Garage door spring replacement costs $250 on average, or between $150 and $350, depending on the spring type
If your garage door isn't opening or closing properly, you may need to replace the door’s springs. Garage door spring replacement costs $250 on average, with prices often ranging from $150 to $350 or more. A reliable garage door protects your home from security threats and the elements while also making daily life more convenient. However, it must work properly to be helpful. Read on to learn about all the factors that impact the cost of replacing your garage door springs.
A few factors impact your final cost to replace a garage door spring, including:
| Type of Spring | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Extension spring | $50–$100 |
| Torsion spring | $75–$150 |
| Convert torsion to extension | $250–$500 |
| Convert extension to torsion | $400–$800 |
Garage doors operate either with extension or torsion springs. While extension springs might be cheaper, torsion springs have longer life spans and are generally considered safer. It’s possible to switch from one type of spring to another, but switching means a professional has to remove the old spring parts to install an entirely new system.
| Type of Garage Door | Replacement Cost (per Spring) |
|---|---|
| Sectional | $75–$150 |
| Tilt-up | $50–$100 |
| Roll-up | $75–$150 |
Garage door springs are integral to how most garage doors work. Garage door spring replacement costs can depend on the type of garage door: sectional, tilt-up, or roll-up.
Sectional garage doors are the most common type of garage door in the United States. The horizontal panels that make up the garage door are connected via hinges, and one by one, the panels roll up and inside a vertical track.
Tilt-up garage doors, also called one-piece garage doors, do exactly as their name implies: You tilt up the door and move it back along its tracks. Roll-up garage doors are common in commercial settings; the narrow steel panels coil up just above the opening.
Tilt-up garage doors use extension springs. Roll-up garage doors use torsion springs, which are more expensive to replace. Both extension and torsion springs are common on sectional doors.
Replacing garage doors and garage door springs can be dangerous. Garage doors are very heavy and the springs are under a lot of tension. A garage door pro has the tools and experience to do this project safely.
| Number of Garage Doors | Average Spring Replacement Cost |
|---|---|
| One | $150–$350 |
| Two | $275–$425 |
| Three | $350–$700 |
You’ll pay between $150 and $350 for a single garage door. Costs could potentially run as high as $500 if you have to replace springs for several doors or have to make related repairs. When one door garage spring fails, it’s better to replace both springs at the same time to maintain the door's balance. Plus, a contractor will likely give you a good deal if you replace both during the same visit.
For example, your garage door repair tech must make a trip to your home, whether replacing springs for a single door or three doors. Replacing springs on multiple garage doors can minimize labor costs by reducing trip time. However, the material price will increase by the cost of additional springs per door.
Double-door springs can cost an extra $15 to $30 per spring compared to a single-door.
If a pro has a hard time accessing the garage, it could increase your labor costs. Difficulty accessing the garage or the spring itself means more time tacked onto the labor portion of the contractor’s bill.
For residential garage doors, spring replacement runs between $75 to $150, while commercial-grade springs can cost between $150 and $300 to replace. Due to the dangers of DIY work on garage door springs, contacting a pro who fixes garage doors is crucial for this job.
In some cases, your location might affect the cost to replace a garage door spring. Labor rates tend to be higher in areas with a high cost of living, like large cities, compared to areas with a lower cost of living, such as rural and suburban towns. But if you live in a rural area and your pro needs to make a long trip to get to your house, they might charge more than if you lived closer.
Emergencies happen. If time is of the essence, you should call an emergency garage door repair contractor near you, though their services tend to cost more. If a spring is broken, the garage door is stuck for an unknown reason, or you're unsure of the problem, you should avoid potential injury by not opening the door manually.
You should never attempt a DIY garage door spring replacement. While you could save on the cost of labor by replacing garage door springs yourself, the savings are trivial compared to the danger involved in attempting the task on your own.
Garage door springs are under a lot of tension, so improper handling or a sudden release can lead to serious injury or worse.
Garage doors are also quite heavy, and repairs often require specialized tools, so calling a local garage door spring repair pro to replace your springs is essential for your safety.
If your garage door exhibits any of the following behaviors, it’s likely time for a garage door tuneup or spring replacement.
Common signs that you need new garage door springs include:
The door isn't hanging straight.
The door lowers faster than usual.
The door won't stay open on its own.
You notice visible gaps in the springs.
The garage door makes a lot of noise.
You notice loose or broken cables.
Garage door springs can rust when exposed to moisture, so it's a particular concern for homeowners in coastal regions. More than unsightly, rust can degrade the spring over time, rendering it useless. To prevent rust, lightly lubricate the springs each year using a lithium-based lubricant. Homeowners in coastal regions might need to lubricate them several times per year due to moisture in the air.
If you hear screeching noises, it's possible that the springs are too tight or too loose. However, it's more likely due to worn-out or frayed cables. Bent or damaged tracks can also cause the garage door to screech.
When your garage door suddenly won’t open or close, you might feel that impending sense of dread because you have to buy a new garage door.
And who could blame you? It’s a lot of money. Replacing a garage door costs $750 to $1,650, while a garage door spring replacement costs an average of just $250.
Luckily, you may only need to replace the garage door springs. Call a garage door technician to check out the issue. If the only problem is the garage door springs, you’re in the clear. But if the pro reports issues with multiple components, such as the cables, pulleys, tracks, or the garage door itself, it’s probably time to fully replace the garage door.
In the long run, it’s likely more affordable than taking a piecemeal approach and repairing each part of the broken garage door as it fails.
There are several ways to potentially reduce the cost of replacing a garage door spring, including:
Getting estimates from multiple pros to find the best price.
Asking companies about any seasonal promotions or discounts.
Regularly maintaining and lubricating your garage door to prevent the need for repairs.
Buying the springs yourself.
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You should change both springs on a garage door, even if just one breaks. Most garage doors come with two springs. Once one of them breaks, replacing both at the same time will ensure that the door stays balanced and strong. It may even prevent you from having to make extra costly repairs because of a potential imbalance.
Garage door springs can be used for 10,000 to 20,000 cycles. Over time, when your garage door fails, the springs are the part that most often breaks. So you'll need to replace a torsion spring every 8 to 15 years and an extension spring every about 7 to 12 years, depending on use.
You should never open a garage door with a broken spring. Once a spring breaks, the door becomes too heavy to lift safely. So refrain from attempting to do so yourself. It's best to wait for a garage door repair person to open it for you. They can safely open the door, repair the springs quickly, and quickly get your garage back to working order.
