Guide
Choosing a garage door opener
For an attached garage I'd buy a belt-drive opener with a battery backup. It is quiet, it works when a storm takes the power out, and it costs only a little more than a chain drive.
Drive types
| Drive | Unit price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Chain | $150 to $250 | Detached garages and tight budgets. Loudest. |
| Belt | $160 to $450 | Attached garages, rooms above the garage. |
| Screw | $200 to $500 | Few moving parts. Can be noisy. |
| Direct | $280 to $500 | Very quiet, one moving part. |
| Wall-mount (jackshaft) | $250 to $515 | High or vaulted ceilings, or to free up ceiling space for storage. |
Unit prices before installation, from Bob Vila (June 2023). Installed, Bob Vila puts a typical opener at $218 to $525, with labor at $65 to $85 an hour and 2 to 6 hours for the job.
Features worth paying for
- Battery backup. Lets you open the door when the power is out. Bob Vila prices it at about $100 as an add-on. Hurricanes and summer thunderstorms knock out power here, and I'd want it.
- Rolling security codes. Standard on current openers. If yours lacks them, that alone is a reason to replace it.
- Enough lifting help. The opener does not lift the door; the springs do. But a weak motor struggles with a heavy wind-rated or insulated door, so match the opener to the door.
- Smart control, if you want to check or close the door from your phone. Handy for a vacation rental in Kissimmee or a house you leave for the summer.
- A surge protector on the opener outlet. Summer lightning is hard on opener boards.
Install it or have it installed
Installing an opener is a reasonable DIY job for a handy homeowner, as long as the door is balanced first and the outlet is already there. Leave the springs alone. If the door doesn't stay put when lifted halfway by hand, have the springs adjusted before mounting a new opener, or the new opener will wear out early. A new outlet or circuit is electrician work under Florida's licensing rules. Why spring work is not DIY.
Repair or replace
If your opener is newer and has one fault, like a sensor, a remote, a board or a gear, repair it. Opener repair.
Common questions
What is the quietest garage door opener?
Direct-drive and wall-mount units are the quietest, with belt drives close behind. Chain drives are the loudest.
Do I need battery backup on a garage door opener in Florida?
It is worth having. Without it, a power outage after a storm means opening a heavy door by hand with the emergency release.
How much does a garage door opener cost?
Bob Vila lists units from $150 to $250 for a chain drive up to $250 to $515 for a wall-mount unit, and $218 to $525 installed.