Quick answer
A standard garage door spring is commonly rated for around 10,000 cycles, where one cycle is the door opening and closing once. A household that uses the garage door four or five times a day reaches that in about six or seven years, sometimes sooner. High cycle springs are rated for 20,000, 50,000 or 100,000 cycles and last proportionally longer; with Tier One they add $100–$250 per spring.
Spring life is measured in cycles, not years, so how long yours last depends mostly on how often the door is used.
How to estimate your spring life
| Door uses per day | Approximate life of a 10,000 cycle spring |
|---|---|
| 2 | About 13 to 14 years |
| 4 | About 7 years |
| 6 | About 4 to 5 years |
| 10 | About 2 to 3 years |
These are simple estimates: 10,000 cycles divided by the number of cycles per year. Real springs vary with quality, rust and how well the door is balanced.
What shortens spring life
- Using the garage as the main way in and out of the house
- Rust, especially on springs that have never been lubricated
- A door that is out of balance, so the spring works harder than it should
- A heavier door than the spring was sized for, for example after adding insulation or windows
Signs a spring is near the end
- The door feels heavy when lifted by hand
- It will not stay put halfway open
- The opener strains or the door moves unevenly
- Visible rust or gaps between coils
If a spring has already broken, see broken garage door spring: what to do.
When high cycle springs are worth it
High cycle springs cost more up front ($100–$250 more per spring) but last two to ten times as long. For a household that uses the door many times a day, they usually work out cheaper over the life of the door, and mean fewer breakdowns.
Making springs last longer
Have the door balanced and the springs lubricated during a tune-up, and replace both springs together on a two spring door so they wear evenly.
Common questions
How many years does a garage door spring last?
Most standard springs last about six or seven years in a household that uses the door four or five times a day. Spring life is rated in cycles: about 10,000 for a standard spring.
Should I replace both garage door springs at the same time?
Usually, yes. On a two spring door both springs have done the same number of cycles, so the second tends to fail soon after the first.
How much does it cost to replace garage door springs in Austin?
With Tier One, $400–$650 for one spring and $650–$950 for two, parts and labor included. High cycle springs add $100–$250 per spring.
