How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Garage Door?

In this guide

Garage Door Repair Cost by Type of Repair

Garage doors may seem simple, but they have many components to open and close, including springs, cables, tracks, and motors. Faults can arise with these parts, which could cause door problems. The table below shows commonly affected garage door components and the average repair costs.

Garage Door Cable Repair Cost

Garage door cable repairs cost between $75 and $150. Cables are an essential part of your garage door, performing various functions like keeping the spring in place if it breaks and keeping the counterbalance for your door in position. If a cable snaps, it needs replacing, but a repairman could reinforce it if it is just frayed.

Garage Door Sensor Repair Cost

Garage door sensor ¹ repairs range from $75 to $150. Many modern garage doors come with sensors that detect objects or people in the door’s path as it closes. The door might continue closing if the sensors stop working, even when blocked. Sensor issues might be solved with rewiring or realigning.

Garage Door Lock Bar Repair

Garage door lock bar repairs average $75 to $150. The lock bar secures the garage door when closed to keep your home and possessions safe. Lock bars may corrode or wear down, but some cleaning, oiling, or treatments can get them working smoothly again without having to replace them.

Garage Door Track Repair Cost

Garage door track repairs cost between $75 and $175. The door should move along the track cleanly and smoothly, but the track might need repair if you notice it is not opening or closing properly or the wheels are not moving smoothly. Minor damage can be patched by a repairman, and the track may need to be cleaned or lubricated.

Garage Door Motor Repair Cost

Garage door motor repairs average $75 to $175. Motors open and close the door. A faulty motor might need to be adjusted, inspected, cleaned, or oiled to start working again.

Garage Door Spring Repair Cost

Garage door spring repair costs between $75 and $250. Springs provide the energy needed to lift the heavy door open. They can crack and snap over time, and spring repairs are one of the most common repair jobs for garage doors.

Garage Door Opener Repair Cost

Garage door opener repairs range from $75 to $300, depending on the opener type and components. For example, basic chain-drive openers are cheaper than direct-drive or jackshaft-drive openers.

Garage Door Lintel Repair Cost

Garage door lintel repairs cost between $100 and $400, depending on the problem. The lintel is the beam above the opening to form part of the frame and support the weight of the wall. Many lintels are made of wood that can rot over time or metals that can gradually corrode, but repairmen can restore lintels through cleaning, restoration techniques, or reinforcement.

Garage Door Frame Repair Cost

Garage door frame repairs average $100 to $400. The frame sits around the outside to define the door and offer extra insulation. It can be made of various materials, but wood is the most common. Damaged or rotting frames can be treated and patched by repair workers.

Garage Door Alignment Cost

Garage door alignment costs between $150 and $300. The door must be carefully aligned with the tracks for the door to open and close. If you notice it has come off the tracks or fallen out of position, realignment is needed.

Garage Door Panel Repair Cost

Garage door panel repair ranges from $150 to $400. The panels are the main body, and they might get dented or cracked from impacts and accidents. A repairman can patch holes and cover cracks without a full replacement if there is only minor cosmetic damage.

Cost to Fix a Garage Door by Type of Replacement

Typically, damaged parts must be removed and replaced with new ones. This can be more expensive than a simple repair because you add new material costs to the labor costs. The table below shows common garage door parts and the costs for replacing each.

Garage Lock Replacement Cost

Garage door lock replacements range from $85 to $150, depending on the lock. You can find basic latch locks for very low prices that install in minutes. There are also tougher, higher-end locks that are more expensive and require more work to install.

Garage Door Hinge Replacement

Replacing a garage door hinge costs between $85 and $175. Hinges on garage doors can be exposed to pressure and may wear down and break, or they could cause the door to make unpleasant sounds when it opens and closes.

Garage Door Sensor Replacement Cost

Garage door sensor replacements average $85 to $175. The door could become a serious danger if your garage door’s sensors are not working. The door might try and force itself closed, even if an object or person, such as a small child, is in the way. Faulty sensors should always be replaced promptly.

Cost to Replace Garage Door Rollers

Garage door roller replacement costs between $85 and $175. Garage door rollers, or wheels, roll the door along the tracks and move the door up and down. Wheels tend to wear down after a few years, so they need to be replaced regularly. Fortunately, they are inexpensive, and a professional can quickly fit the new wheels.

Garage Door Belt Replacement Cost

Garage door belt replacements range from $85 to $200. Belts are present in garage doors with belt-drive openers. They have some advantages over chain-drive openers, such as quieter operation and advanced features, but they are more costly to repair, and belts are not as strong as chains.

Garage Door Cable Replacement Cost

Garage door cable replacements cost between $85 to $200. The cables used in your garage door are often under immense amounts of tension, so they can snap. This can render the door unusable, so snapped cables must be replaced as soon as possible.

Garage Door Chain Replacement Cost

Garage door chain replacements average $85 to $250. Chains are present in chain-drive opener systems and are known for their strength, so it is rare for them to need replacing. However, it might be time to install a new one if it is very old or has suffered serious damage.

Garage Door Bearings Replacement Cost

Garage door bearings replacements cost between $85 and $250. Bearings are present in garage doors with torsion springs. They run along the shaft to support the door’s weight, but they can wear down. Replacement bearings are inexpesive, but fitting them can take some time, and new brackets may also be needed, which may raise the costs.

Garage Door Motor Replacement Cost

Garage door motor replacements range from $100 to $250. The motor might be to blame if your opener stops working, and motors often need replacing when they start to fail. The replacement cost mostly depends on your opener type because high-end motors can cost more.

Garage Door Coil Replacement Cost

Garage door coil replacement averages $100 to $300. Coils or springs are found in torsion and extension garage doors. They store and harness the energy needed to open and close the door. Some coils are relatively inexpensive, while others can be far more expensive.

Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost

Garage door spring replacements cost between $100 and $300. There are two main spring types: torsion and extension. Extension springs are more common and less expensive to replace, while torsion springs cost more.

Garage Door Track Replacement Cost

Garage door track replacement ranges from $150 to $250. Tracks can wear down, especially if they are not properly maintained. Broken tracks mean the door is not in the right position and cannot open or close correctly or at all.

Garage Door Strut Replacement Cost

Garage door strut replacement costs between $200 and $500. Struts have two main purposes: keep the door’s top section straight and keep the hinges ² aligned so that the door opens and closes smoothly. Struts can get damaged or wear down, and installing new struts is simple, but the material costs are high because they must be made of very strong and stable materials.

Cost to Replace a Garage Door Opener

Replacing a garage door opener averages $300 to $940, depending on the opener type. It is more expensive to fit an opener with more parts and advanced technology than a simpler model.

Garage Door Panel Replacement Cost

Garage door panel replacements cost between $300 and $1,000. This is one of the most expensive repairs. The main issue is new panels are very expensive, so the material costs for this repair can be high. In some cases, it might even be more cost-effective to get an entirely new garage door if your panels need replacing.

Garage Door Repair Cost by Type of Material

Your door panels’ material also influences your repair costs. Common garage door materials include wood, steel, and fiberglass. Each has pros and cons, and some can be less expensive to repair than others. The table below shows average repair costs for garage door panels of various materials.

Fiberglass Garage Door Repair

Fiberglass ³ garage door repair costs between $150 and $500. Fiberglass is one of the most economical materials for your garage door because even big repair jobs like replacing panels can be cheap compared to steel and wood. Fiberglass doors are also crack, dent, and rust-resistant.

Aluminum Garage Door Repair

Aluminum garage door repairs cost $150 to $600. Aluminum panels are rustproof, but they can dent easily, so be extra careful with maintenance. They are available in many colors and styles to suit your home.

Steel Garage Door Repair

Steel garage door repairs range from $200 to $700. Simple repairs are not too expensive, but the costs rise if you need panels replaced. Steel is a great material for garage doors because of its strength. Steel doors are tough and secure, and they can be painted. However, they are prone to dents and can corrode.

Wood Garage Door Repair

Wood garage door repairs cost between $250 and $1,000. While wood is a popular choice for aesthetics, it is prone to rotting, warping, and general wear. Wooden door damage is difficult to undo, and entire sections may need to be removed and replaced, leading to high costs.

Average Cost of Garage Door Repair by Type of Problem

Since garage doors have many moving parts and small components to consider, you might not know exactly what is wrong with your door. You might notice that it is not opening or closing how it used to or sags or bends in certain areas. There can be different causes for these problems, and the table below shows average repair costs for some of the most common garage door complaints.

Cable Came Off the Garage Door

Fixing a garage door where the cable came off costs between $75 and $200. If the cable is intact and in good condition, it might be possible to refit it. Otherwise, a new cable might be needed if it is damaged, which is more expensive.

Garage Door Off Track Repair Cost

Repairing an off-track garage door costs $75 to $300. This may be due to an issue with the track, which might need adjusting or replacing. It could also simply be an alignment issue, and you may need to realign the door.

Garage Door Sagging in the Middle

Fixing a garage door that is sagging in the middle ranges from $75 to $500. There are various issues when a garage starts to sag. It might be a problem with the track, and your door might need a new track or realignment. It could also be an issue with the hinges that need replacing or oiling. Finally, your door might need reinforcement with a new strut.

Garage Door Going Up and Down on its Own

Fixing a garage door that is opening and closing by itself costs between $75 and $500. This is a real security risk and health hazard, so resolve the issue quickly. It might be caused by a wiring issue, the sensors, broken springs, or opener system. The cost depends on what is causing the issue because some things are less expensive and simpler to fix.

Dented Garage Door Repair Cost

Repairing a dented garage door averages $75 to $700, depending on the amount of work. Dents can often be hammered out with care and skill by a professional. However, a panel may need to be replaced entirely if they are too severe, which can be much more expensive.

Bent Garage Door Repair Cost

Fixing a bent garage door panel ranges from $75 to $700. As with dents, bends can sometimes be hammered out. They may also be filled in, depending on the door’s material. In the worst case, the bends are too deep to fix, and the door or panel needs replacing.

Garage Door Lock Cable Snapped

Fixing a garage door with a snapped lock cable costs between $85 and $200. If a cable snaps, there is no other option except to replace it with a new one. A professional garage repairman can use simple tools to remove the snapped cable and fit the replacement.

Sagging Garage Door Header Repair

Fixing a sagging garage door header averages $100 to $400. If the beam above the door starts to sag from the wall’s pressure, it may need to be forced back into position and reinforced. This can be an expensive repair due to the amount of materials and labor required.

Labor Costs to Replace a Garage Door

Most professionals charge on an hourly basis for repairing a garage door. Hourly rates range from $75 to $100 on average. Repair companies and workers also usually charge a call-out fee, ranging from $50 to $75, to come out and look at the door. This fee may be waived if you hire them to fix the problem. You may also have to pay extra if you live in a remote location because the worker has to travel farther. Consult with your chosen repair company to see which fees you should expect.

Emergency Garage Door Repairs

Some garage door problems must be solved right away because they may present a genuine threat to your home’s security and safety. A door that is opening and closing on its own must be fixed very quickly, or a door that has been severely broken requires immediate attention. For urgent same-day repairs, you usually have to pay a premium of $100 to $200.

How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?

Spring repairs are one of the most common repairs because springs inevitably wear out. It does not matter whether you choose torsion springs or extension springs. Each has an estimated lifespan and maximum number of cycles it can withstand - one cycle includes one opening and closing. On average, garage door springs should last at least 10,000 cycles. Some models, especially extension springs, can go to 20,000 cycles before breaking. The table below shows how springs last, based on the number of daily cycles and estimated lifespan.

Garage Door Maintenance Cost

Proper maintenance can reduce the need for repair, and there are various simple maintenance tasks you can do yourself. Cleaning the door and lubricating the hinges is simple and can be done for $20 to $50 per year in basic supplies. You should also inspect the garage door regularly, paying attention to any dents, cracks, strange noises, or movement issues when you open or close it. Sensors should be cleaned regularly to keep them working smoothly, and hinges should be lubricated often.

You may also choose to have a professional maintain your garage door for you. This can be done at a cost of around $100 to $250 and should be scheduled once a year or once every two years. A professional can inspect the various door components, adjust the belt, chain, and track, apply lubrication, clean the door, and repair minor cosmetic damages before becoming serious.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Cost to Add Windows to a Garage Door

If your garage door is solid, you may want to replace one of the panels with a window to let light in. This can be an effective method of illuminating the space inside the door, but it can be quite costly because the panel usually needs to be removed and then cut to make space for the window pane. Adding a window to an existing door ranges from $300 to $600 on average.

Cost to Paint a Garage Door

You may want to have your garage door painted to update its appearance and give it a fresh look to match the outside of your home. This can be a good option for older doors that look a little worn, and it is possible to paint garage doors of various materials, including steel and wood. The costs for painting a garage door start at around $300 and can go up to $500.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Sensor: Device that responds to a physical event or change in the environment by emitting an output signal

² Hinges: A type of joint that attaches two items together but allows one of them to swing back and forth, such as a door attached to a door frame

³ Fiberglass: Plastic that is reinforced with glass fibers. The fibers may be mixed randomly throughout the plastic, or come in the form of a flat sheet, or be woven into a fabric