Having a huge selection helps when shopping for a product, but this can mean added work of deciding the best out of that range. This is the case when buying a new garage door opener. You are bound to ask, what horsepower garage door opener do I need?
What Horsepower Garage Door Opener Do I Need?
Ideally, ½ horsepower garage door opener is sufficient for any standard one-car or two-car garage with aluminum or steel doors. For a similar garage with wooden or insulated doors, you will need more lifting power; at least ¾ horsepower. However, a heavier carriage door that goes with a larger garage may require a 1 or 1 ½ horsepower garage door opener.
Read Also:
- 7 Best Direct Drive Garage Door Openers [ Complete Buyer’s Guide]
- 3 Best LiftMaster Garage Door Openers ( Buyer Guide Included)
- 5 Best Wall Mount Garage Door Openers
- 5 Best Screw Drive Garage Door Openers
How to decide what horsepower garage door opener you need?
When it is time to install a new garage door opener, various factors will determine the correct lifting power for your garage door.
For cars, greater horsepower is usually better, but garage doors do not work like that. If you choose too much lifting power for your garage door, you run the risk of breaking the door or lifting it too high.
On the contrary, if your garage door opener has less horsepower than the door requires, the opener will strain to operate. There will be more wear and tear that could lead to premature damage to the garage door opener.
With these two angles in mind, you begin to see more clearly why it is crucial to get a garage door opener with the correct horsepower rating.
Here are the factors to consider when choosing the best garage door opener horsepower for your unit.
The size and weight of your garage door
The heavier the garage door, the more horsepower the opener should have. Smaller garage doors tend to be lighter, while larger or oversized garage doors are often heavier.
However, the material that your garage door is made of will also determine its weight. Every so often, the material used in constructing the door serves as the primary factor in selecting the horsepower. This is because it usually has the most impact on weight.
Wooden or insulated doors are generally heavier. Such doors will require more lifting power on the opener than standard aluminum or steel doors of the same size range.
Overall, the garage door weight will depend on:
- Whether it is a single or double door
- The material it is made of
- The size—whether it is standard oversized
Essentially, a single, wide steel or aluminum garage door should work well with a ½ horsepower opener. If the garage door is oversized or made of heavy material, you need a ¾ horsepower opener or higher.
How much does a garage door weigh?
The rule of thumb is that a one-car steel or aluminum garage door is approximately 8 feet by 7 feet and weighs about 125 to 130 pounds while double doors of the same material could weigh up to 200 pounds
On average, an insulated door with the exact dimensions will weigh approximately 100 to 110 pounds. If the door is wooden, you can expect the weight to be as high as 130 pounds.
The dimensions are typically 16 feet by 8 feet for a double garage door and the weight averages between 150 and 210 pounds. A wooden garage door with these dimensions can weigh up to 350 pounds.
The lifespan of the opener
Other than the weight, you also want to consider how long the opener will last. Some openers will last seven years, while others can serve you for as long as 15 years, so you want to pay attention to this projected lifespan.
As with many products, a cheaper opener with low lifting power will probably need replacement sooner than more premium options.
Do you prefer to run with the cheaper, discounted option likely to break down sooner, or would you rather spend more money upfront but save in the long run? How you answer this question will determine the horsepower you choose.
A garage door designed to work well with a 1/3 horsepower will benefit from a ½ horsepower opener. The latter will likely put less strain on the motor, ensuring minimum wear and tear in the long run.
The height of the garage door
A wider garage door will generally appear more prominent and heavier. One feature that you can easily overlook is the garage door height.
For instance, a single-section garage door generally looks smaller. But it can be much taller, making it an ideal candidate for an opener with more lifting power.
A larger garage door can also require a relatively low horsepower opener if it is shorter. This is especially true if the door is made of aluminum or steel with no insulation material added.
Garage Door Insulation
Insulation increases the weight of your garage door. Insulation on a standard 8’ by 7’ garage door can add up to 30 pounds. On a 16’ by 8’ garage door, insulation can add up to 150 pounds.
When shopping for a garage door opener, it is important to factor in the insulation of your garage door. You might purchase a befitting garage door opener that becomes overwhelmed when you finally insulate your garage door.
Other components of the garage door
The cables, springs, and tracks on your garage door will also influence the horsepower. Usually, these should not be a problem once you have chosen the correct horsepower based on the size and weight of the garage door.
The secret is to select the right motor, and the rest of the garage door components may seamlessly fall in line. Choose the wrong motor-horsepower match, and you run the risk of exerting too much strain on the other components.
There is more to garage door openers than horsepower
Sure, horsepower is very important in your garage door opener. But it is not everything. There is more to your garage door opener than the motor horsepower.
How does a garage door opener work?
Garage door openers work in a pretty basic way. A trolley is pulled along a track by a motor. The garage door is attached to the trolley, which pulls the door open while moving.
The garage door opener works in hand with the torsion spring to lift your garage door. If the torsion spring is not properly calibrated then the entire system suffers.
The torsion spring must be properly calibrated. It must not be too tight or too loose. Ensure you also get a torsion spring of appropriate size. Also remember to use befitting rails of appropriate length for your garage door.
The cables, springs, and tracks on your garage door will also influence the horsepower. Usually, these should not be a problem once you have chosen the correct horsepower based on the size and weight of the garage door.
Still, it’s safer to err on the side of caution than overlook anything that costs you later. So, you want to consider what components your garage door has to understand what horsepower garage door opener you need to fit these components.
You should also regularly clean and lubricate your entire system. Use appropriate lubricants for all moving parts of your garage door opener. Here is a guide on how to lubricate your garage door opener.
Cost of garage door openers based on horsepower
Well, now that we know how much horsepower we need for the garage door, let us see how much a garage door opener really costs based on its horsepower.
The price of a garage door is dependent on many factors including the motor power. The higher the horsepower the higher the cost of the garage door opener. However, the price isn’t exclusively determined by the motor power.
Check out our list of garage door openers that cost less than $200.
Cost of 1/3 Horsepower garage door openers
1/3 horsepower garage door openers are entry-level garage door openers. They are not very common due to their low horsepower. In fact, many manufacturers stopped producing 1/3 horsepower garage door openers. However, a 1/3 garage door opener would cost you less than $100 – if at all you found it!
Cost of ½ Horsepower garage door openers
½ horsepower garage doors are pretty common. They are the new entry-level garage door openers. They normally cost from $100 to $200 based on some additional features. There are some that exceed the $200 mark.
Here is our list of the best ½ horsepower garage door openers.
Cost of ¾ Horsepower garage door openers
These are the standard garage door openers for a two-car garage door and normally cost around $150 to $250. They come with advanced features such as smart integrations and normally include a battery backup.
Here is our list of the best ¾ horsepower garage door openers.
Cost of 1 and above Horsepower garage door openers
Planning to procure one of these bad boys? Well, bigger will cost you more. These are the top garage door openers and will cost you north of $250. They are however very advanced and with great additional features such as smart integrations.
Beyond Horsepower
Yes, horsepower is important. But it is not the only factor to consider when shopping for a garage door opener. There are many additional features that you should consider when shopping for a garage door opener.
When shopping for a new garage door opener, you want to know how it is going to make your life easier and better. To simplify your work, here are the things to consider alongside greater horsepower.
Horsepower rating options for garage door openers
Garage door openers typically have horsepower ratings ranging from 1/3 horsepower (for cheaper and smaller units) to 1 ½ horsepower (for more expensive, higher-end models).
To better understand the horsepower level necessary for your garage unit, you need to understand the correlation between horsepower ratings and door sizes.
1/3 horsepower opener
This opener is designed for one-car garages with lightweight doors often made of steel. It is the least powerful horsepower opener option.
Even though it is low cost, this opener is not necessarily the most cost-effective choice. It tends to have a shorter lifespan than the more expensive, higher-horsepower models.
To use the ⅓ horsepower opener, you will need to ensure the garage door is strictly light, with evenly distributed weight. Even with these requirements met, you are likely to replace the opener more often than, say, a ½ horsepower alternative.
The slightly higher horsepower will usually result in less wear and tear as the opener has less strain.
½ horsepower opener
This option is the most popular garage door opener horsepower. The opener is pretty versatile and commonly used with most standard one-car and two-car garages.
It is the garage door opener you will likely find in homes with sectional dual-car garage door units.
The ½ horsepower opener is relatively low cost and can last way longer than the lower horsepower opener. To ensure its longevity, you need to use it on a properly balanced door.
¾ horsepower opener
The ¾ horsepower garage door openers are higher-power residential models that tend to come with many high-tech features.
These, or higher horsepower models, are ideal for oversized or heavier one-piece doors, especially those made of wood.
While ½ horsepower motor is usually sufficient for sectional double-car garage doors, some homeowners opt instead for ¾ horsepower units for the same. The latter can operate with less strain on the motor.
You could choose more lifting power for your garage door, such as a 1 or 1 ½ horsepower model. But the ¾ horsepower option is usually just sufficient for any oversized or overly heavy residential garage door.
A ¾ horsepower opener is an investment piece, so expect to spend a bit more on this kind of opener than the first two options.
It is generally expensive but durable enough to save you a ton of cash in the long run. These openers are efficient and can open garage doors much faster. They are also the recommended options if the garage door is frequently in use.
1-1 ½ horsepower openers
These are the most powerful horsepower openers. They are an excellent option for hefty garage doors such as solid wood doors or insulated ones.
With these models, you get the best in lifting power and efficiency. They are also the fastest in operation and can lift a garage door much faster than a ½ horsepower option.
Can I have too much horsepower on a garage door opener?
The next logical question that comes to mind is, can a garage door opener be too powerful for your setup?
When it comes to operating the garage door, the easier the better. We have mentioned that a garage door opener with more lifting power tends to open and close the door faster and more efficiently.
But while that added horsepower might sound alluring, too much lifting power could be detrimental to your garage door. Using far more horsepower than the opener needs to open and close the door runs the risk of breaking it.
This risk is particularly high when you knowingly or inadvertently set the lifting force too high on a powerful opener. The equipment could lift the garage door too high or risk damaging or breaking it.
Fortunately, garage door openers allow you to set the force and easily avoid the risk of damaging your garage door.
Can the opener be too strong for my garage door?
Garage door openers will hardly be too strong for a system unless the garage door is especially small and short.
When choosing the best horsepower for your garage door opener, the best thing to do is to consider all the factors involved, including the cost. And when you can afford it, consider going for a motor with more horsepower and ensure you adjust the lifting force to an acceptable level.
Such a motor might work more efficiently and cost-effectively, saving you money in the long run.
Is horsepower the only thing that matters in garage door openers?
Horsepower is essential, but it is not the only thing that matters in garage door openers. Indeed, horsepower is the driving force behind a garage door’s up-down movements. But there is also the torsion spring that literally does the heavy lifting.
You can get away with a lower horsepower opener so long as the garage door is appropriately balanced and the torsion spring is set correctly.
Correctly setting the torsion spring means it is not too tight or loose. Also, ensure you have the right torsion spring size to work smoothly with your opener to raise and lower the garage door.
It is better to spend a little money on professional installation than skimp on this part and mess up the entire system.
More horsepower equals more features.
While horsepower may not be everything that counts on garage door openers, that extra lifting power can symbolize something else that actually matters.
Higher-horsepower garage door opener models tend to come with lots of added bells and whistles, improving the user experience. Things like smart-home integrations, spare remotes, and tons of safety features are usually included with the more expensive models.
So, while horsepower will be a primary guide when considering a new garage door opener, pay attention to those added features that matter to you.
Important features that you need to consider alongside horsepower
When shopping for a new garage door opener, you want to know how it is going to make your life easier and better. To simplify your work, here are the things to consider alongside greater horsepower.
Smart home integration
It may sound too good to imagine controlling your garage door using your voice commands, but it is entirely possible.
Some garage door openers allow you to integrate them with other smart devices in your home for a unified and enhanced experience. You can connect your opener with Amazon Alexa or Google Home and use your voice to operate it.
Similarly, some garage door openers allow for integration with smart lights in your home so you can control them jointly.
Next time you ask, what horsepower garage door opener do I need; also consider asking what other features make the most sense to you.
Mobile control
The other amazing feature of most higher-end garage door openers is the ability to operate them remotely. Who doesn’t want to control their garage doors from the comfort of their smartphones wherever they are?
Modern garage door openers with associated smartphone apps allow you to do just that: operate your garage door without physically being at the garage.
Some of these apps also include cameras so you can monitor and view the garage door you’re your phone and see whether it is open, closed, or obstructed. The associated phone app also sends you notifications regarding every activity at the garage door.
This feature comes in handy, especially on those occasions when you leave home in a hurry only to realize you are not sure whether you closed the garage door.
With the mobile app, you just need to check the camera and get your answer. If you left the door open, just tap a button on the app and watch the problem solved.
Battery backup
Garage door openers traditionally operate on your home’s main power grid. This means the opener will not work in case of a power outage.
Some openers now include a battery backup feature. With this backup, you can continue to operate your garage door even when your home has a power outage.
It will intuitively close the door after a certain period, solving the problem for you. This feature can go a long way in keeping your home safer.
No center rails
Some people have a problem with that overhead rail on traditional garage door openers.
If you are one such person, now there are openers that mount on the wall next to the door itself. You can opt for these systems to save you a lot of space and aesthetics in your garage.
This type of opener can be pretty handy if you need an overhead storage or ceiling fan in your garage. You will have all the space for it.
Automatic lock feature
For added safety, some garage doors include an automatic lock feature. Suppose you forgot to close the garage door when leaving your home or at night; the auto-lock feature can be a lifesaver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the questions we’ve encountered on forums regarding garage door opener horspower.
Q: Can I have too much horsepower on a garage door opener?
Yes. You can have a garage door opener with too much power for your garage door. Though a garage door opener with more lifting power tends to open and close the door faster and more efficiently, too much power could damage your door.
But while that added horsepower might sound alluring, too much lifting power could be detrimental to your garage door. Using excess horsepower than the opener needs runs the risk of breaking it.
Q: Is horsepower the only thing that matters in garage door openers?
No. Though horsepower is essential, it is not the only thing that matters in garage door openers. The horsepower works with other components such as the torsion spring and the rails in order to lift the garage door.
Q: is 1¼ horsepower too much?
1¼ horsepower is not too much provided your door weighs over 800 pounds or measures 16 ft. by 10 ft. However, if your garage door weighs less than 600 pounds, then 1¼ horsepower is definitely too much for you.
Q: How long do garage door openers last?
The average lifespan of a garage door opener is about 10 to 15 years. However, with proper maintenance, your garage door opener can serve you beyond 15 years.
There are many ways to prolong the lifespan of your garage door opener. Frequent maintenance and timely replacement of faulty parts are the ways in which you can prolong the lifespan of your garage door opener.
Read more to find out how to prolong the lifespan of your garage door opener.
Q: ½ horsepower vs. ¾ horsepower
A ½ horsepower garage door opener is appropriate for one-car garage doors that measure 8’ by 7’ and weigh approximately 300 pounds or less.
However, when the door exceeds 300 pounds, it is advisable to use a stronger garage door opener with ¾ horsepower. ¾ horsepower garage door openers can comfortably handle 8 ft. by 7 ft. garage doors without strain.
Q: What horsepower do I need for a 16 ft. door?
A 16 ft. door requires a garage door opener with at least ¾ horsepower. A 16 ft. garage door weighs approximately 600 pounds and would therefore require more horsepower.
However, if the door is made of wood or insulated, then 1horsepower or more would be sufficient. Doors made of wood, as well as insulated doors tend to be heavier hence more requisite horsepower.
Final thoughts—what horsepower garage door opener do I need?
If you are like most folks, you will likely put a lot of premium on horsepower. While that is perfectly okay, the lifting power does not work in isolation.
We hope that this guide helps enhance your perspective and shows you how to better look at horsepower when buying a new garage door opener.
While horsepower may not be everything that counts on garage door openers, that extra lifting power can symbolize something else that actually matters.
Higher-horsepower garage door opener models tend to come with lots of added bells and whistles, improving the user experience. Things like smart-home integrations, spare remotes, and tons of safety features are usually included with the more expensive models.
So, while horsepower will be a primary guide when considering a new garage door opener, pay attention to those added features that matter to you.
