Garage Door Replacement Cost: What a New Door Really Runs
The short answer
The best garage door lubricant for a residential door is a silicone spray or a white lithium grease, and the water-displacing penetrating spray most people reach for is neither one. For a full pass done by somebody who does it daily, call Century Garage Door Service at 833-435-4540.
The panels may have become dented from years of basketball in the driveway. The bottom section of the old door may have rotted away. You may even have had the old door hit by a car backing out a little too fast. Regardless, you have come to the realization that the old door has served its purpose, and you want to know what the door replacement cost will look like before anyone shows up.
Honestly though, for single doors, nationally they fall into a relatively small price range. Most of the price difference comes down to size, material, and hardware. Below we outline each factor in more detail to give you a better understanding of what goes into a quote.
Table of Contents
Garage door replacement cost, the short answer
The national average for a garage door replacement cost is approximately $1,400 per door. Most standard size doors typically run $1,050 to $1,900 installed, which covers the new door, removal of the old door and the labor to hang and balance the new one.
Larger doors and higher end materials cost more. A double door, a highly insulated door, or a wood or full glass door typically falls in the $1,900 to $3,500 range nationally. A simple steel single door with no windows sits at the low end of the band.
Labor is only one part of the door replacement cost, and its share depends on the door size and how much of the old hardware can be left in place.
So you want one door replacement cost number to plan with? Start from the national average for a single door, and step up toward the top of the range for a double insulated door. The figure in your written quote is the number that counts.
What goes into the door replacement cost
Six things decide where your door replacement cost lands. They are listed roughly in the order they move the number.
| Factor | How it moves the door replacement cost |
|---|---|
| Door size | A double door uses more material and heavier springs than a single, so it costs more to buy and to hang |
| Material | Steel is usually the lowest, then aluminum and composite, with real wood and full glass at the top |
| Insulation | An insulated door has more layers in each panel, which adds to the door price and the weight |
| Windows and style | Window inserts, carriage house trim and custom colors all add to the door itself |
| Springs and tracks | New springs sized to the new door are normal, and worn or bent tracks get replaced too |
| Removal and disposal | Some installers include haul-away of the old door, others list it as its own line |
Two doors that look the same from the street may end up with very different door replacement cost totals, because one needed new tracks and a heavier spring and the other did not. That is why a door replacement cost quoted over the phone is only ever an estimate.
Single door or double door
A single garage door typically covers a one car garage, usually 8 or 9 feet wide. A double garage door covers a two car garage, usually 16 feet wide. A double door is not just twice the size of a single one. It needs heavier torsion springs sized as a matched pair as well as longer tracks, and it takes more labor to lift and set.
Some homes with a very wide opening use two single doors rather than one double door. The door replacement cost for two singles is generally more than for one double door, since each door needs its own springs, tracks and hardware. If you are torn between the two, ask for both prices on the same quote and decide which suits your home.
Material and insulation
Steel is the most common choice and usually the lowest garage door replacement cost per square foot. It holds up well, takes paint and comes in many styles. Aluminum is lighter and resists rust, which helps near the coast, but it dents more easily.
Wood is the most attractive material and has the highest price tag, plus real upkeep. It needs regular coating to keep it from cracking and swelling. A composite door looks like wood without the maintenance and is priced between steel and wood.
Whether the garage is attached to the house or used as a workshop, insulation is important. Insulated doors are quieter, retain heat better and are often stiffer and less prone to dents. Insulated doors are also heavier, which affects the spring size and nudges the door replacement cost up a little. Our garage door insulation article explains the different insulation ratings and how they compare. Our new garage door cost article goes deeper into door styles and what moves the price of the door itself.
Windows add light and character, and each row of glass adds to the door replacement cost. The most popular upgrade is a row of windows across the top section of the door. Full glass doors sit at the very top of the door replacement cost range.
ALT: Century crew with a finished double garage door installation, the job a garage door replacement cost pays for
Need a Professional Tune-Up?
Skip the ladder. Our local technicians perform full safety inspections and comprehensive lubrication to keep your system running silently.
The parts you don't see on the showroom page
The door is what you pick. The hardware is what makes it work, and it is where a lot of quotes differ.
New springs are typically required for a new door, because they must be sized for the weight they lift, and a new insulated door almost never weighs the same as the old one. Reusing the old springs unbalances the door and wears out the opener early.
Tracks are a judgment call. If they are straight, solid and the right size, they can stay. If they are bent, corroded or sized for a different door, they get replaced, and that shows up on the door replacement cost.
Most existing openers stay in place, as long as they work and are strong enough to lift the new door. If the existing one is old, noisy or already struggling, it may be worth quoting for a new opener as well. The technician is already on site for the door, so this can be a good time to get it sorted. It would be a separate line on the quote, which you can agree to or decline.
Replace one panel or the whole door?
If only one section of your door has suffered damage, you may not need a new door at all. The garage door panel replacement cost for a single section is usually less than the cost of a complete new door, as long as a matching panel still exists.
Panels are typically made for a specific door model, and many of these models are discontinued after a number of years. Finding a matching panel for an older door can be impossible, and a panel in a slightly different color or pattern will stick out like a sore thumb from the street. In these cases it is often more cost effective to replace the door in full.
Your technician will advise which way to go. In the short term, a single replacement panel may be the more cost effective solution where the majority of the door is sound and a matching panel is available. However, if your door has multiple areas of damage or even localized rust in the bottom panel, coupled with worn springs towards end of life, a full door replacement cost could prove to be more cost effective in the long term. Please refer to our garage door replacement page for how we handle full door replacements.
Getting the old door out
Taking the old door down is part of the job, and any honest door replacement cost includes it. Releasing the old springs before taking down the door is the technician’s work.
The old door is either carried away by the installers as part of the door replacement cost or removal and disposal is listed as a separate item and charged independently. Typically haul-away of an old door is charged in the $50 to $150 range nationally. It’s best to ask about it when you get the quote.
Why this isn't a weekend project
Most DIY videos on installing garage doors promise to save the labor share of a garage door replacement cost. The main parts that could cause serious harm are the springs. Releasing the old springs and tensioning the new springs for the new door are the two parts of the job most prone to serious harm.
Never adjust, wind, unwind, replace, or release the tension on the torsion springs above the door or the lift cables running down the sides, because they hold hundreds of pounds of stored energy and get replaced with winding bars by a trained technician. Drive gear internals and main power wiring are technician work too.
If your old door needs to come down, leave the springs alone and call a technician to release them.
How to read a replacement quote
A good quote for your door replacement cost is clear and written down. Here is what it should show, in order:
Make sure you have approved a written quote before any work commences. Be wary of a quote that changes once the old door has been removed from the premises, with no new parts required and no explanation given.
When you call Century Garage Door Repair Service at 833-435-4540 a live person answers your call 24/7. You receive a two-hour arrival window and a text message when our truck is en route. Our technicians take the measurement of the opening and check the hardware before they quote you the price. If there are any problems within 24 hours, we’ll come back and check it out. Seniors and military receive a standing discount, and so do first responders.
The door itself, with its size, material, insulation and any window or style options named
Whether new springs are included, and their size and cycle rating
Whether the tracks are being replaced or reused, and why
Removal and disposal of the old door, either included or listed as its own line
Any opener work, listed separately so you can approve or decline it on its own
What happens if you say no
With us, if you decline the quote, no work is done.
Is a new door worth it?
For most homes, yes. When an old door becomes damaged, unsafe or simply worn out, a new garage door can make a huge difference to the appearance of the front of your home and is one of the many exterior upgrades that buyers like to see from the street.
A garage door replacement is one of the exterior remodeling projects that returns a large share of its cost when a home sells. Based on current surveys and studies such as the Cost vs. Value report, the garage door replacement ranks near the top. A new insulated door can also make an attached garage quieter and easier to heat. New springs and updated garage door hardware can also mean fewer surprise repairs for years.
Many doors are mostly sound with only a section or two failing. A full inspection by a qualified technician can establish where you are on this spectrum and if a repair rather than a full door replacement cost is the most cost effective solution.
FAQs: door replacement cost
How much does it cost to replace a garage door?
The national average garage door replacement cost is about $1,400 per door. Most standard size doors typically run $1,050 to $1,900 installed. Of course, double doors, insulated doors, wood doors, glass doors, etc. cost more. Their cost is determined by the size, material and hardware needed for each individual door. Call 833-435-4540 for a written quote for your door.
Is garage door installation cost included in the door price?
A store price for a replacement garage door is usually for the door alone. A full replacement quote would include the new door, removal of the old door, new springs sized for the new door and the labor cost to install and balance them. Make sure you are comparing like with like when obtaining quotes for the work.
How long does a garage door replacement take?
Most single door replacements are completed within a few hours of the new door arriving at your property. Double door replacements, doors that require new tracks or a new opener, for example, can take a little longer to complete. The time between us quoting for your new doors and actual fitting will depend on the style of door(s) and the options you select.
Should I replace the opener at the same time?
Only if it needs it. A good opener on an existing door can usually be left in place on a new door. An old, noisy or weak opener is often better to replace while work is being carried out on the door as the necessary work can be done by the same person already on site. Such items should always be detailed separately on a quote.
Can I replace just one damaged garage door panel?
Often, yes. A single panel can be more cost effective than a whole new door, as long as matching panels are still made for your door model. Old door models are often discontinued, and a mismatched panel can be very obvious. If several sections are damaged or heavily rusted, a full replacement is often the better value in the long run.
Does homeowners insurance cover a new garage door?
It depends on why the door needs replacing. A door damaged by a covered event, such as a storm or a vehicle hitting it, may be repaired or replaced under your policy. A door that is simply old and worn out is usually treated as normal maintenance. It is best to check your policy and speak with your insurer before you assume either way.
Do I need new springs with a new garage door?
Yes, typically. Springs are sized for the weight of the door they support, and a new door is unlikely to weigh the same as the old one. Old springs on a new door would likely leave it unbalanced and could damage the opener. In a full replacement, new springs sized for the new door are normally part of the job.
Get a written quote for your new door
Is your problem a dented panel or a worn out door? The first step is to call Century Garage Door Repair Service at 833-435-4540, where a live person answers day or night. The technician takes measurements of the opening and inspects the springs and tracks. A written quote is given for the door replacement cost prior to any work being carried out.
Table of Contents
Emergency Repair?
Did a loud bang follow a door that won't lift? Don't risk injury. We offer rapid emergency response.