Garage door openers in your home are for convenience, safety, and security. And whether you want to upgrade an older opener system or install a new one, price is a huge factor to consider.

A professional garage door opener installation costs an average of $220 and $550. The cost for an opener in the U.S. may run between $150 and $500, with $65 and $100 an hour for labor, which can take between two to six hours. However, there is more to calculating the cost of a garage door opener installation.

We have compiled and detailed all the important variables affecting garage door opener installation costs.

Factors influencing the cost of installing a garage door opener

The price of installing a garage door opener depends on labor rates in your area, opener brand and model, door size and numbers, horsepower rating, system model, and extra equipment needed.

Type

Garage door openers come in four drive types, each with pros and cons. The type of system you choose significantly impacts the cost of installation.

Garage door opener type	Average installation cost
Chain-driven	$150 – $250
Belt-driven	$160 – $344
Screw-driven	$200 – $280
Direct-driven	$270 – $440

Chain-driven garage door operators are the most affordable due to their basic design, and they are the first automatic garage door openers in the market. They are the easiest to install but are also the least efficient and innovative openers. In addition, they are noisy and require frequent lubrication.

On the other hand, direct-drive models have the most simplistic design. Only the motor operates the garage door without needing a chain, belt, or screw. These drive systems also come with federal-approved sensors with automatic reverse safety. All these convenient and safety features make it the most expensive residential opener drive.

But, on the other hand, it’s quiet and low maintenance due to its fewer moving parts.

Labor

Before installing a garage door opener on your own or hiring a professional, you’ll need to check the garage door spring. You should pay a professional to install the garage door opener if the spring is broken or damaged.

Installing an opener will take 2-6 hours and cost $50 to $100 per hour. In addition, if your garage door’s height is more than 7 feet, you’ll need an extension kit, which will cost an additional $50.

Additionally, a new opener installation will require hiring an electrician to install the electrical plug. An electrician’s service may cost $50 to $100 an hour, which may take one to two hours.

Furthermore, if you have the electrical and mechanical skills and the garage door spring is intact, you can DIY the garage door opener installation and save some bucks. Repairing the garage door spring on your own is dangerous should something break off.

Although installing an opener is relatively easy, it does require some skill level. But note that some garage door opener warranties are invalid with a DIY installation.

Brand

There are plenty of brands of quality garage door openers, but not all have all types of openers. So first, choose the type of garage door opener you need, then select the brand that suits your needs and budget. The table below shows the average installation cost for the more popular garage door openers.

Brand	Average price
Liftmaster	$300 – $500
Genie	$150 – $400
Craftsman	$125 – $275
Chamberlain	$150 – $300
Ryobi	$200 – $350
Sommer	$200 – $300
Guardian	$175 – $350
Linear	$250 – $400
Marantec	$400 – $800

Liftmaster garage door openers are popular for their reliability, durability, speed, and less noise. They also make both chain and belt drive openers. Homeowners also love Chamberlain due to their up-to-date features. Genie openers are the least expensive options. Although they don’t have the best quality, they provide higher horsepower.

Horsepower rating

Horsepower is the lifting capacity of the motor in the garage door opener. The heavier your garage door opener is, the more horsepower it will need to operate. Usually, expensive garage door opener models offer more horsepower and additional features.

Garage door openers range in power between 1/3 horsepower to 2 horsepower; this, in turn, means the higher the horsepower rating an opener has, the more pricey it will be. For instance, a 1/2 HP opener motor can cost as little as $120, and $550 for a 2 HP opener motor.

Additional costs

You will have to factor in additional accessories when considering the installation cost of your garage door openers. Depending on your brand, some garage door openers don’t have all the features you want. For instance, Garage door openers come with two remotes and a keypad. But you’ll have to spend between $30 and $40.

Additional parts	Average price
Battery backup	$50 – $150
Garage door sensors	$50 – $100
Lighting	$50 – $150
Keypads	$30 – $60
Extension kits	$50
Automatic locks	$85 – $100

You also have to consider the cost of removing an existing opener system if you’re doing a replacement. Most opener installation services will charge an additional fee for its removal as part of the installation costs.

However, in some cases, you may use some of the parts already in place, lowering the opener replacement cost than a new installation.

Conclusion

So now you understand everything to remember when calculating the cost of installing your garage door opener. A garage door opener is a major investment; therefore, it warrants careful consideration. But factors such as garage door size, drive type, horsepower rating, labor rate, and others will dictate the installation cost of a garage door opener.