Your garage door just made a sound like a gunshot going off. That loud bang means your spring snapped, and now your door weighs 300 pounds instead of feeling nearly weightless. The opener motor struggles or refuses to lift it, and you're stuck with a car trapped inside or a wide-open garage you can't secure.
Professional spring replacement runs $150 to $350 for most homes, with a national average around $250 per spring. You'll find DIY parts for $30 to $100, which makes self-repair tempting when you're staring at a $200+ service bill. Before you grab a wrench and some YouTube tutorials, you need to understand what you're actually dealing with.
Safety Note: Garage door springs operate under 200 to 400 pounds of tension. When they release unexpectedly during DIY attempts, they cause broken bones, deep lacerations, and eye injuries serious enough to land people in emergency rooms regularly.
This guide breaks down what spring replacement actually costs, why prices vary between contractors, what makes DIY replacement genuinely dangerous, and how to find qualified professionals who charge fair rates. The Garage Door Repair Guide covers broader repair topics, but spring replacement deserves special attention because of how common and urgent these failures are.
What Spring Replacement Actually Costs
The typical homeowner pays between $150 and $350 for professional spring replacement, with most jobs landing around $250 per spring. That price includes the service call, labor, parts, and basic hardware replacement. The work takes a trained technician one to two hours to complete safely.
| Spring Type | Parts Cost | Full Installation | Typical Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torsion springs | $75-$100 | $150-$350 | 15,000-20,000 cycles (7-12 years) |
| Extension springs | $50-$100 | $100-$200 | 10,000 cycles (4-5 years) |
Most contractors recommend replacing both springs even if only one broke. The second spring has carried the same stress load and will likely fail within months. Replacing both during one visit costs $200 to $400 total, which saves you from paying another service call fee ($75 to $100) when the second spring goes.
Labor rates run $75 to $150 per hour depending on your location. High cost-of-living areas like San Francisco or New York see rates at the top of that range. Midwest and Southeast regions typically charge $75 to $100 per hour. Emergency service adds $50 to $150 on top of standard pricing for evenings, weekends, or holidays.
Why Prices Vary Between Quotes
Spring type drives the biggest cost differences you'll see between quotes. Torsion springs cost more because they require specialized skills to install, but they last nearly twice as long as extension springs. A torsion spring handles 15,000 to 20,000 cycles compared to 10,000 for extension springs.
Your door's weight and size affect which spring specifications you need. Heavy wood doors or insulated steel doors require larger diameter springs or heavier gauge metal. Some oversized doors need two-spring systems where single doors use one. The parts alone can vary $50 or more based on these specifications.
Did You Know: High-cycle garage door springs last 15,000 to 20,000 open-close cycles, which translates to 7 to 12 years for typical households opening the door twice daily.
Geographic location changes labor costs significantly. The same spring replacement that costs $175 in rural Ohio might run $300 in Seattle. You're paying for local cost of living, not inflated margins in most cases.
Watch for costs that some contractors bundle and others itemize separately. Disposal fees for old steel springs run about $20. Travel charges appear for rural locations or service areas outside the company's normal radius. Weekend and holiday premiums add $50 to $150. Ask whether quotes include these fees upfront to avoid surprises on the final bill. Understanding these average replacement costs helps you spot fair pricing from legitimate contractors.
Why DIY Spring Replacement Is Dangerous
Those $30 to $100 parts look appealing when you're facing a $250 professional bill. The problem is that garage door springs store massive mechanical energy through tension. A standard torsion spring holds 200 to 400 pounds of force depending on your door's specifications.
When you attempt to unwind a spring without proper winding bars and safety equipment, it can release that energy in a fraction of a second. The metal shaft spins with enough force to break bones if it hits you. The spring itself can snap loose and become a projectile. Doctors see these injuries regularly in emergency rooms.
Quick Tip: DIY parts might save you $70 to $150 in labor costs, but one emergency room visit for spring-related injuries typically costs $500 to $2,000 or more, not counting potential property damage to your door, car, or garage.
Incorrect installation creates its own problems. Wrong spring specifications, improper tension calibration, or misaligned mounting causes the door to operate unevenly. This damages rollers, cables, tracks, and your opener motor. You end up paying for the professional installation you tried to avoid plus repairs for the secondary damage you caused.
Most homeowner insurance policies require professional installation to maintain coverage for garage door incidents. DIY work can void warranties on your door components and create liability issues if someone gets hurt. Skip spring replacement as a DIY project and focus on safer maintenance tasks like regular maintenance that don't involve high-tension components.
Getting Fair Pricing from Qualified Contractors
Request detailed quotes from three local companies before deciding. Phone estimates miss important details. Written quotes should specify spring type, number of springs being replaced, parts cost separate from labor, all fees including service calls and disposal, warranty coverage, and estimated completion time.
Verify every contractor's credentials before hiring them. Check for a valid business license in your state, current liability insurance covering at least $1 million, and recent customer reviews from multiple platforms. Look for companies with 50 or more Google reviews averaging 4.5 stars or higher. Cross-reference those ratings with BBB, Angi, and Yelp scores to spot consistent quality.
Quotes under $100 total suggest inexperienced operators or low-quality springs that will fail prematurely. Quotes over $500 for standard residential spring replacement deserve scrutiny. Ask for an itemized breakdown and compare it against typical market rates for your area.
Ask specific questions about the work. What brand of springs will they install? What warranty covers the parts and how long does labor warranty last? Will they replace just one spring or recommend both? How soon can they schedule the work? Companies that provide detailed answers demonstrate professionalism. When you hire a qualified professional, you're paying for expertise that keeps you safe and ensures your door works correctly for years.
Professional spring replacement costs between $150 and $350 for most homeowners, with the national average around $250 per spring. That price reflects skilled labor, proper safety equipment, and warranties that protect your investment. DIY attempts to save $150 create serious injury risks and potential property damage that far exceeds any labor savings. Get quotes from multiple licensed and insured contractors, verify their credentials through customer reviews across several platforms, and budget for replacing both springs during one service visit. Research contractors now before an emergency forces you to hire whoever can come fastest, regardless of their qualifications or pricing.
FAQs
How much does garage door spring replacement cost in 2026?
Professional garage door spring replacement costs between $150 and $350 per spring, with most homeowners paying around $250. The total price includes parts, labor (1-2 hours at $75-$150/hour), and service call fees. Replacing both springs during one visit costs $200 to $400 total, which saves money compared to separate service calls when the second spring inevitably fails.
Can I replace garage door springs myself to save money?
DIY spring replacement is extremely dangerous and not recommended. Garage door springs hold 200 to 400 pounds of tension that can cause broken bones, lacerations, or eye injuries when released improperly. While parts cost only $30 to $100, one emergency room visit typically costs $500 to $2,000 or more, plus you risk voiding warranties and insurance coverage.
What's the difference between torsion and extension spring replacement costs?
Torsion spring replacement costs $150 to $350 and lasts 15,000 to 20,000 cycles (7-12 years). Extension spring replacement runs $100 to $200 but only lasts 10,000 cycles (4-5 years). Torsion springs cost more upfront because they require specialized installation skills, but their longer lifespan makes them more cost-effective over time for most homeowners.
How do I find a trustworthy garage door spring replacement contractor?
Get written quotes from three local companies and verify each has a valid business license, liability insurance covering $1 million or more, and strong customer reviews. Look for companies with 50+ Google reviews averaging 4.5 stars or higher. Cross-check ratings on BBB, Angi, and Yelp. Avoid quotes under $100 (inexperienced) or over $500 (inflated pricing).
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