The Best Baby Gates for Stairs and Doorways, Tested by Families

Lager and Ilarraza both advised that parents should only use hardware-mounted baby gates for stairs. As its name implies, the hardware-mounted SS-30 Stairway Special Safety Gate has been specifically designed for use at the top or bottom of stairways—in fact, Ilarraza tells us that Cardinal gates are “the choice of most child-proofing professionals.” This model was also the choice of our product tester Amanda and her husband, who installed it upstairs in their home and were impressed by its durability and security. “It’s very effective, and I trust it to keep my baby away from the dangers of the stairwell, which is exactly what you want when choosing a security gate,” Amanda told us.

Amanda was a fan of the latch that can be opened and closed with one hand, which she found especially helpful when her hands were full. “I like that this gate can be opened and closed with one hand so that I can use it while holding my daughter or balancing laundry baskets with the other hand,” she shared. It doesn’t have a bottom bar, so it’s easy for adults to step through when needed without risking dangerous trips or stumbles at the top of a staircase. Plus, the sturdy metal hardware and latch design gave Amanda added peace of mind. “There’s no way that my child can open this gate or bust through it. The latch requires dexterity to unlock it, pressing on either side simultaneously and lifting up before pulling it open,” she explained.

While assembly was challenging for Amanda and her husband, they appreciated how secure it felt once it was installed and how it opened and closed smoothly. In particular, the pair noted that it can be mounted at a 30-degree angle if needed, so it’s a versatile option for closing off spaces in awkward floor plans. This gate is intended to stay in place for a long time after it’s set up and Amanda definitely agrees. “Once installed, the gate seems sturdy enough that it could last several years for numerous children,” she shared. Despite its heavy-duty capabilities though, Amanda said it’s slim and elegant, so it won’t be an eyesore in your home, even if it’s there for years to come.

Height: 29.5" | Width range: 27" to 42.5" | Weight: 10 lbs. | Mount type: Hardware

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Open-concept homes can become quite tricky when you have a baby on the move. That’s where the Regalo Super Wide Baby Gate and Playard will come in handy. Ideal for large spaces, the eight-panel design can close off openings as wide as 16 feet. Our product tester Jamie was a big fan of this—the mom of four told us: “The gate was just the right size as far as length and height. It would definitely work in other areas of our house with a smaller opening too.” Erin, a survey respondent and mom of one, agrees. “We have a very large opening into our living space and the Regalo was versatile in that you could add and take away panels as needed. Plus, it left minimal damage to our walls,” she shared.

While Jamie and her family used it to block off the fireplace in their living room, this extra-wide baby gate could easily be used throughout the home. “I think the gate could come in handy in a few spots at our house,” Jamie said. Extra panels can be added or removed to create the unique shape you need to fit awkward spaces and angles. Better yet, the gate can even be converted into a standalone playpen for baby, so you can get even more bang for your buck. “The quality is very good, and I can see why it would cost more than other gates. I would have definitely invested in this gate for myself. I also really like the dual use,” says Jamie, rating the gate a 10 out of 10 for value for money.

Even though this baby gate is hardware-mounted, Jamie shared that it was fairly simple to assemble. “I used a drill to fasten the hardware to the wall. It didn’t budge once installed. It was easy to adjust it to fit well in our space,” she told us. Due to the gate’s 2-in-1 playpen design, some parents say they don’t attach it to the wall so that they can easily move it around and reshape it when needed. “We used this to section off a big portion of our living room, the [Christmas] tree and more. We never needed to attach it to the wall,” explained m6agua, a member of The Bump community forums. No matter which way you have it set up, the sturdy, all-metal frame can be counted on to keep your little one safe and secure. “My one-year-old knows how to open a few different gates and was unable to open this one,” Jamie told us, which is exactly what you want to hear when it comes to choosing a baby gate!

Height: 28" | Width range: Up to 194" | Weight: 31 lbs. | Mount type: Hardware

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It’s no secret that hardware-mounted baby gates aren’t always the easiest to install, but this option may just be the exception. Jessell, our product tester, reported that it took her only 30 minutes to assemble and mount, thanks to the detailed instructions and minimal tools required. “The template was extremely helpful when it came to attaching the hardware to my walls, which is great because I didn't just have to guess where everything is supposed to line up,” she told us. Plus, once it was installed, she was confident in its sturdiness and praised it for being easy to open—even when carrying her one-year-old.

According to Jessell, the simple installation process also means that this baby gate is super versatile. “I like how it can be easily removed from its latches in case we need to move things up and down the stairs. The simplicity in the latching system makes putting the gate back so simple.” she shared. This unique feature makes it ideal for high-traffic areas in the home. While the gate is a breeze for adults to open and close, the same isn’t true for little ones. “My daughter is an escape artist, and I like how the latch can be configured to only open one way. [A] click noise indicates that the door is locked so I don't have to second guess,” Jessell explains.

All in all, Jessell praises this baby gate for being sturdier than most others she’s come across. The sleek design seamlessly matched her home’s aesthetic and the adaptable fit made it easy to use in multiple living spaces. “The size is just right; I really like how it can be easily adjusted to fit the width of the space,” she told us. And in the future when Jessell’s child no longer needs a gate, it won’t be a pain to put away. “I like how this product doesn't come with a lot of parts, which makes it easy to store away,” she shared.

Height: 31" | Width range: 28.7" to 47.9" | Weight: 9.9 lbs. | Mount type: Hardware

When choosing a baby gate you’ll need to factor in your child’s height and climbing skills. For added security, opt for a tall baby gate, like this one from Cardinal Gates. Our product tester Khadijah set it up at the entrance of her 9-month-old’s bedroom and told us it felt very secure and didn’t require any adjustments after installation. Right away, she was a fan of how tall this gate was. “I appreciated the gate's height, which provided added security since my son is at the stage where he pulls up on everything,” she shared.

Of course, if you can’t step over a gate, you’ll want to make sure it’s easy to open. Thankfully Khadijah tells us it was easy for her to open and close the gate, even with one hand. “The closing mechanism was impressively smooth, almost as if it had a magnetic effect, making it feel effortless to shut,” she explained. This effortless magnetic locking mechanism was a big hit with Khadijah throughout testing. In particular, she liked how the additional bottom lock made it especially escape-proof, even for her determined 9-month-old. Khadijah was a fan of the impressive safety features, which made her confident that her child was safe and secure. “The overall structure was very sturdy, easily withstanding my child’s tugs and pushes,” she told us.

Despite its 36-inch height, this baby gate won’t be an obstacle for adults and big kids in your household. Khadijah praised its adjustable width, which fit perfectly in her child’s doorway. “[It allowed] both me and my baby to comfortably step or crawl through, and the bottom bar was low-profile, so stepping over it wasn’t cumbersome,” she said. To top it all off, the bars were well-spaced to provide safety while still ensuring that she could keep an eye on her 9-month-old son as he played.

Height: 36" | Width range: 29.5" to 32.5" | Weight: N/A | Mount type: Pressure

Little ones love to explore, meaning you may need to buy more than one baby gate—and if you have multiple doorways to block off, things can get expensive. That’s why we love this cost-effective design from Regalo. Though it’s significantly less expensive than other options on the market, it still delivers on safety and sturdiness.

Our product tester Brittany set this gate up in the doorway of her children’s playroom and was impressed by how secure it was from the get-go. Even though her youngest child can reach the latch at the top of the gate, he isn’t able to open it. “It’s the perfect height, and it feels sturdy. My child was grabbing the bars and trying to shake it, but it wasn’t moving at all,” she shared. Plus, for added peace of mind, it audibly clicks when closed. While this baby gate is effective for Brittany’s 15-month-old, the mom of four notes that her 5- and 7-year-old kiddos can easily open it when needed, so it’s a great choice for families with older children as well. “It opens a little differently than other gates I’ve tried, but it’s still not difficult to get it open,” Brittany told us.

Brittany also appreciated how this adjustable gate can be used in several spaces throughout the house. It even comes with an additional 6-inch panel, so you don’t have to purchase extra extensions—talk about bang for your buck. And no matter which door or hallway you choose to install it in, setting it up again won’t be an issue. “It would be easy to move around to different places. You just twist the pressure-mounted screws on the ends until it’s loose and set it up in a new spot,” Brittany explained. What’s more, when this baby gate is no longer needed, you’ll be able to store it easily, thanks to the flat, compact design.

Height: 30" | Width range: 35" to 38.5" | Weight: 10 lbs. | Mount type: Pressure

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A retractable gate is a great option if you want something that tucks away when not in use, offering a minimalist design that blends seamlessly with your home. Our product tester Tracy gave the Retract-A-Gate by Smart Retract a 10 out of 10 for style and design, telling us, “I think it’s sleek and blends nicely into any decor and when it’s retracted, it isn’t very noticeable.” And of course while style is nice, you always want safety top of mind, and the Retract-A-Gate delivers on this count too. Unlike many retractable gates, it's JPMA-certified for use at the top or bottom of stairs. Tracy raved about how secure it felt, telling us,“The gate does click into the hooks so you do hear a click,” she says. “There’s no confusion around whether or not it’s securely in place.”

While mesh might not seem as solid or as practical as traditional metal or wood gates, this mesh is strong. The gate is designed to support up to 200 pounds of pressure, and in practice Tracy tells us, “It felt nice and sturdy,” giving it a 10 out of 10 score for safety features. And she’s not the only one—multiple moms in our survey appreciated how the gate managed to maintain an unobtrusive design while still being super secure. “It’s very sturdy and drilled into the wall with huge screws,” explained Ariana, a mom of one. “It looks nice and seems to be very safe when locked in.” Moreover, the versatile mesh design can be used both indoors and outdoors, and installed at any angle, so it’s the perfect fit for awkward spaces in doorways, hallways or stairwells.

Height: 34" | Width range: Up to 52" or 72" | Weight: 4.2 lbs. | Mount type: Hardware

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Although a pressure-mounted baby gate is a no-go for stairs, this type is a great choice if you want to keep babies out of a room like an office or a kitchen without damaging your walls with screws. Our product tester Kayla gave the Safety 1st Easy Install a 10 out of 10 for ease of use, telling us, “I installed it in our hallway, where the pressure-mounting style felt very secure and eliminated the need to drill into our walls, which I appreciated.” Survey respondent Frankie*, a mom of one, agreed that this was a big selling point, and was pleased that she didn’t have to drill into the wall when setting it up. In fact, you won’t need to use any tools when assembling and mounting this option. Other members of The Bump community agreed that this pressure-mounted gate was equal parts simple and effective, which isn’t always the case when assembling and mounting baby gates.

Even though this baby gate rings in at under $50, you can rest assured that it doesn’t skimp on safety features. Kayla rated it 10 out of 10 in this category, telling us it was, “easily the sturdiest gate I’ve owned, and it gives me real peace of mind. The structure feels incredibly solid—no movement at all, even when my infant or toddler leans against it or my dog nudges it with his nose.” She also had high praise for the magnetic latch system, which ensures the gate swings closed behind you and locks automatically. “The gate closes with a firm click, which I like because it reassures me it’s latched properly every time,” she says. Moreover, a color-coded safety indicator gives you visual confirmation that the gate is installed correctly. When it’s time to re-adjust the gate’s pressure indicator will turn red and when it’s properly in place, it’ll turn green. This way, you’ll always know whether or not it’s securely locked.

Height: 28" | Width range: 29" to 38" | Weight: 9.8 lbs. | Mount type: Pressure

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