How much does garage door opener installation cost?

Labor costs, type of opener and additional features like lighting, sensors and remotes all factor in to the total cost of installing a garage door opener.

The total cost of a garage door opener installation depends on the cost of the specific model of garage door opener that you choose and the rate for a pro to install that opener for you. To help you estimate how much it will cost to install a new garage door opener or replace an old one, we'll break these factors down even further:

The type of opener

Though the average cost of an opener is in the $150-$300 range, you can find openers that cost less than $130 or more than $440. Expensive models typically have more horsepower and additional features, such as: a keychain-sized remote, auto-close functionality, motion-sensor security lights, battery backup and wifi capability. There are four types of openers: chain drive, belt drive, screw drive and direct.

Chain drive opener cost: $150-$300

A chain drive garage door opener is the most affordable and reliable garage door opener, but they're noisier and not a great idea if your garage is below a living space. If anything goes wrong with it, a chain will also be cheaper to repair later on.

Belt-drive opener cost: $200-$250

While a little more expensive, a belt drive garage door opener is quieter than chains, and requires less maintenance. A motor attached to a rubber style rail lifts the door up. The lack of metal on metal friction is what makes it quieter than a chain driven opener. You can also get a belt-drive opener with wifi or bluetooth capabilities.

Screw drive opener cost: $190-$260

Screw drive openers are a quiet garage door opener option. Screw drives also have fewer parts than belt-drives, so they require little maintenance and repairs, and are easier to install.

Direct drive openers: $250-$300

Direct drive openers are ultra-quiet and operate almost silently since it has a spring-tensioned chain which stays still while the motor travels along it. They are the best option if you want a quiet garage door opener. However, they are usually the most expensive garage door opener option.

Remotes and keypads

The cost of a garage door opener remote is about $30-$40 on top of the opener. A keypad will cost around $30-$60.

A remote is an important safety and convenience feature to consider. Instead of getting out of your car, opening your garage door manually, getting back into your car and then closing the door manually after you park, you can just push a button and the door will open and close electronically. A remote is especially helpful if you aren't physically able to open or close your door manually or if it's raining, snowing or super hot outside.

You can also install a button or keypad for your garage when you change or add a garage door opener. Keypads are a great option if you want a secure way to enter and exit your garage but aren't able to hand a remote to every driver who uses it -- for example, an apartment garage.

There may also be an additional fee from your contractor. For example, A-Team Garage Doors charges $65 for parts and labor for a remote and $80 for parts and labor for a keypad.

Garage door sensor replacement cost

Sensors are an important garage door safety feature. They can sense if there is something blocking the garage door, like part of your car or a pet, and stop the door from closing all the way. The price for one is around $50-100.

Lighting

Some garage door openers include lighting, which is mounted on the motor housing. It will turn on when you use the opener, which can be a great safety and convenience feature. If your garage door opener doesn't include lighting, but you want to add it, it will be an additional $50-$100 to install.

Electrical wiring for an opener

If you already have a garage door and opener, you probably have the necessary wiring for a new one in your garage. If there's no wiring or the existing wiring wasn't installed properly, you may want to hire a licensed electrician to upgrade it. The cost will depend on how far your garage is from your home and how many outlets and switches you want to install.

Removing your old garage door opener

Some pros include removing your old opener as part of their installation service. Others charge a separate fee for removal.

If you're replacing both your garage door and your garage door opener at the same time, your contractor will include garage door and opener removal as part of their overall service.

It should take about two hours to remove, replace and install a new opener in your garage. If you're also replacing your door, it will take about three to four hours for an entire garage door installation.

Garage door openers generally last around 10 years, but they do require occasional maintenance. Fortunately, this is cheaper than ripping out an old opener and installing a new one. Homeowners can perform many fixes themselves, but professional installers can fix problems quickly, often for the price of a service call. Creative Garage Doors in Englewood, Colorado, repairs garage door openers for $100.

Want some tips to reduce your garage door opener installation costs? Below are a few ways you can spend less:

Purchase a cheaper model. If your garage door is relatively lightweight, you don't mind noise and you're willing to give up extra features and accept a shorter warranty, you may save money by buying a cheaper opener.

Check your warranty, especially if you are replacing your old garage door opener as part of a repair, you should check to see if your old opener comes with a warranty and what it covers.

Ask about packages. Getting multiple services done at once, like installing your garage door and your garage door opener, may save you money on overall costs. Ask your installer if they have packages.

Hire an installer who is a licensed electrician. If you have electrical wiring in your garage, but there's no outlet to plug in a garage door opener, you may be able to save money by hiring an installer who is a licensed electrician and can add the outlet for you as part of the installation job.

Let your contractor buy the garage door opener. While you can buy a garage door opener and then hire a pro to replace the old one — paying just for the labor costs — it's often more cost-effective to let your contractor buy the replacement and install it.

A-Team Garage Doors in Denver can install an opener purchased separately by the customer for $150, but the company also sells openers with installation as a package. A chain-drive opener with installation and one remote costs $350, and a belt-drive opener with installation and one remote costs $400. Similarly, Local Garage Doors - Sacramento in Folsom, California, offers $50 off the price of a garage door opener when you purchase through them.