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Best stair gates: top safety gates tried and tested by experts
Manca has been testing baby products, health gadgets and gardening power tools for almost four years, weeding out the weak and recommending the strong
Buying a Don't Buy stair gate versus one that's a Best Buy could mean the difference between keeping your child safe or not. Our testing weights safety – the key aim of a stair gate – highest. This means that any stair gates or barriers that have safety failures are penalised and, depending on the failure, could become a 0% Don't Buy.
We've reviewed stair gates and safety barriers from big-name brands, including BabyDan, Cuggl, Munchkin and Safety 1st, and our tests have uncovered some stair gates that won't withstand repeated attempts to force it open. With our help and advice, you can spend your money wisely on a robust and easy-to-use option with the right attachment method for your walls.
Keep reading to see which screw-fix and pressure-fit stair gates we recommend, and take a look at our advice on the different types and key features to consider.
How our tests find you the best
We've tested 27 stair gates
We've put pressure fit and screw fix stair gates from big brands through their paces, and included a range of prices to help you find the best one for your family and budget.
Safety and durability
We look out for finger traps and sharp corners that might cause injuries. We also check durability and whether it can be damaged by a toddler having a tantrum.
Ease of use
Can you open the gate one-handed while carrying your baby, or will you trip over the bottom U-bar? We'll let you know so there are no nasty surprises.
We also test...
Whether it permanently damages your walls, how long it takes to install, and how well the latching and auto-close mechanisms work.
The stair gates we tested
The biggest brands and most popular 13 stair gates are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the stair gate test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Stair gate | Price | Score | Attachment method | Min and max width | Opening and closing | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableGet Digital access £9.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 83% | Pressure fit | 76cm-82cm | |||
| 82% | Screw fix | 65cm-106.5cm | ||||
| 82% | Pressure fit | 73cm-80cm | ||||
| 81% | Screw fix | 76cm-81cm | ||||
| 80% | Screw fix | 75cm-81cm | ||||
| 79% | Screw fix | 62.5cm-106.8cm | ||||
| 79% | Screw fix | 62cm-102cm | ||||
| 77% | Screw fix | 63.5cm-106cm | ||||
| 76% | Screw fix | 55cm-89cm | ||||
| 76% | Pressure fit | 76cm-82cm | ||||
| 74% | Screw fix | 72cm-78.5cm | ||||
| 74% | Screw fix | 64.5-102cm | ||||
| 72% | Screw fix | 61cm-68cm |
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Unlock tableGet Digital access £9.99 per month, cancel at any time.
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Dates tested: March 2024, March 2022, July 2021, May 2020, May 2019, October 2018, October 2017 and August 2015. Page last checked: February 2026. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available. We’ve tested 27 stair gates in total, but the tables display our top picks only.
All the stair gates we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best stair gates from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Baby Dan Flexifit Wood Baby Safety Gate
Available from: John Lewis (£59.99)
Most recently tested May 2019
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Wooden
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 65cm to 106.5cm
Baby Dan MultiDan Metal Extendable Safety Gate
Available from Argos (£35)
Most recently tested October 2018
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 62.5cm and 106.8cm
Baby Dan Narrow Dan Extending Safety Gate
Most recently tested May 2025
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 56.5cm and 81.5cm
Baby Dan No Trip Metal Safety Gate
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 72cm and 78.5cm
Baby Dan No Trip Wide Safety Gate
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 72cm and 78.5cm
Cuggl Wall Fix Safety Gate
Most recently tested May 2019
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 76cm and 81cm
Dreambaby Ava Baby Safety Gate
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 75cm and 81cm, additional gate extension increases it to 100cm
Fred Safety Pressure Fit Clear View Safety Gate
Attachment method Pressure fit
Material Plastic
Need to know Gate, Adjustable width between 76cm and 82cm, additional gate extension increases it 124cm
Ensure weaning is fun, safe and not too stressful for you with one of the best high chairs from our tests
Hauck Stop N Safe 2
Most recently tested May 2025
Attachment method Pressure fit
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 75cm and 81cm
Munchkin Wall Fix Extending Wooden Safety Gate
Available from: Amazon (£46.99), Munchkin (£46.99)
Most recently tested May 2020
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Wooden
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 63.5cm and 106cm
Safety 1st SecureTech Flat Step Stair Gate
Most recently tested October 2018
Attachment method Pressure fit
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 73cm and 80cm, but you can also purchase additional extensions to extend the gate by either 7cm or 14cm
Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Stair Gate
Attachment method Screw fix
Material Metal
Need to know Gate, adjustable width between 62cm and 102cm
More stair gates from our tests
Here’s how the rest of the 17 stair gates from our tests measured up, listed in alphabetical order.
| Stair gate | Price | Score | Attachment method | Min and max width | Opening and closing | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baby Dan Guard Me Retractable Safety Gate | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030352 | Screw fix | 55cm-89cm | |||
Baby Dan Premier True Pressure Fit Stair Gate | £46 | Pressure fit | 73.5cm-79.6cm | |||
Baby Go Baby Gate | £29 | Pressure fit | 76cm-83cm | |||
Cuggl Slim Fit Safety Gate | Argos(£20) | Screw fix | 61cm-68cm | |||
Dreambaby Arizona Extenda Gate | Asda(£20) | Screw fix | 67cm-112cm | |||
Dreambaby Ava Slimline Security Gate | Amazon(£28.99), Argos(£35) | Screw fix | 61cm-68cm | |||
Dreambaby Retractable Gate | Asda(£42) | Screw fix | 0cm-140cm | |||
Fred Safety Screw Fit Wooden Stair Gate | £130 | Screw fix | 76cm-103cm | |||
Hauck Open N Stop Safety Gate | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030354 | Pressure fit | 75cm-80cm | |||
Munchkin Easy Fit Plus Deluxe Safety Gate | £35 | Pressure fit | 76cm-82cm | |||
Munchkin Extending Metal Stair Gate | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000442 | Screw fix | 64.5-102cm | |||
Munchkin Sure Shut Axis Stair Gate | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50001406 | Pressure fit | 76cm-82cm | |||
Safetots Self-Closing Gate | £35 | Pressure fit | 75cm-82cm | |||
Safety 1st SecurTech Simply Close Metal Gate | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12879060 | Pressure fit | 73cm-80cm |
Dates tested: March 2024, March 2022, July 2021, May 2020, May 2019, October 2018, October 2017 and August 2015. Page last checked: February 2026. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
How we test stair gates
- How simple is it to install? Our experts look at the instructions, what tools you need and whether they're included, as well as recording the total amount of time it took to put together in our test lab.
- Is it easy to use every day? We check the latch mechanism, whether it can be opened and shut with one hand, how easy it is to clean and whether it poses a trip hazard.
- Will the gate withstand repeated attempts to force it open? We test stair gates according to the EU standard (BS EN 1930:2011), which includes checks and tests to find out how sturdy it is and if it can withstand repeated shaking and rattling over time by a determined child. We also test beyond the safety standard by applying an impact of 25kg to see if there's any movement or weakening of the gate.
- Will the stair gate damage my walls? If you rent your home, then this may be a particular concern. Screw-fix gates will, by their nature, leave a mark on the walls, but so too will some pressure-fit gates as you might need to use adhesives. We make sure you know if the damage is something you need to seriously consider.
We regularly revisit the stair gates on sale to see if there are any more popular brands that need testing, and when we find them, we do.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent
Don’t Buy stair gates
Our safety tests replicate those in the current stair gates safety standard (BS EN 1930:2011). If a product performs so poorly that we think you should avoid it, we name it a Don't Buy. We've tested seven stair gates that are Don't Buys based on their performance under our independent safety tests.
There are three serious safety issues we commonly see:
1. Durability issues
We put every stair gate through a fatigue test, which is where we clamp the stair gate to a motorised arm that pulls it back and forth 10,000 times while applying a 140N horizontal force.
This is designed to replicate a toddler or child shaking the gate repeatedly. A failure means that the gate could come loose, allowing the child to get through and potentially put themselves in danger.
The Baby Go Safety Gate and Baby Dan Premier True Pressure Fit Stair Gate failed our fatigue test. The first failed after five cycles, the second failed after 2,134 cycles, when the fixing points moved and came loose from the frame, causing it to dislodge, while the latter failed after 6,600 cycles.
We approached Baby Go for comment, but one wasn't provided.
Baby Dan said: 'At Baby Dan, we take feedback about our safety products seriously, as safety of children is paramount to us. We manufacture to the highest possible standards. All our safety gates comply to the relevant safety standards (in this case EN1930:2011). The safety gates mentioned in your publication have been tested recently by accredited labs numerous times without any remarks.'
The barrier of the Safetots Self-Closing Gate became dislodged from the door frame after 3,700 cycles because the adhesive pads that hold the pressure-fit cups in place came unstuck, which then reduced the pressure of the gate so it could come loose. The Munchkin Easy Fit Plus Deluxe Safety Gate became dislodged after 2,570 cycles.
Safetots has disputed our findings. It told us that the gate has been exhaustively tested in China and the UK, and has successfully satisfied the selected requirements of BS EN 1930:2011. This is the same standard that Which? tests to.
Munchkin told us it's not aware of any evidence supporting our allegations. Munchkin said it has reviewed and analysed customer complaints for the gate, and not encountered any of the purported safety or reliability issues that we have alleged. It has said it has performed an internal inventory audit and found its gates to be compliant with all product safety standards as per EN1930.
2. Entrapment risk
If there is a gap between the bottom of the gate and the floor that our lab experts can fit a hip probe through, then this means a child could squeeze under the gate.
If there’s a gap big enough for their leg and hip to get through, there’s a chance a child could get stuck with their head trapped, which in the worst-case scenario could pose a potential strangulation risk.
The Fred Safety Screw Fit Wooden Stair Gate failed after our experts found a gap at the bottom of the gate which poses a possible safety risk.
Fred Safety told us: 'Which? testing has identified a way in which the Fred Wooden Screw Fit Gate could be installed incorrectly. We're confident that this is a very rare eventuality. Fred Safety is committed to providing the very highest levels of safety and all our products meet or exceed safety standards. To make this gate safer than ever, we've already made the minor modification that makes it impossible to install the gate as it was tested by Which?. If any customers have concerns, they should contact fred@cheekyrascals.co.uk.'
There are gaps between either side of the Baby Go Safety Gate, which allowed the hip probe to pass through during the test. We approached Baby Go for comment, but one wasn't provided.
3. Choking hazard
We occasionally find that the slider on the top of the stair gate, which is used to open it, could be pulled off too easily and this creates a small part that a child could choke on if they put it in their mouth.
The end-cap on the Baby Go Safety Gate detached during our tests. We approached Baby Go for comment, but one wasn't provided.
Cheap stair gates
We've tested dozens of stair gates over the years, and we can confirm that you don't have to spend a fortune to get your hand on a safe and sturdy one.
If you're on a budget, take a look at our Great Value options. These perform well, scoring 60% or more, and are at least 20% cheaper than the average price of those we've tested.
Sign up to Which? to unlock the results and find out which of the stair gates we tested are worthy of our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations.
Key things to consider when buying a stair gate
- Material A wooden or metal side-opening stair gate will need plenty of room to swing open, so you need to think about potential obstructions and whether it will be awkward to navigate around.
- Space A retracting or concertina stair gate is ideal for areas with restricted space or if you want the gate out of sight when it’s not in use. You can buy wide gates or extensions if the opening you want to cover is particularly wide.
- Location Gates at the top of the stairs should open towards the landing, not towards the flight, to avoid falling forwards while opening the gate. You should only use screw-fix gates at the top of the stairs.
- How easy is it to open and close? You don’t want your toddler to be able to flick the mechanism open but, at the same time, you may also need to be able to open and close the gate with a wriggling child under one arm. Some gates close automatically.
Types of stair gates: what are your options
Pressure-fit stair gates
These sit within a fixed U-shaped frame that's held in place by pressure at four points. They're generally easy to install and no drills or screws are needed, so it won't damage the walls.
Extensions are often available if your doorway or stairway is wider than average. If the pressure is insufficient, then wall cups can be used to increase the security of the fixing. The downside is that the bottom of U-shaped frame can be a trip hazard, so they shouldn't be used at the top of the stairs.
Screw-fix stair gates
This type are fixed to the wall with metal screws. They're very strong and have a sturdy fitting, plus there's no rail at the bottom so no trip hazard. It's recommended that screw-fix gates are used for the top of the stairs.
You need to measure up carefully before buying as you may need extensions. This type can be harder to assemble and will leave holes when they're removed.
Retractable stair gates
These gates can be retracted when not in use so they're less obvious, but they can be twice the price of pressure-fit and screw-fix gates.
They're usually either made of heavy-duty mesh, which rolls up like a window blind, or hard plastic that folds in on itself like a concertina fan. They need to be screwed into the wall, so they're sometimes tricky to install. Some also lack structural strength.
What's the safest stair gate for the top of the stairs?
We always advise installing a screw-fix gate or screwing in a pressure-fit gate at the top of the stairs. This is because pressure-fit gates usually have a U-bar frame that runs along the floor, which can pose a trip hazard.
This can be particularly dangerous if you're at the top going down through the gate and you trip over it and fall. Screw-fix gates tend to be a more secure fit than pure pressure-fit gates because they're fixed with screws.