Best Baby Gates for Every Type of Room in 2024

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.

Best Baby Gates of 2024

Best Baby Gate Overall

Summer Infant Decorative Extra Tall Baby Gate

This Summer Infant baby gate is a bestseller, and it's easy to see why. With an extra-tall design, the 36-inch height makes it an especially safe option for stairway use. This installation option requires hardware mounting and drill holes. On the other hand, if you install it in a doorway, it works with a no-drill pressure mount system.

This baby gate has a convenient 19-inch door in the middle with a hold-open feature and auto-close, so you don't have to worry about accidentally leaving it open. The door features an arch for decorative flair. The sturdy metal gate fits openings between 28.5 and 48 inches wide.

Pros

• Made of strong metal
• Extra-tall design makes it especially safe
• Convenient hold-open and auto-close door
• Decorative arch enhances style

Cons

• Stairway installation requires hardware mounting and drill holes

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.

This Regalo 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

Evenflo Barn Door Walk-Thru Gate

This high-end baby gate has a charming farmhouse design that we love, with wood and metal components that are built to last. It offers flexible placement options; this includes a pressure-mounted system for doorways and hallways and hardware mounting for stairway use.

The Evenflo Barn Door Walk-Thru Gate measures 30 inches tall and accommodates openings up to 43 inches wide. It features a one-handed opening function and an auto-close hinge.

Pros

• Beautiful farmhouse-inspired design
• Quality construction; built to last
• Multiple placement options
• Easy one-handed opening and auto-close door

Cons

• At 35 pounds, it's on the heavy side
• Stairway installation requires hardware mounting and drill holes

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! For even wider openings, go with this 72-inch-wide Toddleroo baby gate.

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, this Evenflo 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 wood baby 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)

EasyBaby Extra Wide Retractable Baby Gate

Retractable baby gates like this EasyBaby model have an advantage over traditional gates. They can be easily left open without blocking a stairway or entryway, making them more space efficient.

This hardware-mounted gate is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, made from sturdy metal with a durable mesh barrier. It comes in white, black or grey to complement different spaces.

This mesh baby gate has a simple push and turn design for locking and unlocking. It measures 33 inches tall and fits openings up to 71 inches wide. All the components are included for installation, along with a manual for a straightforward setup process.

Pros

• Space-saving
• Multiple placement options
• Can be used as an indoor or outdoor baby gate
• Keeps walkways clear
• One-hand release
• Easy installation

Cons

• Must be hard-mounted (requires drilling holes)

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.