baby gate is a more complicated choice with a clumsy assembly and a lock/latch that claims to be one-handed, but is far easier with two. This model's narrow 16-inch gate makes walking through challenging for a petite adult and nearly impossible for others. It isn't going to be passable at all if you are carrying something that hangs down low, like a laundry basket. Also, because the gate comes in multiple pieces, it has a rickety feeling that is not shared by the competition.

The Cumbor 55" Wide Retractable with its retractable, hard mount mesh design requires two hands to open and close. Once you unlock the gate, you have to use both hands to secure the handle's opening to the latch on the wall. This design makes this gate a less-than-ideal choice if you are looking for an option that enables you to have one hand/arm free for carrying little ones or any other item.

Gate 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, pressure-mounted gates 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 is stable when installed correctly, though the three-panel design could allow the gate to shift slightly 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 the Summer Deluxe Stairway, Summer Infant Extra Tall , Cumbor 55" Wide Retractable, and the Regalo Super Wide . The best pressure-mounted gate is the Safety 1st baby gate, which feels so secure that you will think it was mounted with hardware. Ours didn't shift or move slightly over several months of use with children and pets.

Ease of Installation

How easy a gate is to install varies 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 of the damage that gates cause can be easily repaired with a trip to the hardware store for some supplies.

Pressure-mounted gates like the Safety 1st or the Summer Decorative 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, Toddleroo Deluxe Décor, and the Regalo Super Wide mount on the wall with screws and are relatively easy to put up, 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.

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 - Doorways, Wide Openings, Baby Gates for Stairs

First thing is determining 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 stair installation. Others are super long and best for wide spaces or around hearths. You won'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. Then, determine if your needs require hardware installation or if a pressure mount will do. The best baby gates for stairs are those that are hardware-mounted to help prevent the potential for the gate to dislodge and fall.

Features

What features you want depend on your goals and living space. Having a gate that can lock might be the ticket, or you 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.

Conclusion

Finding the right baby gate is often mandatory for most parents with crawling babies. Many 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. We think there's something for most parents in our lineup of impressive and sometimes stylish contenders.