Garage Door Spring Replacement: $150 to $350 Torsion (2026)

How much does garage door spring replacement cost

Installed prices for parts and labor. Emergency, evening, weekend and holiday calls cost more.

HomeGuide puts torsion spring replacement at $150 to $350 and extension springs at $120 to $200. Fixr's torsion range is $200 to $350, with an average of $250, and HomeAdvisor lists spring repair at $180 to $350. The price climbs when other parts go with it: a spring and cables together run $200 to $500 in HomeGuide's figures. HomeGuide says insulated doors often need a dual spring system, at $250 to $400. HomeAdvisor calls broken springs one of the most common garage door repair problems.

Is it an emergency? A broken spring with the car stuck inside

A broken spring is urgent when the car is trapped or the door is stuck open, and Fixr says same-day emergency service adds $100 to $300 to the repair.

• Call now: the door is stuck open or partly open. Keep everyone out from under it; Chamberlain says a door with broken springs may fall rapidly and without warning.
• Call now: the car is trapped and you need it today. Ask for the same-day price before anyone is sent.
• Keep clear: a snapped extension spring. HomeGuide says extension springs can snap with significant force and fly across the garage.
• Can wait: the door is closed and you do not need the car. A business-hours visit avoids the surcharge.

Broken garage door spring: signs and what to do now

HomeGuide lists a sudden gunshot-like bang as the first sign of a broken garage door spring. Its other signs:

• A visible gap in the coil, broken hooks, rust or cracks in the metal.
• A door that sticks, will not move, or tilts to one side.
• A door that is suddenly very hard to lift by hand.
• Jerky movement, or a door that slams shut or drops fast.
• Grinding, squeaking or clanging noises.
• Extension spring cables hanging slack or detached.

What to do right away:

1. Leave the door where it is, ideally closed. Chamberlain warns that with weak or broken springs the door may fall rapidly and without warning.
2. Do not pull the emergency release on an open door. Chamberlain says to use it only when the door is fully closed, if possible, and never to raise or lower the door with it.
3. Stop running the opener until a technician has looked at the door.
4. Keep people and pets clear of the door and the area under extension springs, then call.

How to open a garage door with a broken spring

The safe way to open a garage door with a broken spring is to let a technician do it, because the spring was carrying the door's weight and HomeAdvisor says garage door springs hold hundreds of pounds of tension. Here is what the opener maker and the safety agencies say about trying it yourself:

• Do not keep pressing the opener button. HomeGuide lists a door that will not move, or is very hard to lift by hand, as a sign of a broken spring.
• Use the emergency release only with the door fully closed. Chamberlain says never pull it to raise or lower the door, and that a door with weak or broken springs may fall rapidly and without warning.
• Stop if the door is heavy. Chamberlain says to stop and call a professional if the door is unusually heavy, will not stay open or slams shut.
• Never touch the spring, cables or bottom brackets. The CPSC says an unbalanced door should be serviced by a professional, and DASMA says cables and brackets are work for a trained technician.
• The outside keyed release does not lift the door. Chamberlain says it only disconnects the opener.

If the car has to come out today, call the garage door line and ask for a same-day price. Fixr puts the emergency surcharge at $100 to $300, on top of a torsion spring replacement that averages $250.

Torsion vs extension springs

Torsion springs mount above the door opening and twist around a metal rod; extension springs hang along the tracks and stretch. In HomeGuide's figures, torsion springs last longer and stay contained when they break, and extension springs cost less to replace.

Cycle life, years and costs from HomeGuide's spring replacement guide (Oct 2025). Safety cable advice from DASMA.

DASMA's safety tips say extension springs need a safety cable running through the spring, so a broken spring cannot fly loose. If yours have none, ask the technician to add them, or ask for a price to convert to torsion springs ($400 to $800 or more in HomeGuide's figures).

Garage door spring cycle life: how long springs last

A garage door spring is rated in cycles, and one cycle is one open and one close. HomeGuide puts torsion springs at 10,000 to 20,000 cycles, or 7 to 14 years, and extension springs at 5,000 to 15,000 cycles, or 4 to 10 years. Its general rule is replacement every 7 to 10 years or after 10,000 cycles, and as soon as 2 to 3 years in an active household.

• Rust shortens spring life. DASMA's technical data sheet on spring cycle life says rust can cause corrosion pits from which fatigue cracks grow and cut cycle life.
• Lubrication helps. DASMA says regular greasing or lubrication helps maximize spring cycle life. HomeGuide prices annual spring maintenance at $40 to $80; it fits on a home maintenance cost list.
• Higher-cycle springs cost more. HomeGuide says higher-cycle springs with longer warranties cost more up front. Ask for the cycle rating in writing.
• Replace in pairs. DASMA says that if the door has two springs, replace both even if only one is broken.

Why spring replacement is not a DIY job

Spring replacement is a job for a trained technician because the springs hold hundreds of pounds of tension, in HomeAdvisor's words. HomeGuide calls it extremely dangerous and says DIY attempts can result in serious injury or death. DASMA's safety tips say springs wear out and injury can result when they break, that cables should be replaced only by a trained technician, and that brackets should be adjusted or loosened only by a trained door systems technician. Fixr also says springs and other high-tension parts should be left to professionals.

What you can do: look at the springs from the floor once a month, and run the monthly auto-reverse test with a 2x4 under the door. The CPSC says a balanced door stays put when stopped partway open; one that drifts, binds or sticks should be serviced by a professional.

Garage door spring repair near me: what to ask

• Price per spring and per pair. Get it in writing, and compare it with HomeGuide's $150 to $350 for torsion springs. Massachusetts consumer regulators list an estimate far above normal prices as one of the garage door repair scam warning signs.
• Cycle rating. Ask what cycle rating the new springs carry and what warranty comes with it.
• Cables and rollers. Ask whether they will replace cables at the same visit; Fixr puts cables at $100 to $200 and rollers at $100 to $150.
• Emergency fee. Fixr says same-day emergency service adds $100 to $300. If the door is closed and you can get out another way, a next-day visit may cost less.
• Testing. Ask them to balance the door and test the auto-reverse before they leave; the opener safety sensors guide explains the test.
• License and insurance. Ask for the license number and proof of insurance, and check them yourself. Rules vary by state and city.

If the opener also stopped working, see garage door opener repair. If the door itself is old or damaged, compare the repair with the cost of a new garage door. Springs are also on the home repair costs table. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job. How calls work.