Garage Door Spring Replacement: Cost, Types and When to Replace

Replacing garage door springs usually costs $150 to $350 for a standard door, with extension springs at the low end and torsion springs at the high end. Full-service companies and heavy two-car doors often charge $350 to $750 or more. If your door has two springs, replace both at the same visit.

Garage door springs do the heavy lifting. The opener only guides the door; the springs carry most of its weight. When one breaks, the door suddenly feels like it weighs a few hundred pounds, and most doors won’t open at all.

This guide covers what a spring job costs in 2026, how to tell which type of spring you have, how long springs really last, and what to ask before you let anyone start work.

Garage door spring replacement cost at a glance

Job	Typical cost, installed
Extension springs	$120 to $200
Torsion springs	$150 to $350
Torsion springs plus a new shaft (bar)	$200 to $400
Springs plus new lift cables	$200 to $500
Convert extension springs to torsion	$400 to $800
Full-service company, one spring	$350 to $750
Full-service company, a pair	$500 to $1,500

Why such a wide range? Independent repair techs and big full-service companies price very differently, and extras like cables, rollers or an emergency visit add up fast. The spring itself is a small part of the bill; most of what you pay is labor and the service call.

Torsion vs extension springs: which one do you have?

Stand inside the garage with the door closed and look up.

• Torsion springs sit on a metal shaft on the wall right above the door. Most modern roll-up doors use them.
• Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door and stretch as the door closes. You’ll find them on older and lighter doors.

	Torsion springs	Extension springs
Where they are	On a shaft above the door	Along the side tracks
Typical rating	10,000 to 15,000 cycles	5,000 to 10,000 cycles
Cost to replace	$150 to $350	$120 to $200
Good to know	Smoother, quieter, balance the door better	Need safety cables through the middle so a broken spring can’t fly loose

If you have extension springs and they break, ask about converting to torsion at the same visit. It costs more up front, about $400 to $800, but the door runs smoother and the springs last longer.

How long do garage door springs last?

Springs aren’t rated in years. They’re rated in cycles, and one cycle is the door opening once and closing once. Most standard springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles. So how long yours last depends almost entirely on how often you use the door.

Door opens and closes	A 10,000-cycle spring lasts about
2 times a day	13 years
4 times a day	7 years
6 times a day	4.5 years
10 times a day	Under 3 years

If the garage is your family’s main way in and out, ask for high-cycle springs rated at 20,000 to 50,000 cycles or more. They cost more to buy but less per use, and you may never have to replace them again while you own the house.

Signs a spring is broken or about to go

• A loud bang from the garage when nobody was using the door. That’s usually a torsion spring snapping.
• A gap in the coil. A healthy torsion spring is one tight coil. A 2-inch gap means it has broken.
• The door is very heavy by hand, or the opener strains and lifts it only a few inches.
• The door hangs crooked or closes faster than it used to.
• Squeaking, stretching or rust on older springs, which often means they’re near the end.

If a spring has broken, stop using the opener. Forcing a heavy door up can burn out the opener motor, and a door without spring support can fall fast.

Replace one spring or both?

Replace both. Springs on the same door are the same age and have done the same number of cycles, so when one breaks the other usually isn’t far behind. A matched new pair also keeps the door balanced. Doing both at once costs a little more in parts but saves you a second service call a few months later.

Can you replace a garage door spring yourself?

We don’t recommend it. A wound torsion spring holds enough force to lift a door that weighs a couple hundred pounds, and releasing it the wrong way can break bones. Garage doors cause about 30,000 injuries a year in the U.S., based on Consumer Product Safety Commission figures cited by the industry. Spring work needs the right winding bars, the right spring size for your door’s weight, and experience. For a job that costs a few hundred dollars, a pro is worth it.

What else can raise the bill

• Door size and weight. Two-car, insulated and wood doors need heavier, pricier springs.
• Worn parts. Frayed cables, bad rollers or worn bearings found during the visit are extra.
• Emergency calls. Nights, weekends and same-day service often add a trip fee.
• Where you live. Labor costs more in big cities than in rural areas.

How to get a fair quote

• Ask for one total price for both springs, parts and labor, before any work starts.
• Ask what cycle rating the new springs have and what the warranty covers.
• Be careful with very cheap ads. A low advertised price often covers only the service call.
• If it isn’t an emergency, get two or three quotes.

Common questions

Sources

• HomeGuide: garage door spring replacement cost
• Angi: garage door spring replacement cost, 2026
• This Old House: garage door spring cost, 2026
• ConsumerAffairs: cost to replace a garage door spring
• A1 Garage Door Service: spring replacement price guide, 2026
• Raynor: garage door spring types and lifespan

More guides in Garage Doors.