How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Garage Door Sensor? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $70 - $190
Garage door sensor replacement costs $160 on average, but ranges between $70 and $190, depending on sensor type.
Garage door sensor replacement costs around $160 on average, though you could pay anywhere between $70 and $190 depending on what type of sensor you want and how long it takes to install. Few DIYable home improvement projects have such a strong effect on safety for such a small amount of money. While the infrared mechanism powering garage door sensors is simple, they can suffer damage due to blockage, loss of power, or simply age. The good news? Replacing garage door sensors is inexpensive and fairly straightforward.
- Average
- $160
- Low end
- $30
- high end
- $220
Garage Door Sensor Cost Factors
Garage door sensors are great when they work— but a dangerous annoyance when they don’t. If your garage door acts strange when closing or simply won’t close at all, you may not have a broken garage door. All you may need to do is clean or realign your door sensors.
Types
There are a few types of garage door sensors, but most look like two small boxes near the base of the garage door, one on either side, that connect an infrared beam between the two. If anything crosses the beam while the door is closing, it will reverse the door so that it doesn't close on anything—or anyone.
The other garage door sensors are not as common because they are more expensive, both in material costs and installation. However, using one or more together will always be safer than using one single safety mechanism.
| Type of Sensor | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Infrared safety sensor | $80 |
| Pressure sensor | $300 |
| Contact sensor | $50 |
| Smart sensor | $70 |
The sensor types all function in different ways. Which one you choose depends on both your budget and safety concerns:
Infrared sensor: detects obstructions via infrared beams.
Pressure sensor: monitors weight on the door.
Contact sensor: features a piece on the door and a piece on the wall physically join, stopping the door.
Smart sensor: is similar to the contact sensor, but uses electronic proximity.
Most homes only use the infrared sensor because it's what's commonly installed when the garage door itself is installed, but certain combinations help to cover all bases. Infrared and pressure sensors used together would be the most powerful (and safest) combination, but also the most expensive. Smart sensors used with infrared would work well but not rely on physical contact points. However, it would be less expensive than using pressure sensors.
Size
Size doesn’t play a large factor in the total cost because the sensor doesn't do any heavy lifting itself. The sensor acts like a remote control, which means a very lightweight piece sending an electronic signal to the garage door motor doesn't need to weigh any different, regardless if it’s controlling a 300-pound door or a 30-pound one.
Labor
It’s best to hire a garage door professional to install and check the sensors. Expect to pay an hourly rate between $40 and $110 per hour. The good news is this work shouldn't take more than one hour. To save money, make sure you tell your local garage door repair professional the exact model of your garage door motor. This ensures that the sensors and existing electronics are compatible.
Prep
The prep work for replacing a garage door sensor is fairly simple. Make sure there's nothing in the way of the sensor path if you're using infrared. The existing garage door should be functioning well with nothing in the way of the door tracks. Clean the area and ensure that if you need an electrical outlet, it functions at the right voltage.
Ongoing Expenses
Maintenance
Garage door sensors don't require much maintenance other than cleaning off dust and dirt. Check the mounting screws and tighten them every few months or when you notice any movement. One of the nice things about garage door sensors is that they typically only require maintenance when they stop working correctly. This takes a lot of guesswork out of when to check them. That being said, inspect them every three months or so.
Repairs
Because garage door sensors are relatively inexpensive and function as a pair, it's a better idea to just replace them than attempt any type of repair. Even the physical sensors, when bent out of alignment, are not easy to repair and cost less than $50 to replace entirely.
DIY Installing Garage Door Sensors vs. Hiring a Garage Pro
Unless you're particularly savvy with electronics, you shouldn't take this project on. Not only is it relatively inexpensive to hire a garage professional for this task, but a good rule is to hire out the work if there's any chance an improper installation could cause injury. Instead, consider taking on one of the many DIY home projects that you can undertake, even if you don’t have in-depth experience.
That being said, if you feel confident enough to take on this task as a DIY project, you’ll only pay for the cost of the sensor itself—so you’ll save between $40 and $110 in labor costs.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Installing Garage Door Sensors
The only ways to save money while installing garage door sensors are to DIY the project, which is only for homeowners with prior experience, and to opt for the least expensive sensors. You can also consider upgrading your system with a new motor if it's getting old, as you'll find combining the two together should save you money on both the motor and the sensors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Garage doors are heavy and close under power, so ensuring they're safe should be one of the priorities of a homeowner. Installing at least one sensor is a good start, but it doesn't hurt to have two, especially considering you can install a secondary system for less than $100. Remember that sensors require calibration and simple but regular maintenance checks— installing them is only the first step.
Always lock the door that separates your garage and your home. However, garage doors are seldom entrance points for thieves. It takes quite a bit of work and noise to pry open a garage door, so thieves often opt for windows or unlocked doors. Unless they have access to the motor which controls the door, as long as it's functioning properly you shouldn't worry too much about it.
The easiest way to tell if your sensor is bad is if your garage door either doesn't close, closes halfway, and then opens again, or only starts to go down just a few inches before it retracts. Electronic sensors will have red or green lights that show if it's working properly. If all the lights are as they should be and there is still a problem, you likely have other garage door problems.
Most garage doors installed with electric motors will have sensors that trigger the safe stopping of the door. Removing the sensors will involve removing a level of safety that should remain part of the system. Garage doors function without sensors for a long time, however, so you absolutely can run them without a sensor, but it's not the safest option. You may also need to rewire your garage door system.
This will vary between manufacturers, but oftentimes one light is green and one light is red if everything is aligned and the system is working correctly. Two red lights may mean the door is out of alignment, while yellow and green blinking lights mean different things based on different products. Consult your user manual or contact the manufacturer, as they should be able to send you a user guide or answer any questions.