A pair of standard torsion springs for a two-car door costs $250 to $450, and one spring costs $180 to $300. Heavy, wood or oversized doors need heavy-duty springs at $350 to $900. Extension springs run $150 to $300 a pair. The price depends on door weight and spring size, and we confirm the final figure after we see the door.
What a spring replacement costs
Most springs that break are torsion springs, the coiled springs mounted on a bar above the door. The ranges below are the prices we use for Illinois homes. They are a starting point, not a bid: the final price is confirmed after we see your door.
| Job | Price range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Torsion spring pair, standard two-car door (10,000 cycle) | $250 to $450 | Door weight and size |
| Heavy-duty torsion springs (25,000+ cycle, heavy, wood or oversized doors) | $350 to $900 | Door weight, spring wire size and cycle rating |
| One torsion spring | $180 to $300 | We usually replace both, because the second spring is the same age |
| Extension springs, pair | $150 to $300 | Spring length and safety cables |
Prices reviewed November 2026. Your door is measured and weighed before we quote a final price.
Why the price range is so wide
A spring has to match the weight of the door. A light steel door and a heavy insulated or wood door need different wire sizes, lengths and coil counts, and the heavier the door, the more the spring costs. A wrong spring does damage: DASMA, the garage door industry association, warns that a spring that does not match the door's counterbalance needs can reduce the cycle life of the door and the opener motor, and can cause a safety problem when the door is lifted by hand.
- Door weight: insulated steel, wood and glass doors weigh more than thin single-layer steel
- Door size: a 16-foot door needs more spring than a 9-foot door
- Spring cycle rating: standard or high-cycle
- Extra parts: a worn center bearing, end bearings or cables found during the job
Why both springs are usually replaced
Many two-car doors have two torsion springs. If one breaks, the other has done the same number of lifts and is close to the same age. Clopay, a door manufacturer, says that when only one of two springs is broken, both should be replaced at the same time because they are wear parts. That is why one spring is priced as an option but the pair is the usual job.
Replacing one spring can look cheaper on paper. It often means a second visit when the older spring breaks, so ask for both prices and decide with the numbers in front of you.
Standard or high-cycle springs
Clopay says most garage door springs are designed to last 10,000 cycles, and one cycle is one trip up and one trip down. If the door goes up and down four times a day, that is 1,460 cycles a year, so 10,000 cycles is about seven years of use. Clopay also notes that springs for high-use doors can be specified at 25,000, 50,000 or 100,000 cycles.
A high-cycle spring costs more up front, so it makes the most sense for a door that is used all day: a family with several drivers, a home office or a workshop. DASMA adds that regular lubrication, as set out in the door maker's instructions, helps springs reach their full cycle life.
What a quote should list
- Torsion or extension springs, and how many
- Cycle rating of the new springs
- Wire size, length and the door weight the springs were chosen for
- Whether bearings, cables or the center bracket are replaced or only checked
- Total price for parts and labor, and what happens if something else is found
If you are comparing quotes, compare those five lines, not only the bottom number. See garage door spring repair for how a visit works and garage door repair cost in Illinois for the other common jobs.
Why this is not a do-it-yourself job
Clopay states that standard torsion spring repair is not a DIY project. Do not try to wind, unwind or adjust a spring or its bar. If the door will not lift, is crooked or you hear a loud bang from the garage, stop using the door and call a technician.
A broken spring does not make the door impossible to lift for the opener only. It makes the whole door heavy, and an opener is not made to carry that load day after day.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Illinois, including Arlington Heights, Bolingbrook and Waukegan. Call or send your details with the door size and a photo of the springs, and we book the soonest visit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to replace a garage door spring?
A pair of standard torsion springs for a two-car door costs $250 to $450, and one spring costs $180 to $300. Heavy-duty springs are $350 to $900. The final price is confirmed after we see the door.
Should I replace one spring or both?
Both, in most cases. The second spring is the same age and has done the same work, and Clopay advises replacing both at the same time.
How long do garage door springs last?
Clopay says most are designed for 10,000 cycles, where one cycle is the door going up and down once. Real life depends on how often you use the door and how well it is maintained.
Can I replace a torsion spring myself?
No. Torsion springs hold a lot of stored force, and the manufacturer says the repair is not a DIY project. Stop using the door and call a technician.
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