Photo: Michael O’Keene (Shutterstock)
Garage doors are generally built to last, and most of them will keep functioning for up to 30 years. But once they start to wear out, an old or broken garage door can cause a range of issues, including security problems. Once you’ve decided to replace yours, here’s what you can expect so that your invoice doesn’t give you total sticker shock.
The average cost for a garage door installation
According to Angie, a garage door installation costs about $1,200 on average, and can range from $750 to $1,650. You can expect a more complicated installation to cost more, especially if you need to add framing to support the weight of your door. There are several other factors that can affect the cost of a replacement door as well.
Replacing your garage door opener
If you have an automated door, a new garage door opener will run you around $375, not including the door itself. If you’re installing an opener for the first time, you might need to pay for new tracks as well, so expect that to increase your total cost.
Garage door materials matter
The material that the door is made from can also affect your cost, with a standard replacement door costing around $500 and premium customization going up to $5,000. For premium materials like glass or steel, you can expect to pay more. If your garage door is made from heavier material, like steel or composite wood, that can cost more to install as well because it can increase the structural changes that need to be made to the door opening to support the extra weight.
Labor costs for replacing a garage door
The cost of labor is also a factor in replacing a garage door. An average installation will run you about $300, but don’t forget that customization, structural changes, and more complicated designs will affect your price. Depending on your proximity to the contractor you choose, you might also be charged a travel fee too, which can cost between $25 and $100. Contractors also likely charge a removal fee of about $50 for your old door, so make sure to factor that in as well, if needed.
Hardware and parts can add up
The parts for your door—not including the door itself—include the lock, springs, hinges, bolts, and tracks. These can add another $1,000 to the final price of a replacement if they all need replacing as well, so keep that in mind when you’re budgeting. In many cases, small hardware can add up to an expensive component of the repairs.
Structural changes are possible, but expensive
If you want to change the size or shape of your garage door, it’s possible, but it’ll obviously cost more. If you want a larger or smaller garage opening, or if you want to change the configuration of the door from a roll-top to a walkthrough, the contractor will need to add new framing to the structure of the garage in order to install your door. Making these changes will also likely mean that you need to replace all of the hardware for your door as well, so don’t be surprised by a significantly higher price tag.
