8 Best Baby Gates for Every Type of Room

There are certain things to look for when it comes to choosing the right baby gate for you and your baby’s needs. Generally speaking, you’ll want to consider the gate’s strength, latch integrity, and size of openings if the gate has slots that could trap tiny fingers and toes.

You should also look for gates that are at least two feet tall and don’t leave a gap at the bottom for an infant to pass through or get stuck in—a good rule of thumb for this is less than three inches between the floor and the bottom of the gate.

Other baby gate features like construction materials, style and ease of installation can be selected at your discretion (assuming that they meet basic safety standards). Whichever type of baby gate you decide to go with, you’ll want to be sure to specify it on your baby registry as there are many different kinds of baby gates.

Check out our best baby registries, and if you’re really into prepping smarter, not harder, peep the best baby food delivery services, too. There are many things to keep in mind while getting your home ready for the arrival of your newborn. Stressing over how to choose the best baby gate doesn’t need to be one of them.

We’ve chose the best baby gates for every type of room based on our own rigorous tests, overall value, performance, utility and durability.

The Best Baby Gates of 2023

Best Overall Baby Gate

The Stairway Special Safety Gate (Model SS-30)

We picked the Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Safety Gate as our overall best baby gate because of its durability, maximum safety and versatility. This gate is designed for the top of stairs, but it’s versatile enough to work in all areas and rooms. We love that it has a  Features unique latch system that’s difficult for children to open.

The gate is constructed of aluminum which is lighter weight than steel, and it meets Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certification requirements for safety. JPMA-certified child safety gates usually have a marker on the packaging that indicates the manufacturer has met certain safety standards.

Pros

• Sturdy, lightweight construction
• Adjustable width
• Can be installed at an angle of up to 30 degrees
• Wall mounted for maximum safety
• Good for stairways
• Opens in both directions

Cons

• Does not close automatically
• Pricier than other models

Regalo Easy Step Walk Through Baby Gate

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly baby gate or want to spend a little less on baby gates for rooms in your with less foot traffic, then this Amazon Best Seller is a great, affordable choice.

The Regalo Easy Step Baby Gate is another JPMA-certified pick that can be pressure mounted for added security, but it doesn’t have to be if you want a baby gate that is non-permanent. The standard model secures a doorway of up to 38.5 inches, while the extra-wide model can block off a doorway of up to 56 inches. Plus, it has a one-handed release feature for convenience, so you can walk through the gate with one arm full.

Pros

• Lightweight, durable and strong
• Uses pressure cups instead of hardware for mounting
• Safety lock
• Extra-wide option available
• All-steel design

Cons

• Narrow gate opening

Qdos Crystal Designer Baby Safety Gate

You don’t have to sacrifice design when you’re babyproofing your home. This see-through, mounted baby gate gives off art museum vibes—and we love that about it. The transparency of the gate not only blends in with the existing décor style of any room in your house, but it’s also an added safety feature. You can see straight through it to keep an eye on baby.

The high-quality acrylic is durable and will hold up against rowdy little ones. Some buyers note that installation takes some time (and patience) but say it’s worth it for the finished results!

Pros

• Made of sleek, durable acrylic
• Can be mounted at an angle and top or bottom of stairs
• Meets Tougher European and all US and Canadian safety standards
• Baseboard adapters included

Cons

• Pricier than other options

Toddleroo by North States Driftwood Extra Wide Baby Gate

This extra-wide, JPMA-certified baby gate from Toddleroo can secure an entryway of up to 52 inches wide and has a self-closing, triple-locking system. The gate door swings both ways and has a hold-open feature for when you need to go back and forth from room to room.

This baby gate is pressure mounted, so it’s not recommended for use at the top of the stairs. However, the pressure-mounted gate installs easily using tension knobs to secure it in place without damaging your walls, and no additional hardware or tools are required for setup!

Pros

• Fits openings 29.75 inches to 52 inches wide
• Easy install with no wall damage
• Self-closing feature
• One-handed release

Cons

• Pressure mount is not recommended for top of stairs

Evenflo Easy Walk-Thru Pressure-Mounted Gate

For doorways that see a lot of foot traffic, the Evenflo Easy Walk-Thru Baby Gate is the perfect solution. It’s sturdy, metal and pressure-mounted. It has a standard width size and fits openings of up to 39 inches. The gate opens in both directions and has an easy-glide handle with a safety lock indicator to let you know when the gate is securely closed.

The pressure-mount installation doesn’t require any tools, so setting up this gate is quick and easy. Plus, it won’t leave scuffs or scratches on your walls. Reviewers who installed the gate at home report it taking, "less than five minutes and without any special skills." Considering parenting is a full-time job, crossing "handyman" off your list is a total win.

Pros

• Made of sturdy metal
• Easy install with no wall damage
• Easy-glide handle
• Safety lock indicator
• Easy to wipe clean

Cons

• Pressure mount is not recommended for top of stairs
• Requires narrow sponge or cloth cleaning

Munchkin Loft Hardware Mounted Baby Gate for Stairs

This aluminum baby gate from Munchkin is no joke, and it’s just as sturdy as it looks. Because it’s mounted with hardware and doesn’t have a bottom bar, it is ideal for use at the top of the stairs.

The gate swings in both directions while the gate’s handle has a double-locking system that lets adults through with ease with single-handed operation. However, the handle is designed to be difficult for kids to open, so you shouldn’t have to worry about them getting through.

The metal gate’s width adjusts from 26.5 to 40 inches, and a unique tuning system adjusts for the perfect vertical fit, even if your walls aren't perfectly level.

Pros

• Ideal for stairs, but works in hallways and doorways too
• Sturdy build
• Double-locking system
• Indexed sizing system allows for quick and easy width adjustments
• Tuning system adjusts for a perfect vertical fit
• Quick-release wall mount allows the gate to be removed quickly

Cons

• A bit bulky-looking

Summer Infant Deluxe Stairway Simple to Secure Wood Gate

The Summer Deluxe Stairway Wood Gate has a minimalist wooden design and is easy to use. It comes in an oak and black finish, so you can choose the gate color that best matches your home décor.

This gate mounts to the wall using hardware and has an attachment point you mount on the opposite wall or banister to lock the gate closed. While that may sound like more of a challenging setup than other gates on this list, the Summer Infant Wood Gate comes with directions that make installation a breeze.

The gate opening is wide and the gate door swings both ways for easy pass-thru. The latch is easy to maneuver, and the gate itself is easily adjustable with two sliding parts. Plus, we love how it looks attached to the wall.

Pros

• Minimalist wooden design
• Easy to install
• One-hand release
• No threshold to step over, which helps prevent tripping

Cons

• Must be hard-mounted (requires drilling holes)

Baby Delight Go-with-Me Portable Mesh Baby Gate

Whether you are headed on vacation or just going over to someone’s house, this portable gate will save you the headache of trying to keep baby in one place. Trust us when we say you’ll be adding this JMPA-certified baby gate to the top of your packing list.

Setup takes practically no time, and it doesn’t leave any marks, scrapes or holes on walls. Plus, it folds into a travel bag (yes, it comes with one)! The expandable travel baby gate comes in three sizes: 48, 60 and 72 inches. Opening and closing this one is a breeze.

Pros

• Folds up into a bag for portability
• Lightweight
• Affordable
• Super-fast setup
• Baby Delight is locally owned and operated in Rhode Island

Cons

• May need to buy more than one size for different occasions

FAQs

What baby gates are renter-friendly?

If you're renting your home and don't want the added stress or expense of putting holes in your sheet rock, consider using a pressure-mounted baby gate. These rely on gentle-but-firm pressure from an expanding swivel system to secure. That means you don't need to screw anything into the wall, create holes or damage precious paint.

Can you put a baby gate at the top of stairs?

Yes! Look for models that are designed to be used at the top of stairs and have door openings that swing in the right direction. We like pressure-mounted gates for and the Munchkin aluminum frame model we mentioned earlier in our list.