Over time, garage doors wear out and the springs break. When this happens, your door may slam shut or fail to open. A professional garage door spring replacement cost typically falls between $150 and $300.

If you’re like most

homeowners

with a garage, you rely on your garage so much you never stop to think about how it works—until one day it doesn’t open because the springs have worn out. When that happens (which is normal!), you’ll need to get the springs replaced—but you may not know where to start or how much it will cost.

That’s why

, the

and

broker and

, is here to answer all of your questions about garage door spring replacement services. We’ll cover how much it will cost, factors that impact the price, and other considerations.

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Cost of garage door spring replacement

The cost of a garage door spring replacement includes both parts and labor, but it also depends on the type of garage door you have. In general, you can expect to spend between $150 and $300 in total to replace a garage door spring.

Factors that influence garage door spring replacement costs

Several factors affect the price of your garage door spring replacement service, including the number of doors, number of springs, labor, materials, and other hardware needed.

Number of garage doors

If your garage doors were all installed simultaneously and see a similar level of use, you could expect them to wear out around the same time. If you have more than one door, it’s a good idea to replace all springs at the same time.

Additionally, double garage door springs are bigger than single door springs, so they’ll cost $15 to $30 more in materials per spring. Labor costs should stay about the same as for replacing a single door.

If only one spring on a garage door breaks, you should still replace both springs. The tension caused by pairing a new spring with an old one will cause the old one to break.

Labor

Garage door spring replacements are difficult to do because the spring is under a lot of pressure. Doing it yourself is very dangerous: you could get hurt, damage the door/equipment, or damage items in your garage.

Replacing springs also requires many special tools that the average homeowner doesn’t have.

Once the springs are installed, you still have to balance the heavy garage door so that it tracks smoothly. So, this is a job best left to the professionals.

Find a reputable repair company in your area and ask them for a quote. The quote should include all materials, hardware, and labor costs. For safety reasons, you’ll need two technicians on site.

Expect labor costs to run between $75 and $150 for about two hours of work.

Materials

The materials that your contractor will need to complete the job should include the cost of the springs, brackets, and other hardware.

If you have a double garage door replaced, you’ll need two springs, while a single door will only need one. Springs can cost between $30 and $200 for two sets of springs.

Location

Supply and demand for garage door contractors will affect your overall price. If you live in an area where there are a lot of contractors to choose from, you should expect lower prices than in areas with more limited choices.

You may have to pay extra in urban areas because the local cost of living is higher, but in rural areas you may have to pay an extra “travel fee” if the contractors need to make a long drive to come to you.

Key Takeaway You shouldn’t replace your garage door springs yourself. A professional garage door spring replacement will cost about $300 for parts and labor.

MORE: How to organize your garage

Types of doors and springs

The type of garage door and spring you have will impact the price of the repairs. Most garage doors are sectioned panels that roll back along a track. There are also single panel doors and tilt-up doors.

No matter what type of garage door you have, they all use a spring mechanism to offset the weight of lifting and lowering the door.

Traditionally, garage doors use extension springs to move the door, but some homes use a torsion spring bar. Torsion springs are more expensive to replace.

Extension spring

As the more common option, extension springs are cheaper to replace than torsion springs, but they don’t last as long. You should expect these springs to last 8,000-10,000 cycles or 7-12 years.

When the garage door is closed, extension springs tighten and pressurize so that they can “spring” back to raise the door. They are attached with safety cables to prevent damage.

While extension springs are cheaper than torsion spring bars, they have more exposed parts that can be damaged if they break through normal wear and tear.

To replace an extension spring, you should expect to pay between $15 and $45 for each spring with a labor rate of $50 to $100 each spring.

Torsion spring bar

Torsion spring bars are the most dangerous type of garage door spring to replace because they remain under tremendous pressure, even when the garage door is closed.

These springs attach to the wall opposite the garage door, and they expand and twist tightly to move the door. These springs are stronger than extension springs and carry more weight. They also last longer: 10,000-20,000 cycles or 8-15 years.

Roll-up doors use torsion springs, so you’ll likely pay $200-$250 for the total replacement ($30 to $100 in parts and $75 to $150 in labor for each spring).

Key Takeaway There are two types of garage door springs depending on the type of doors you have. Torsion spring bars are more dangerous and more costly to replace than extension springs.

MORE: 14 surprising things included in dwelling coverage on homeowners insurance

Garage door cables

Your garage doors operate with both a spring and a cable. These cables are a backup system if the springs fail. However, cables can wear out before the springs do, so you’ll want to inspect them regularly.

Watch these for these signs to tell if your cables are on their last leg:

One side of the door is heavier and it’s lifting unevenly

The door whines when moving

The door came off track completely

If you need to replace your cables without a spring replacement, they should cost between $75 to $200. If you need to replace the spring as well, you’re looking at $175 to $400 in total.

Repairs and tune-ups

Your garage doors will last longer if you do a tune-up once or twice a year to catch an issue before it breaks completely (in which case the repairs will be more expensive).

When a garage door specialist does a tune-up, they also check:

Screws

Cables

Tracks

Drums

Rollers

Tune-ups are much cheaper than replacements and should cost between $50 to $150.

Pro Tip If you live in a humid area, you should lubricate your garage door springs at least once a year to avoid rust. Make sure to use a silicone-based lubricant—but don’t overdo it!

How do I know if I need a new garage door spring?

Here are some signs that your garage door springs need attention:

You heard a loud “bang” when trying to open the garage door

The door closes too fast

The door won’t stay open

Cables are loose or broken

The garage door is hanging crooked

Metal parts are squeaking

There is noticeable rust or corrosion on your springs

The motor is running, but the door won’t open

It’ll be pretty obvious if your garage door has a severe problem. If you notice anything on the list, you need to schedule a service with a garage door contractor.

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FAQs

How do I know what spring to get for my garage door?

Most garage doors have two springs—a left-wound spring and a right-wound spring. It’s typically a good idea to replace both.

Start by measuring the overall wire size. Additionally, most springs have a color code to identify their type. If you know both of these pieces of information, you can search for the right replacement.

Can you lift a garage door with a broken spring?

While you can technically lift a garage door with a broken spring, it is not suggested and can be downright dangerous.

The spring supports the weight of the door, and without it, you risk the heavy door falling on top of you.

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