By Evan Christensen · Owner, The Barn Door Hardware Store
Published July 17, 2026
Evan has owned and operated The Barn Door Hardware Store since 2016. Almost every custom-length question comes down to the same choice — pay nothing to have Goldberg cut and re-coat the track at the factory, or cut it yourself and take on the finish and the warranty. He and the team are available 7 days a week at info@thebarndoorhardwarestore.com.
Yes — barn door track can be cut to length. But there are two ways to get a custom length, and they are not equal. Goldberg Brothers will cut track to your exact length at the factory and apply the powder coat after the cut, at no extra charge. Or you can cut a longer track yourself on site. The factory cut is free, keeps the finish intact, and keeps the warranty; the on-site cut leaves raw steel you have to seal and voids the track's warranty. Here's how each works and when you'd choose it.
First — do you actually need to cut it?
Track comes in fixed lengths, and one of them may already fit. The rule is simple: a single-door track should be 2× the door width (size to the door, not the opening). If a standard length matches that number, order it and you're done — no cutting required. For the full method, see how to calculate track length for your setup.
One thing to know before you plan a cut: any track over 7'6" ships in multiple sections joined with junction-plate hardware (the 12 ft and 14 ft kits included). So "one long piece I'll trim down" isn't always how the track arrives.
Option 1: Have Goldberg cut it at the factory (free)
This is the route we recommend first. Goldberg Brothers cuts the track to your specified length and powder-coats it after cutting, so the cut end is finished exactly like the rest of the track — no exposed steel, no field work, and nothing to seal. Because the coating is applied after the cut, a factory-cut custom track keeps its full limited lifetime warranty.
To set it up, send us your length and finish and we'll quote it: request a custom-length track quote. It's a made-to-order item, so plan for the standard Goldberg lead time rather than a same-day turnaround.
Trade-off to know up front: a custom-length track is a custom order, so it can't be returned. Free isn't the same as risk-free — measure twice before you commit to a length.
Option 2: Cut it yourself on site
Track can be cut on site with any saw made for steel — a hacksaw, reciprocating saw, metal chop saw, or angle grinder. The catch is the finish: cutting through powder-coated steel exposes raw steel at the cut end, where the coating no longer protects it. Before you install, apply a rust inhibitor to that cut edge.
Cut edge only. The rust inhibitor goes on the exposed cut end and nowhere else — never on the track's running surface, the channel, or the rollers. Our hardware uses sealed bearings that run dry; the track's sliding surfaces are never lubricated or coated. Treating the cut edge is corrosion protection for bare steel, not a reason to put anything on the part of the track the wheels ride on.
Two exceptions to the sealing step: stainless steel needs nothing on the cut end — it's a corrosion-resistant alloy all the way through, so the cut face is the same material as the rest of the track. And raw steel (the one non-powder-coat Goldberg finish) has no coating to breach, so a cut end is just treated like the rest of the track.
The real cost of cutting on site isn't the finish, though — it's the warranty. An on-site cut voids the track's limited lifetime warranty. A factory-cut track keeps full coverage; a track you cut does not. And like the factory cut, a track you've cut down is not returnable.
Factory cut vs. cutting it yourself
Set side by side, the on-site cut only wins on one thing — immediacy, if you already have a longer track in hand. On finish, warranty, and cost, the free factory cut is the better deal.
| Goldberg factory cut | Cut on site | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free — no upcharge | Free — you already own the track |
| Cut end | Powder-coated after cutting; no exposed steel | Raw steel exposed; must seal the cut edge (except stainless) |
| Warranty | Full limited lifetime coverage kept | Voided |
| Returnable | No — custom order | No |
| Ready when | Made to order — plan lead time | Immediately, if the track is on hand |
What if you need to go longer, not shorter?
Cutting is for getting to a shorter, custom length. If your opening is wider than a single track section — a room divider, a wide closet wall, a garage bay — you're not cutting, you're joining. That's a junction plate, not a saw: see how to extend barn door track with junction plates. For the full picture on sizing, mounting, and configuring track, start with our barn door track guide.
Common questions
Can you cut barn door track to length?
Yes. Goldberg will cut it to a custom length at the factory and re-coat it for free, or you can cut a longer track yourself on site and seal the cut end.
Do you have to seal the cut end?
On powder-coated steel, yes — apply a rust inhibitor to the exposed cut edge only. Stainless steel needs no sealing, and raw steel has no coating to breach.
Does cutting the track void the warranty?
An on-site cut does. A Goldberg factory-cut custom track keeps its full limited lifetime warranty.
Can you return a custom-cut track?
No — neither route is returnable. A factory-cut track is a custom order, and a track you've cut yourself can't be returned either. Confirm your length before you order or cut.
What saw cuts barn door track?
Any saw made for steel: a hacksaw, reciprocating saw, metal chop saw, or angle grinder.
Not sure what length you need, or want a custom track cut and finished at the factory? Send us your measurements for a quote, or email info@thebarndoorhardwarestore.com — we're here 7 days a week.
