Garage door problems don’t have to mean the end of the world. Garage door repair is typically a one-day process and can be done for only a few hundred dollars. Common garage door repair requests include fixing slow or erratic garage doors, addressing strange sounds coming from the garage door or motor, fixing cosmetic damage such as dents or scrapes, repairing broken doors that are stuck open or closed, and troubleshooting inoperable doors.

The two main garage door operating mechanisms are sectional roll-ups or tilt-ups. Garage door repair services can fix single-car, double-car or RV-height doors. Your garage door may be made of wood, steel, aluminum, masonite, vinyl, fiberglass or another material. The type of garage door repair you need really depends on the type of garage door you have and the issue at hand. Garage door repair pros often charge a flat service call fee to diagnose the problem and provide an estimate. For customers who choose to have the repair done, the service call fee may be applied to the first hour of labor (including time to make the diagnosis). If your garage door is under warranty, the repair may be free of charge.

Garage door repair is a specialized job, which is typically handled by a garage door repair service. Professional garage door repair technicians can test or repair a garage door system and fix cosmetic blemishes on doors. Common requests include help with jammed or inoperable doors, slow or erratic doors, unusual sounds, dents or scrapes on the door, and general system testing. Garage door repair professionals can work on single-car, double-car and RV-size garage doors.

The national average for garage door repair cost is between $80 and $110. Some of the factors that affect your garage door repair cost are the type of springs (most often torsion or extension), the size and weight of the door, and the door material. Many garage door pros will charge a service fee to visit your house and determine the problem. Often, the service fee includes a set amount of labor. One example of this is an $80 service fee that includes the first hour of work plus testing and inspecting your garage door and garage door opener, while another pro may charge $150 for the same standard service call.   

Broken or jammed springs are a common problem. In one example, the starting price for spring repair was $99, while another pro’s cost started at $185. The $185 starting price included $40 for transportation costs, $60 for parts, and $85 per hour of labor. Professionals may charge extra for late-night garage door repair emergencies.

Replacing a garage door panel can add significantly to the cost of a garage door repair. Panels run horizontally on sectional roll-up garage doors. They may be made of wood, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass or steel. Garage door panels can become damaged from hail and other extreme weather, dents and dings, car accidents, and age. When deciding if you want to replace a garage door panel, it’s helpful to compare the potential repair cost to the cost of a new garage door. Panel replacement requires a pro with the proper tools as well as the new parts. With parts and labor you could be paying more than $500 for one new panel. In comparison, a new garage door may cost $800-$1,200 (on average) with installation. If there is a possibility your garage door was structurally compromised when the panel was damaged, have the pro assess whether it’s better to completely remove and replace the door, rails and framework to ensure your home’s safety. It may also be better to completely replace your door if it is severely rusted or dented; if the paint is peeling and fading; if the door model is outdated or you can’t find replacement panels; or if the panels or rails are structurally compromised.

If your garage door is not opening or has become jammed, you may need to replace the garage door cables. Unless you have the proper tools and know-how, this is a job best left to a professional due to the weight of the garage door and the extreme tension of the springs. The cost of repair will vary depending on your location, the length of the cables you need, and the time it takes the pro to do the replacement.

From a big-box store, basic garage door cables can run between $8 and $20, depending on the product. Your pro may charge you a different cost if they provide the cables. Your cables may not need to be replaced if they have simply come off the track, but broken cables will need to be completely removed and replaced. In either instance, the pros will need to secure or take down the door; unwind the springs; reset or replace the rollers, cables, and drums; and then wind the springs once more. For example, a pro could reset cables that have come off the track for $129.99. The average national cost for a garage door repair specialist is $80 - $110 per hour and the typical cost to replace a broken garage door cable is anywhere from $130 to $200.