How long does it take to install a belt drive garage door opener?

Installing a belt drive garage door opener takes about 2 to 4 hours for a professional and 4 to 8 hours for a DIYer doing it for the first time. The job breaks down into roughly five steps: removing the old opener if there is one, assembling the rail and threading the belt, mounting the motor head and securing the rail to the header bracket above the door, installing the safety sensors near the floor on each side of the door, and wiring the wall control and programming travel limits. Add another 30 minutes if you are also reinforcing the top panel of the door, which is required for many models. Two people make the overhead work much faster and safer.