Broken garage door spring: what to do, what it costs and why not to fix it yourself
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
What should you do when a garage door spring breaks?
Stop using the door, leave it where it is, and call a technician. A garage door is counterbalanced by its springs. When one breaks, the opener or your arms are suddenly holding the weight the spring used to carry. Angi's advice is to avoid opening the door manually while you wait for help, and the federal safety standard for openers warns that with weak or broken springs an open door released from the opener may fall rapidly.
Three practical rules follow from that.
- If the door is closed, leave it closed. DASMA, the door manufacturers' trade association, points out that openers are designed to move doors that are properly balanced, and a door with a broken spring is not.
- If the door is open, keep people and cars out from under it, and do not pull the red release handle. The federal text says to use the release only when the door is closed, if possible.
- If your car is trapped inside, say so when you call. It affects how fast you need the visit, and what you will pay for it.
Fixr notes that a door with a broken spring can still be moved, and adds at once that this is not recommended.
How do you know it was the spring?
The usual first sign is the noise. HomeGuide describes a sudden bang like a gunshot, and This Old House a loud pop or snap. After that, the lists published by HomeGuide, Fixr and Angi agree on what you may see.
- A gap in the coils of the spring above the door.
- A door that feels extremely heavy, or that the opener cannot lift.
- A door that rises a little and then drops, or tilts to one side.
- Cables hanging slack or detached.
- A door that slams shut and will not stay open.
Angi puts the commonest case in one line: if the opener runs and the door does not move, a spring or a cable has probably broken.
What is the difference between torsion and extension springs?
They do the same job in two different ways, and the difference affects price, lifespan and safety.
| Feature | Torsion spring | Extension spring |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | On a metal rod above the door opening | Alongside the door tracks, one on each side |
| How it works | Coils and uncoils | Stretches and contracts |
| Life, per HomeGuide | 7 to 14 years, or 10,000 to 20,000 cycles | 4 to 10 years, or 5,000 to 15,000 cycles |
| Replacement, per HomeGuide | $150 to $350 | $120 to $200 |
| Replacement, per Fixr | $200 to $350 | $120 to $250 |
HomeGuide calls torsion springs the safer kind, because a torsion spring stays on its shaft when it breaks while an extension spring can snap with force and fly across the garage. That is why DASMA says every extension spring needs a safety cable running through it, fixed to the wall or ceiling at each end, to contain the spring if it breaks. If your door has extension springs and no such cable, DASMA's advice is to ask a dealer for a safety inspection.
Which kind you have depends partly on the age and style of the door. HomeGuide says sectional doors, the standard in most newer homes, commonly use torsion springs, and that single-panel tilt-up doors, common in older homes with detached garages, most often use extension springs. Converting a door from extension to torsion springs costs $400 to $800 or more, according to HomeGuide; Angi gives $400 to $800.
What does spring replacement cost?
Angi reports a national average of $250, with most homeowners paying $150 to $350 and some jobs reaching $500. HomeAdvisor gives $180 to $350. The table above has HomeGuide's and Fixr's ranges for each type. None of these is a Pennsylvania figure.
Several things move the price, according to HomeGuide.
- The door. Heavier insulated doors run $250 to $400 and double doors $300 to $600, because they need stronger springs or more of them.
- The hour. Evening, weekend and holiday calls carry premium charges. This Old House gives the example of a spring replacement that costs $300 on a weekday and may double as an emergency weekend call.
- What else is worn. Cables, tracks or hardware found to be failing during the job add to the bill. HomeGuide prices springs and cables together at $200 to $500.
The cost guide compares these figures with other repairs.
Why are both springs replaced at once?
Because they have done the same amount of work. DASMA says that if a door has two springs, both should be replaced even if one is not broken, to prevent damage when the second one fails and to keep the door working efficiently. Fixr explains that the surviving spring will have lost strength, so a door with one new spring and one old one may be out of balance. Angi tells readers to budget for both.
A quote for one spring and a quote for two are therefore not comparable. Ask which you have been given.
Why is this not a do-it-yourself repair?
Because of the force stored in the spring. This Old House says most torsion springs hold 400-plus pounds of force and can let go without warning. Angi says springs work under a load that often exceeds 800 pounds. HomeGuide prints its warning in capitals: spring replacement is extremely dangerous, and do-it-yourself attempts can result in serious injury or death.
The bodies that set the rules say the same in their own words. The federal standard requires every opener manual to tell owners to have a qualified service person make repairs to cables, spring assemblies and other hardware. DASMA says spring systems should be repaired only by trained professionals. Which repairs you can do yourself sets out where the line falls for other parts of the door.
How long will the new springs last?
That depends on the rating you buy and how often the door moves. Fixr says a spring should last at least 10,000 cycles, a cycle being one opening and one closing, which it works out as 13 to 14 years at two cycles a day and 5 to 6 years at five. This Old House says standard torsion springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles and upgraded ones for about 25,000.
The rating also tends to set the warranty. HomeGuide says springs rated for 10,000 cycles often come with a 3-year warranty.
What should you ask before the work starts?
HomeGuide's list for spring jobs is short and useful.
- What type of spring do you recommend for this door, and what is it rated for?
- Does the quote include removing and disposing of the old springs?
- What warranty covers the springs, and what covers the installation?
- Is there an extra charge for an evening or weekend call?
Angi adds one request: while the technician is there, ask for the whole system to be looked over, since the service call is already paid for. And when the job is done, ask to see the door lifted by hand. A balanced door, in the International Door Association's description, lifts smoothly with little resistance and stays open.
Questions to ask a garage door repair company has the fuller checklist, and companies that replace springs are on the garage door repair directory page.
Sources
- How Much Does Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
- 16 CFR Part 1211: Safety Standard for Automatic Residential Garage Door Operators, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)
- Garage Door Repair Cost, Fixr
- How Much Does Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost? (2026), HomeGuide
- Garage Door Repair Cost (2026 Pricing), This Old House
- How Much Do Garage Door Tune-Ups Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
- Safety Tips For Garage Door Systems, Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA)
- Safety Tips For Garage Door Openers, Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA)
- How Much Does Garage Door Repair Cost in 2026?, HomeAdvisor
- How Much Do Garage Door Repairs Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
- How much are garage door prices?, HomeGuide
- Safety & Maintenance, International Door Association (IDA)