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Key Considerations for Picking Your Pole Barn Door

Before diving into door styles, consider how your building will be used and how often you’ll access it. These four questions will help guide your decision:

1. How often will you be using the doors?

Is the door on an Agricultural building with equipment going in and out daily, or is it on a Machine Shed that you spend time in once a week? The frequency of use can help determine how much convenience and ease is necessary in accessing the doorway.

2. What size of vehicle or equipment will be going through the doorway

The features of certain types of doors are really only beneficial for a certain size of door opening. The size of door you need has a direct correlation to the type of door you select. Knowing what the doorway is going to be used for and the associated dimensions will help lead you to the right decision.

3. What’s your building layout?

It is important that you take the complete layout of your building into consideration, including ceiling heights. Figuring out and being clear with your builder about the type of door you want up front can help influence design and structure choices for the building proactively.

4. What do you want your building to look like?

As much as the type of door you pick for your pole barn building can make or break the functionality, the style and design of the door can make or break the finished look. The ability to customize the design and features of the pole barn door varies greatly based on the type of door you choose.

Once you’ve outlined your needs, it’s time to compare the three most common types of pole barn doors:

• Sliding
• Overhead
• Hydraulic

The Budget Saver: Sliding Doors for Pole Barns

Sliding doors are a cost-effective solution for large openings, especially when simplicity and durability matter most.

Pole barn sliding doors are the best way to get more door for less money. Sliding doors offer more width than other pole barn door options and allow you to maximize use of the entire building clearance height.

For reference, Greiner Buildings has installed sliding doors up to 40’ wide and 20’ tall.

Sliding doors allow for maximum use of the building height

Sliding doors are an affordable utility option for your pole building

Sliding doors let you use the full opening height—handy for Agricultural Storage and Equipment Buildings where clearance matters.

However, what these doors offer in terms of utility, they tend to lack in convenience and comfort.

Advantages:

• Affordable and ideal for large, open entrances

• Maximize clearance height

• Easy to maintain for farm operations

Considerations:

• Manual operation (less convenient for daily-use workshops)

• Don’t seal as tightly (dirt/drafts in agricultural settings)

• Need wall space to slide (limits windows/doors on that wall)

As an affordable option when large doorway space is needed, pole barn sliding doors are an excellent choice for Livestock barns, Equestrian buildings, and Machine Sheds.

The Reliable Favorite: Overhead Doors for Pole Barns

Overhead doors—also known as garage-style doors—are the go-to choice for many Farm Shops, Shome®  and Workshops across Iowa and Illinois.

They work like traditional garage doors with automatic openers—no stepping out into the cold after a long day in the field—making life easier in Hobby Garages and Farm Shops. Beyond convenience, overhead doors help protect what matters most with solid sealing and insulation—key for tools and vehicles in Machine Sheds and Commercial Shops.

Design flexibility is a bonus: colors, textures, windows, and hardware help tie together Residential Shome®  and Agricultural Buildings for a cohesive look.

Overhead doors provide a stylistic finish to your building with matching doors and window features

Overhead doors are convenient and come in standard options up to 24 wide

Advantages:

• Remote/automatic operation for everyday-use facilities

• Strong insulation and weather resistance for Midwest climates

• Clean, polished finish; customizable windows/hardware for curb appeal

• Tight sealing to keep out moisture/pests in Workshops and Garages

Considerations:

• Typically limited to around 24–32 feet wide

• Require about 2 feet of headroom inside (plan early in new builds and remodels)

With the most convenience and customization options, overhead doors work best for Shomes, Hobby Garages and Workshops, and agricultural buildings.

The Powerhouse: Hydraulic Doors for Pole Barns

Hydraulic doors are engineered for strength—built to handle massive openings and oversized machinery. With sizing options of up to 60’ wide, these doors can be expensive; however, they are also often the only option for doorways of this size, making the decision easy.

Hydraulic doors offer all of the same insulation and weather resistance as the overhead doors, allowing you to keep your building climate-controlled and ensure optimal conditions for the contents of your pole building. Additionally, hydraulic doors open outward, allowing you to maximize space inside the building. There is no need to expand the height of your building – adding unnecessary cost to your project – simply to fit the door.

Hydraulic doors offer maximum doorway size and convenience

Hydraulic doors open to the outside providing the best use of the building space

Advantages:

• Massive openings (up to 60 feet wide) for oversized machinery

• Outward swing preserves interior space in shop floors

• Deliver superior temperature control and full weather sealing for year-round protection

• Ideal for aircraft, combines, and tall implements

Considerations:

• Higher cost due to the hydraulic system

• Requires exterior clearance to open (plan site layout in commercial and agricultural yards)

Large-scale farming operations and commercial business most commonly benefit from the use of hydraulic doors, and in general we recommend hydraulic doors for buildings like airplane hangars and agricultural shops