How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Garage Door Opener

If you are looking for a new garage door opener, you can expect to spend between $175 and $500. Costs go up if you decide to have it professionally installed.

How much it costs to replace a garage door opener depends on several factors. These include the type of drive mechanism, horsepower, noise level, lift speed, brand, and extra features like wi-fi and smartphone controls.

This cost guide will help you break down what you can expect to pay as well as estimated installation costs should you decide to find pros in your area to assist in installation.

Estimated garage door installation costs were determined by averaging the price from several home improvement retailers such as Lowes, Home Depot, Amazon, and a few others. Labor costs were determined from surveying multiple installation and repair pros.

In this guide, we will look at the US national average price based on several key categories.

What is the average cost to have a garage door opener installed by a professional?

The average cost for residential garage door openers ranges between $175 to $400 for the opener itself and does not include installing a garage door. Professional installation adds approximately $65-85 per hour.

You can expect to pay a total price of $400 to $1200 on average, including the automatic garage door opener, professional installation, and local taxes.

An experienced installer will be able to install yours in about 2-4 hours, depending on if you have an existing structure to mount the motor too and door size and type of opener. Price ranges from market to market, so be sure to check with a professional installer in your area. Many offer free estimates.

Average garage door opener cost by type

One of the most significant factors for the price is the type of garage door opener needed for your door. Garage doors come in various sizes, materials, styles, and weights, and this plays an essential factor when choosing the best garage door opener for your situation. Noise is another major factor in why you might choose one type over another.

The most common types of garage door openers in the United States are belt drive and chain drive openers. Wall-mounted or overhead direct drive openers are growing in popularity as well due to their superior noise control.

Belt drive garage door openers

Belt drive garage door openers use a steel-reinforced belt instead of a chain or screw drive. They tend to have less vibration and are quieter than their chain-driven counterparts.

The downside of belt-driven openers is that some users report that they tend to slip in high temperatures and humid conditions. Despite this, they remain one of the two most popular garage door openers for installing on your garage door.

The average cost ranges from around $175 to $375, not including the cost to install.

Chain drive garage door openers

Chain drive garage door openers typically have more tensile strength and greater lifting capacity.

A chain-driven opener uses a chain assembly to open and close the garage door. They are popular and usually the least expensive option, making them a great option for your garage door if cost is a primary decision factor.

Chain drive openers are strong and an excellent choice for heavy garage doors. The downside of a chain-driven opener is that there are more moving parts and they tend to be noisy. This leads to more maintenance which leads to increased repair costs or more frequent replacement down the road.

The average cost ranges from around $125 to $225, not including the cost to install.

Screw drive garage door openers

A screw drive opener uses a threaded, steel rod mounted inside a track that runs from the opener to the door. They tend to be quieter than chain drive models but noisier than belt drive models. Another benefit of screw drive openers is their compact size. These types of garage door openers make an excellent fit for garages with low ceilings.

The average cost ranges from around $175 to $275, not including the cost to install.

Direct drive garage door openers

A direct drive opener uses a fixed chain. The motor unit mounts and moves along the chain. Direct drive openers require less maintenance, are very quiet but are more expensive.

The average cost ranges from around $275 to $500, not including the cost to install.

Average garage door opener cost by horsepower rating

Garage door openers generally get more expensive as the motor size goes up. The size of your garage door opener needs to account for the garage door’s weight and how well a garage door is balanced. Certain garage doors, like those made out of wood, can be extremely heavy.

A garage door can be lifted with one hand and about 8-15 pounds of effort when properly balanced. The actual weight is based on the relationship between the garage door weight and the springs that counter that weight. A properly balanced garage door will operate smoothly and allow your garage door opener to work efficiently based on its weight rating.

Caution: Installing a new garage door is not a DIY project. Never attempt to replace a broken garage door spring in an attempt to balance your garage door. Doing so can result in severe injury or death. Find garage door installers near you to replace the old one(s) with new springs. In addition to the springs, the garage door track and rollers should be fully functional as well and inspected often.

How much horsepower does my garage door need?

There are a variety of motors available and adequately sizing your motor is critical. An under-sized garage door opener will work much harder than a higher horsepower model. The most common residential garage door openers will be in the range of 1/2 to 3/4 horsepower.

1/3 HP garage door opener cost and capacity

A 1/3 HP opener is the smallest size available. It is best for lightweight garage doors, preferably single garage doors, and properly balanced doors. While cheaper, they typically don’t last as long due to strain on the motor. They are hard to find since most garage door openers fall in the 1/2 and 3/4 horsepower range.

The average cost ranges from around $120 to $175, not including the cost to install.

1/2 HP garage door opener cost and capacity

A 1/2 HP garage door opener works best with single and double garage doors with average weight. They are one of the most common garage door openers on the market and can be readily found at hardware, home improvement stores, and Amazon. They are best used on doors that measure 8′ to 12′ wide and weigh no more than 300 pounds. This includes doors made of fiberglass, aluminum, or steel.

The average cost ranges from around $135 to $225, not including the cost to install.

3/4 HP garage door opener cost and capacity

A 3/4 HP garage door opener works best with oversized doors and those made from heavier materials up to 500 pounds. These include oversized doors or doors made from wood. You can also use 3/4 HP garage door openers on lighter doors should you prefer a new garage door opener that will have less wear and tear on the motor.

The average cost ranges from around $155 to $375, not including the cost to install.

1+ HP garage door opener cost and capacity

Garage door openers greater than 1 HP are best used on heavy garage doors or garage doors heavier than 500 pounds. They may also be used in commercial installations where a garage door gets significant usage each day.

The average cost ranges from around $175 to $400+, not including the cost to install.

How long will a garage door opener last?

Most garage door openers will last 10 to 15 years if well maintained. Other factors include frequency of use as well as proper sizing and the type.

Are battery backup garage door openers worth it?

Absolutely! If you are parked inside or outside your garage during a power outage, nothing is more frustrating than trying to get your car in and out of the garage. While garage door openers have a manual release to allow you to lift the garage door, having a battery backup is much more convenient.