Ballpark Estimate: $150 to $400 per door plus installation
Now may be the perfect time to open up to the benefits you get when you invest in an electric garage door opener. This mechanism makes it possible at the push of a button for you to open your garage door and park your car.
Types of Openers
If you’ve come home in the midst of a rain storm and had to stand outside shivering as you struggle to manually open your garage door so you can put away your car, you’ll probably appreciate the convenience you can get with an automatic garage door opener. This will eliminate the need to stand out in all sorts of weather to open and close your garage doors.
If this sounds appealing, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the garage door openers that exist. There are three main types of automatic garage door openers from which to select and each one has its own unique features.
Chain-Drive
The first is a chain-drive garage door opener, which relies on a metal chain to move the door along the track. This is the most reasonably priced option, but can also be loud to operate since the chain rattles as the door slides across.
Belt-Drive
For a quieter motion, you might prefer a belt-drive garage door opener. This relies on rubber belts to maneuver the door on its track. Just be prepared to spend a little more for this type of garage door opener.
Screw-Drive
You might also select a screw-drive garage door opener, which uses a special mechanism to lift the door along a threaded rod. This falls in between the other two options in terms of its price and the noisiness and is the easiest to install.
Other Details
In addition to the style of the garage door opener that you prefer, there are some other factors that will affect the garage door costs. For instance, how large a motor do you want your garage door opener to have? A standard size; garage door can get by with a 1/2 horsepower unit, while heavier garage doors might need a motor that’s 3/4 horsepower. If you’re unsure how powerful a unit you need, the experts recommend going with a larger size motor rather than being caught short.
The speed of operation can also make a difference since you don’t want to have to wait to get in and out of your home. The more expensive garage door openers generally open up faster than some of the more basic models. However, all types close more slowly in order to be safer. In fact, federal law enacted in the 1990s requires garage door openers to use special features to protect children and pets. For instance, many units incorporate sensors that read a beam of light. If the light is interrupted, this will stop the garage door in its tracks and cause it to reverse so no one gets hurt (If you have an older garage door opener that doesn’t incorporate this safety feature, it should be replaced).
Different Features
Before you buy, you’ll need to consider how tall your garage door is, since most garage door openers are made for a standard 7-foot tall garage door. Therefore, if you have an over-sized garage door, you may need an extension kit to make it work.
It’s also a good idea to select a garage door opener that offers a keyless entry pad. This enables you to access your home simply by punching in your own code. For extra safety, you might purchase a garage door opener with a rolling code that resets after every use.
Some of the latest garage door opener models even provide a keypad that reads your fingerprints instead of needing numbers. In addition, some garage door openers come with a remote that’s compact enough to keep on your keychain so it’s easy to carry it with you wherever you go. These small extras can add up to big conveniences.
Optional Features
When you leave your home for extended periods of time, many garage door openers allow you to lock the unit so no one can gain entry using the keypad while you are gone. Since you probably rely on your garage door unit as the main light in your garage, it’s a good idea to be sure that the bulb (or bulbs) will be bright enough for your purposes and will also go on automatically so you don’t have to worry about fumbling in the dark.
Where to Buy
It should be easy to find garage door openers in your area. You can visit some of the chain home improvement stores, such as Sears, Home Depot, and Lowes. You can also do a search online for some of the common garage door opener brands including Liftmaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Clopay, Martin, and Sommer. You can find garage door openers in these and other brands through Nextag and Amazon. Another good way to research various types of garage door openers is through ConsumerSearch.
Installation
Whether you want to install your garage door opener on your own or whether you prefer to have it professionally done will also affect your garage door opener price and the quality. This is because professional garage door openers are stronger than ones geared toward homeowners. Professional versions often come with the rail in one piece, while DIY versions are usually separate parts that need to be put together.
Garage Door Opener Costs
When it comes to home improvement projects, installing electric garage door openers can be cost effective when you consider how many times a week you open and close your garage doors.
Here are some garage door opener prices to consider for a 1/2 to 3/4-horsepower motor unit:
- Chain-drive garage door openers cost between $125 and $175.
- Screw-drive garage door openers cost between $150-$225.
- Belt-drive garage door openers cost between $175-$400.
Keep in mind that these costs are per door.
Professional garage door opener installation is usually an additional charge. You can expect a cost of another $150 and $200 per garage door to have these installed.
This means that if you a single garage, you can expect a garage door opener to cost between $275 and $600 installed. If you have a two-car garage, this would double to cost between $550 and $1,200 installed.
A DIY Option
If you like the idea of adding (or upgrading) an electric garage door opener or openers but your budget is too tight to swing the expense of professional installation, you can consider putting them in yourself. To do your own installation, you’ll need some basic tools and a day to complete the project yourself.