QA

What Size Garage Door Opener Do I Need

How do I know what size garage door opener I need?

If you have a single door, commonly 9 x 7 ft. (2.7 x 2.1 m), then a ½ HP or 500 N motor will be sufficient. If you have a double garage door, 16 x 7 ft. (4.9 x 2.1 m), or a solid wood garage door, then a ¾ HP or 700 N motor is recommended.

How much horsepower do I need for a 2 car garage door?

Two-car garages or one-car garages with insulated or wooden doors need at least a 3/4 horsepower garage door opener. Garages with carriage doors should opt for 1 HP garage door openers or higher.

How much can a 1/2 HP garage door opener lift?

A 1/2 horsepower garage door opener can lift approximately 300 pounds, which is the average weight of a two-car steel door. A one-horsepower opener can easily lift approximately 400 pounds.

Can a garage door opener be too powerful?

While a faster motor might not wear down as fast, there aren’t many other benefits to it. However, a potential issue with a powerful opener is if you set the force too high. That could cause the door to get caught on something, and that might damage the door and the opener.

What size of garage door opener do I need for a 16 foot door?

A ¾ horsepower garage door opener is sufficient for a 16-foot garage door opener. The ¾ horsepower garage door opener has more power and efficiency and does not strain the motor compared to a ½ horsepower garage door opener. A ½ horsepower opener can operate the 16-foot door albeit with some strain on the motor.

How big of a garage door opener do you need for a 12 foot door?

Therefore, the most common 1/2 HP garage door opener will probably lift less than 125 pounds (57 kg). In other words, you can buy this model if your garage doors are 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 m) wide. When you have heavier, over 14 feet (4.3 m) wide garage doors, you should use the 3/4 HP opener.

Is a 3/4 HP garage door opener too much?

Typically, a 1/2 hp garage door opener can lift up to 300 pounds of weight without putting too much pressure on the motor. On the other hand, a 3/4 horsepower opener can lift a mighty 600lbs! This tells us you should get a 3/4 hp garage door opener if your door is heavy or too large.

How much HP do you need for garage door opener?

Ratings ranging from 1/2 horsepower to 1-1/2 horsepower are typical for residential models. If you have a sectional double-car garage door, a 1/2-horsepower motor should be sufficient, but a higher-power model will operate with less effort and less wear and tear on the motor.

What is the average cost to install a garage door opener?

Average Cost to Install a Garage-Door Opener Garage-door openers themselves typically cost between $120 and $300, depending on how sophisticated the device is. Labor costs can vary depending on where you live. According to HomeGuide, the average total cost to install a garage-door opener is about $250 to $500.

What’s better chain or belt garage opener?

The chains used on residential garage door openers typically have higher tensile strength and greater lifting capacity than belts. They also may last longer in certain applications.

Is Chamberlain better than Genie?

Although the Genie does have those extra features going for it, the comparison is honestly a bit of a toss-up due to the useful battery backup that the Chamberlain has to offer — firmly cementing it as a top of the line model as well.

Which brand of garage door opener is best?

BEST OVERALL: Genie StealthDrive Connect 7155 Garage Door Opener. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Genie Ultra-Quiet Belt Drive Garage Door Opener. BEST SCREW-DRIVE: Genie Signature Series Screw Drive Garage Door Opener. BEST WITH CAMERA: Chamberlain B4545T Smart Garage Door Opener.

How much weight can a 1/3 hp garage door opener lift?

How to know the garage door opener force fits the garage door weight? Door Weight Recommended Lifting Force Up to 150 lbs 1/4 HP or 1/3 HP UP to 350 lbs 1/2 HP Up to 600 lbs 3/4 HP Up to 750 lbs 1HP.

How much can a 3/4 hp garage door opener lift?

Like many other motors, garage door openers are rated with horsepower (hp) or horsepower similar (hps) for DC motors. Based on this rating a 1/2 HP opener be able to lift about 185 pounds and a 3/4 HP opener should be able to lift over 370 pounds.

How big is a 2 car garage door?

The standard size for double garage doors is 16 feet wide and 7 to 8 feet high. Many 16 x 7 garage doors are designed with a pair of single 8-foot garage door bays.

Can you oversize a garage door opener?

They can technically lift any door with evenly distributed weight, but if you choose to use an opener with 1/3 horsepower for a heavier door, keep in mind that you’ll need to replace it more often than if you choose one with more horsepower.

How long should it take to install a garage door opener?

It typically takes about four to six hours to install a garage door opener.