Protect Your Little One with the 9 Best Retractable Baby Gates

Top 9 Best Retractable Baby Gates 2023

1. Best Overall Pick: BabyDan Guard Me Retractable Safety Gate

Retractable gates are usually made of mesh. But the ‘BabyDan Guard Me’ retractable gate is made of lightweight plastic panels that you can attach together to make a foldable gate. You can order additional panels to block wider spaces. It can be mounted both on the inside or the outside of door frames or at the top or bottom of the stairs.

The panels fold over themselves and retract silently to one side with the dual-action ‘slide and click’ button on the top of the frame. Here is a quick look at how this gate works. There’s no bar on the bottom, so you don’t need to watch your step to avoid tripping. Latching and locking this gate is a one-handed operation.

This gate is sturdier than regular retractable gates and more durable due to the use of lightweight but heavy-duty plastic panels. It employs a very innovative and unique concept as far as retractable gates go, so it’s relatively more expensive compared to regular mesh gates but totally worth it. If you have pets – especially big dogs, or kids that keep knocking down safety gates, then this is the ideal purchase for you.

On the flip side, standard American door frames are usually 36” wide, and this gate stops an inch short at 35, so you have to order an additional panel just to make up for this oversight. Individual panels are more expensive to purchase, and this problem could be easily resolved if one extra panel was included in the standard order.

Protip: Instead of following the complicated installation instructions in the manual, here is a helpful Youtube video with all the necessary information and directions that will guide you better. You can also scan the QR code provided on the box of the product to view it.

2. Best Budget Pick: EasyBaby 34" Retractable Baby Gate

This retractable baby gate has a dual-action unlocking mechanism that requires pushing the button and turning it clockwise, so babies don’t accidentally press the button and unlatch the gate. Easy handles are provided to pull the mesh gate out and lock it again. Both the operations can be achieved with one hand, which is a win for the design aspect of the gate.

This gate’s safety standards are on par with ASTM and EN requirements, so you can rest easy knowing that the right quality checks were performed, and it poses no safety hazards. It is easy to align and install this gate as it comes with a wall template and a clear instruction manual.

While the quality of the mesh used, the design aspects that take into account the ease of usage, and the price, are major plus points in favor of this baby gate, the hardware that comes with the kit is made of very poor quality. Another problem is that toddlers tend to grasp the bottom handle and pull it, rendering the gate useless as it unlatches easily. The gate is 34” tall, and sometimes, instead of retracting completely, it just hangs along the wall.

Protip: The screws provided with the set are made of poor quality steel and break easily. Buy a set of good quality screws in the same size separately and use those instead of trying to retract broken screws while installing the gate.

3. Best Looking: Summer Infant Retractable Baby Gate

This gate has a sleek design and an attractive pattern on the mesh, so it adds a bit of style to your home decor. Looks aside, it is a sturdy gate if you secure the spool and latch with additional reinforcements that aren’t included in the pack.

There’s a bit of a problem with the latching and retracting if it isn’t done right and requires some patience. The gate needs to be aligned properly to the latch to lock it, which is time-consuming.  Unlocking in a hurry will leave the mesh hanging instead of retracting properly into the spool. Other than these two very problematic points, the gate works wonderfully.

The mesh is durable; it’s the right height and quality, lasts for a long time, and doesn’t let toddlers get under it. Installation takes about 20 to 30 minutes and the instructions are very easy to follow.

Protip: Use your own wall anchors or additional reinforcements to secure the gate properly.

4. Easiest to Install: EasyBaby Extra Wide Retractable Baby Gate

This is another sleekly designed mesh gate that doesn’t take up much space. The template and manual provided for installation are easy to follow, and the gate is sturdy enough to keep your toddlers as well as pets safe.

The design doesn’t require a floor bar, which makes the space easy to navigate when the gate is not in use. It was also tested and approved by EN and ASTM standards so that’s another point in its favor. This is also one of the most affordable mesh gates available on the market.

This is an extra-wide gate, and the two-step latch and lock action requires both hands even though the official claim says otherwise. And if your opening is wide, say 40+ inches, latching and unlocking might require even more care. If you don’t want the gate hanging but properly retracted, you’ll need to use both hands to let it unlock and roll properly.

While the template and manual are easy to follow, there’s a slight adjustment you need to make with the mount while marking the screw holes, so they align properly. This tip could be included in the manual, so users don’t have to figure it out by trial and error.

Protip: If you think the holes marked for screws are slightly off, use the template provided to mark the first hole and then use the mount to mark the second hole, and you’ll find the installation much easier.

5. Best for Stairs: Retract-a-Gate Smart Retract Safety Gate

Since this design is hailed for its sturdiness and safety standards for child-proofing the top and bottom of stairs, it also offers a ‘Stair Banister Kit’ that allows you to mount the brackets on a flat surface without damaging your banister posts. This is especially useful if your stairs begin or end in awkward non-standard angles.

This kit needs to be bought separately and isn’t included in the standard package. The mesh used is transparent, scratch-resistant, washable, and comes in three different colors. This mesh gate comes highly recommended due to its JPMA safety certification and hence carries a higher price tag than regular mesh gates.

Although the latch and lock action is well designed and operable with a single hand, the lock gets stuck sometimes and needs to be switched back and forth to fix the issue. Latching and locking is a 2-step process, and if you forget to lock the gate after it’s latched, babies can push through without much effort – a potential safety hazard. Getting the bottom hook to latch on also requires some foot action. For a gate that costs three times as much as the most affordable option included in our list, minor improvements could be made to the design to justify the price tag.

Protip: Always remember to lock the gate after you’ve latched it. It’s a 2-step process, and toddlers, as well as pets, can easily push through the latched gate unless it is also locked.

6. Best Eco-Friendly: Babepai Retractable Baby Gate

The standard package for this gate comes with an additional set of hardware so you can move it between two different mounts as per usage. The mesh is lightweight, durable, and recyclable. This gate is easy to install, and all the necessary hardware is provided with the kit. It’s easy to close and open as latching and locking and pulling it from the spool are all designed to be single-handed operations. The mesh retracts quickly and doesn’t get stuck midway.

You might have to install the lower latch above the baseboard, leaving a gap for the pets to get through or chew off the bottom. Although the gate itself is sturdy, the hooks that latch onto the locks are kind of flimsy and prone to breakage. Installation is a little tricky as the manual is poorly worded and getting the mounts perfectly aligned is a chore but absolutely necessary for easy usage later.

Protip: If you need to use this gate at the bottom of the stairs, you can avoid damaging your banisters by using heavy-duty zip ties to secure the mount on that end. Although this isn’t the safest way, if done properly, it can save you a lot of hassle.

7. Most Versatile: PRObebi Mesh Retractable Safety Baby Gate

This is an extra-wide gate – can be extended up to 59 inches, which can be retracted in any direction. It also comes with two sets of hardware accessories for mounting so you can pull it in any direction. This is a new design released by PRObebi, and the product carries a two-year purchase warranty. If you aren’t satisfied with your purchase, the customer support is also excellent, and you’ll find the return and refund process hassle-free. They’re also very helpful in recommending additional hardware kits, the right gate width, and more.

The mesh used in this gate isn’t very durable, wrinkles easily, and needs to be handled with care. Although the wall hardware holds up well when installed, it’s all plastic when metal hardware is the norm. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case here and the plastic hardware pales in comparison. The drywall anchor screws provided with the kit do not work as intended and you might need to buy sturdier screws that don’t break off easily.

Protip: This mesh safety gate is good for toddlers. If you’re looking for safety barriers for your pets, go with the other options listed above as this one isn’t sturdy enough.

8. Best for Wide Openings: Gaterol Active Retractable Safety Gate

This mesh gate is wide as well as tall. You can install it in narrow as well as wide openings as it has a range of 18” to 55”. It’s best used to restrict tall pets but not recommended for the top of the stairs. This gate also comes with two sets of mounting hardware accessories so you can move it around easily.

This gate requires the usage of both hands to pull it out of the spool, slip the latch, and lock it. Also, if you unlock the gate without pressing the release button, it makes a loud noise while it rolls back – not a good purchase for light sleepers. Pets and babies may figure out how to release the lower latch as it’s quite easy. There’s also a problem with the lock getting stuck with repeated usage.

Protip: If you don’t want to turn the knob every single time you release the gate and avoid making unnecessary noise, then turn the knob in the unlock position and use a small screw to keep it in that position. Problem solved!

9. Best Premium Pick: BABYSEATER Baby Gates

This is an extra-wide as well as a tall baby safety gate that is built with sturdy materials. All the hardware required to install the gate is included in the standard package and you’ll not need any external tools or screws to secure it properly. The design is sleek and the spool isn’t intrusive, taking up very little space.

It has multiple locking mechanisms on both ends so you can rest assured in the knowledge that your toddlers and pets are safe and sound. Opening and closing the gate are single-handed operations. In addition to the instruction manual, screws, and mounting brackets, the standard package also includes measuring tools and a 3D instructions video that takes you through each step of the installation, making it a breeze to install.

The quality and build of the gate are sturdy and long-lasting. The spring tension is intense in the beginning, and you might have to pull hard at the mesh to get it out of the spool. It loosens up over time with regular usage.

The gate is unidirectional and can only be mounted from left to right – this makes it a little constraining to install in certain corners. Contrary to what is advertised, you can’t install this gate at odd angles. It’s also not easy to install unless you have two proper flat surfaces to mount the gate.

Protip: This gate is very difficult to install with drywall anchors without causing considerable damage. Also, you can increase the durability of the gate by using extra-long screws.