The 10 Best Expanding Gates
This wiki has been updated 32 times since it was first published in July of 2015. Keep both pets and children out of any dangerous areas and safe from falling down the stairs with one of these expansion gates. Offering a range of widths and adjustability, they can cover doors and openings of many sizes. Please bear in mind that these aren't an appropriate substitute for diligent parental supervision, but they can help minimize the chance of accidents. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Summer Infant 33180
2. Carlson Pet Products Lil' Tuffy
3. Richell Freestanding 94156
Editor's Notes
August 26, 2019:
No matter the circumstances for which buyers need an expanding gate, we wanted to make sure our selection of products covered a variety of situations. Busy parents who will usually have a child in-arm when operating these will like the Regalo Extra Wide, since it's easy to unlatch with one hand and has a nice opening for quickly passing through. The Summer Infant 33180 is another choice that's a breeze to open and close, plus it has a sophisticated appearance that keeps a home from looking entirely taken over by baby accessories.
Those who want something that can almost be completely out of the way and inconspicuous when open will like the BabyDan Guard Me. It retracts much like an accordion when not in use, taking up very little space. The Smart Retract Retract-A-Gate is another great compact option since it rolls up like a scroll when shut. It's also nearly silent when opening and closing, making it a good choice to keep near cribs containing sleeping infants.
If you never know where exactly you'll need to set up a barrier on any given day, there are a few versatile and easy-to-move options on our list. The Richell Freestanding 94156 requires zero installation and can be picked up and relocated at a moment's notice, and the Carlson Pet Products Lil' Tuffy is simply pressure-mounted and doesn't call for any tools in setup, so it is also a breeze to put elsewhere.
Special Honors
The Uline Safety Barricade If you need something to keep employees or customers out of restricted areas in a commercial or warehouse setting, this is the model to do it. A bright yellow color makes it hard to miss, so nobody will be accidentally entering off-limits rooms. It expands to a generous 20 feet, and retracts to a compact 24 inches for storage. With two end handles and six wheels, it's easy to relocate in a hurry, too. uline.com
The Orvis 6-Panel Gate/Crate Combo While nobody could call it a budget-friendly item, this is the gate to go with if you need to contain a large group of rowdy pets. It has six panels that measure 36 inches in height and 29 inches in width, and each one can be locked in place at either 90- or 180-degree angles, allowing you to block off an area of your home or set it up like a rectangular play area. orvis.com
4. Regalo Extra Wide
5. Smart Retract Retract-A-Gate
6. North States Supergate Easy Swing and Lock
7. North States Supergate 4620
8. Cardinal Gates Stairway Special
9. BabyDan Guard Me
10. GMI Keepsafe
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.