How Much Does an Insulated Garage Door Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $1,100 - $4,200
Installing an insulated garage door costs $1,500 on average, or between $1,100 and $4,200, depending on the size of the door and its materials.
Installing an insulated garage door costs an average of $1,500. When installing an insulated model, expect prices to fall between $1,100 and $4,200 depending on factors like door type, size, insulating materials, and more. Sometimes, the price balloons to $9,000 or more, such as when homeowners request a large three-car door made from expensive materials like wood. Over time, an insulated garage door could be an excellent investment because it can considerably lower your heating and air conditioning bill.
- Average
- $1,500
- Low end
- $400
- high end
- $9,000
Insulated Garage Door Cost Factors
It is worth noting that many modern garage doors ship with a fair amount of insulation, so check the insulation rating of your current door before going in for a replacement. Replacing a garage door is a costly enterprise (though less expensive than insulating the ceiling), with prices breaking down into a number of categories.
Insulation Level (R-Value)
The term "R-value" refers to how well building insulation prevents heat flow into and out of a structure. The higher your R-value, the better your insulation will be. But as with most things, the more insulation you opt for, the higher the price. Insulation with garage doors comes from two places—the materials of the door itself and insulating materials placed between layers.
Less expensive insulated doors use simple polystyrene as an insulating agent. Manufacturers stuff it between the layers, and that’s that. This type of garage door costs $400 to $1,100 for materials, but the R-level here is on the lower side.
For deeper insulation, manufacturers spray polyurethane foam between the panels. This is the more expensive option, with components costing $700 to $1,600, but allows for a higher R-value and, thus, less costly energy bills.
Garage Door Material
| Material | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Single-layer steel | $500–$1,200 |
| Double-layer steel | $800–$1,800 |
| Single-layer aluminum | $500–$800 |
| Double-layer aluminum | $1,600–$2,200 |
| Fiberglass | $1,000–$2,100 |
| Wood | $700–$4,100 |
Just like all garage doors, insulated or not, basic manufacturing materials greatly contribute to the overall cost. The same goes for thickness, as thicker doors automatically provide more insulation than their thinner counterparts.
Metal doors don’t come with insulation but can be very budget-friendly. In some cases, you can find used metal doors—aluminum or steel—for only a couple hundred dollars. Double-layer doors can increase insulation properties, but expect to pay close to double the price. There are three-layer doors, but those are reserved for only the harshest conditions and are rarely seen installed in homes. Metal doors have an R-value of 0.
Fiberglass is less common than metal but can last 35 years or more and is substantially better at insulating a garage than steel or aluminum. Metal doors rarely come insulated, whereas fiberglass often has at least enough insulation for moderate seasons. Fiberglass doors, uninsulated, have an R-value between 0 and 1.
Wood is the most expensive garage door type, but the only natural one, which is why you often see it on higher-end homes. Wood has often been a powerful natural insulator, so if you have the money, it can be a smart choice functionally and aesthetically. Wood doors have an R-value between 1 and 2, and can be up to 3 if the wood is especially dense and thick.
Garage Door Size
| Size of door | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-car | $1,550 |
| 2-car with a single or double door | $2,100 |
| 2-car with two single doors | $2,900 |
| 3-car with one single and one double door | $3,800 |
| 3-car with three single doors | $4,300 |
The size of the opening and, as such, the door itself greatly contributes to the overall cost. After all, large doors require more building materials, more insulating materials, and increased labor. One and two-car garage doors are fine for most homeowners, but those with larger-than-average garages require three-car doors. A standard insulated one-car garage door ranges from $500 to $2,500, while a two-car garage door ranges from $750 to $4,000.
Installation
Labor to install insulated garage doors range from $300 to $500 or more, for more complex jobs. Materials take up the lion’s share of your costs here, with labor accounting for around 20% to 30%. Average installations take three to six hours, while complicated setups require twice that amount. In most cases, an electrician is also required for wiring automatic doors. Hiring an electrician costs $50 to $100 per hour, though the wiring takes just one or two hours of work.
Garage Door Style
How your garage door opens and closes impacts the cost. Simple tilt-up canopy designs are your least expensive option, coming in at $500 to $1,500. Tilt-up retractable designs that require a bit more labor cost $600 to $2,000. Sectional garage doors cost $750 to $2,000, though allow for easy opening and closing. Finally, roll-up doors are the most expensive option, particularly when stuffed with insulation, costing $850 to $3,000.
Existing Door Removal
These doors are not exactly petite, and hauling away the old door is a crucial part of a garage door replacement process. The cost to remove and haul your old door to a dedicated facility costs $50 to $200, depending on the door’s size and type. Many pros wrap this cost into the overall estimate to install the new door, so speak with your contractor ahead of time.
Extra Features
Garage doors seem straightforward, but you can outfit them with all kinds of extra features to increase their usefulness, improve your home’s security, and more. Here are the common costs for some of these add-ons.
Door opener: Automatic door openers are practically a must-have for modern homeowners, though they are pricey. Installing a garage door opener costs $220 to $520, on top of the door installation estimate. Also, buying extra garage door remotes to operate the door cost $20 to $50 per piece.
Alarm: Better safe than sorry, right? With that in mind, bring your garage door into the loving embrace of your home’s security system. Adding an alarm to the garage door costs $20 to $200 for the part, plus a subscription charge of $5 to $20 each month.
Security cameras: Security cameras have fallen in price year over year due to technological advances. Because of this, homeowners should expect to pay between $300 and $900 for a security camera setup between four and 10 cameras. If you want to watch it live or review footage, you’ll need a spare computer monitor or TV to complete the setup. Consider an extra $80 for an external hard drive to save video for up to 30 days.
Windows: If you want natural light in your garage, you’ll need windows. Some prefabricated models ship with pre-existing windows, and these doors cost an average of $1,500. Putting a window into a garage door at the point of installation requires additional parts and labor for $50 to $500 per window.
Screens: If you use your garage as a workspace, invest in a good screen to keep the door open without letting those bugs in. The costs depend on the type of screen you choose. Bare-bones walk-through screens cost just $40 to $170, while retractable screens cost $400 to $1,400. Motorized screens are the most expensive option, costing $500 to $1,500.
Installing an Insulated Garage Door Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro
You may be tempted to install an insulated replacement door by yourself, saving you between $300 and $500 in labor costs. These savings, however, only come into play with a successful installation, and an incorrect DIY job can lead to a bill that’s higher than the cost of the original installation.
However, you can still put on your DIY for this project without replacing the whole door. Instead of replacing the door outright, add insulation layers on your own. There are plenty of insulation kits that cost $50 to $200. Although this depends on what you buy, on the whole, DIY kits use less robust materials than professionals have access to.
Because of this, contacting a local garage door installation company is the best idea for most homeowners. Garage doors are finicky, and poor installation leads to increased maintenance and repair needs down the road. Additionally, installing a garage door is a dangerous job. Garage doors are extremely heavy, and their springs are coiled to extreme weight. Pros are insured, so you are covered in the rare event of an injury or accident.
Tips to Save Money When Insulating Garage Doors
Looking to save money without sacrificing the insulating properties of your garage door? Here are some tips worth considering.
Gather multiple estimates: Contact multiple pros before settling on your preferred candidate. This lets you examine a wider array of cost ranges and gives you a bargaining chip in the case of your chosen pro offering a higher estimate when compared to everyone else you contacted.
Bundle up related projects: A fair percentage of any service call is just getting the pro to your house in the first place. Bundle up related projects to save serious bucks. When installing a garage door, place an automatic opener, put in some lighting, or add a new power outlet when the electrician comes to wire the door. With proper planning, you knock out multiple projects simultaneously while paying for just one or two service calls.
Buy used: Garage doors are available used or “pre-owned,” and can be in great shape. These are often replaced due to the previous owner upgrading to a deluxe model. Ask your pro if they have an “in” for used garage doors and related components to save some cash.
Insulate yourself: As previously mentioned, many garage doors integrate with DIY insulation kits. Forgo the entire replacement process and insulate the door yourself.
Go with prefab stock options: Custom garage doors are certainly aesthetically appealing, but they seriously drive the cost up. Save money by going with prefab stock doors that are ready to place as soon as you make the purchase.
Lawrence Bonk contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
An insulated garage door is a fantastic long-term investment if it is within your budget. They help save energy and give the door year-round usability. In other words, the door pays for itself after a few nasty winters. Most modern doors already have a fair amount of insulation, so look into those options if you don’t feel comfortable splurging.
You can insulate an existing garage door. While it is a cost-effective option upfront, it’s not the best idea in the long run because it may not perform as well as a garage door that comes with insulation. If you live in a colder climate or plan on working in your garage during the colder months and need a new door, you should purchase one with existing insulation. This will save you time and money vs. adding insulation in hindsight later on.
The type of garage door you choose will affect the insulation. The level of insulation is determined by both the material and the thickness of the door. For example, single-layer steel doors do not provide additional insulation, but double-layer and triple-layer steel doors do due to the amount of insulation that can fit between the panels. However, the higher the added insulation, the heavier the door will become.
All garage doors, particularly newly installed models, add value to your home. Higher-quality and higher-priced doors increase the ROI, so a well-insulated custom-designed door increases the value of your home over a poorly-insulated stock model. Updating a garage door boasts the second-highest home improvement ROI, at nearly 95%.
A garage door lasts 15 to 30 years on average, insulated or not. However, many factors contribute to this life span, including the materials used during construction, local weather conditions, and more. Garage doors last longer with regular inspections and maintenance by qualified garage door pros. Most damage and wear and tear that can result in you questioning whether you need to replace your garage door can be avoided with regular maintenance and inspection.