5 Best Garage Door Openers for Heavy Doors

Garage doors can be pretty heavy. Some may even strain your back if you try to lift them manually. The good thing is there are garage door openers to do the heavy lifting for you. You don’t have to injure yourself just to get the door open. 

But which is the best garage door opener for heavy doors? My team and I reviewed some of the best garage door openers for heavy garage doors. Keep reading to find out which opener works best with heavy doors.

The Best garage door openers for heavy doors are:

• Chamberlain B970 – The best overall
• Genie StealthDrive Connect Model 7155-TKV – best quiet operation
• LiftMaster Elite Series 8500W Jackshaft Opener – best wall-mounted opener
• Genie B6172H Smart Wall Mount Opener – best for saving space
• Chamberlain B1381 – best with smart lights

How heavy can garage doors get? 

Garage doors can be pretty heavy. While your residential garage door might not seem very heavy, there are some garage doors that weigh in excess of 700 pounds. 

The weight of your garage door is dependent on a few factors including the size of the garage door, the type of material used to make the garage door and whether the door is insulated or not. 

Bigger garage doors typically weigh more. The weight of the door highly depends on the material used to make the door. Aluminum and steel doors are relatively lighter as compared to wooden doors. And finally, the insulation of the door adds to the weight of the door.

A 16 ft. wooden door weighs in excess of 350 pounds or even more while a 16 ft. steel or aluminum door weighs about 200 pounds. Insulation normally adds about 30 pounds to 80 pounds.  

Having a good garage door opener to do all your heavy lifting is very convenient. You shouldn’t have to lift these heavy garage doors for yourself. So here are some of the best garage door openers for your heavy garage doors!

Review of the 5 best garage door openers for heavy doors

Some garage doors, especially made of vintage wood, can be pretty heavy. For this kind of door, you will need a high-power opener capable of operating the garage door without breaking a sweat. Here is a detailed rundown of the top picks you can choose from.

Chamberlain B970T Smart Garage Door Opener: Best with battery backup

The Chamberlain B970T is our top garage door opener for heavy doors. This belt-driven garage door opener packs a lot of exciting features to look out for. 

The Chamberlain B970T is an ultra-quiet belt-driven garage door opener powered by a 1¼ horsepower motor. The belt is steel-reinforced offering you strength and reliability.

The Chamberlain B970T is a smart garage door opener with built-in MyQ technology to keep you connected and protected. You can easily connect this garage door opener to your smart devices for remote operations. It also comes with a battery backup for continuous operations amidst a power outage.

Product Specs

• Belt driven – the Chamberlain B970T is a belt driven garage door opener with a steel-reinforced belt.
• 1¼ horsepower motor suitable for extremely heavy doors.
• Smart garage door opener with built-in MyQ for smart operations.
• Battery backup for continuous operations during a power outage.

What we like

• Ultra-quiet –The Chamberlain B970T is an extremely quiet garage door opener. It is belt driven with very minimal operational noise.
• Strong – the Chamberlain B970T is a very strong garage door opener with a steel-reinforced belt connected to a 1¼ horsepower motor.
• Battery backup – you never have to worry about a power outage. Continue operating your garage door even when the power goes off.
• Smart integrations – operate this garage door in using your smart devices and from virtually anywhere.
• Superior security features – The Chamberlain B970T features the highest level of encryption and monitoring, paired with your home’s ISP and Wi-Fi router firewalls guard against hacking.
• Superior remote control range of up to 1500 ft. 

What could be improved?

• The installation process might be lengthy and a little bit complicated 
• It lacks LED lights to provide lighting in the garage

Genie StealthDrive Connect Model 7155-TKV – Best with quiet operation

Genie manages to incorporate a lot of amazing features into this reasonably priced opener. This garage door opener comes with in Wi-Fi connectivity, making it one of the best all-around options for garage door openers. 

This opener checks all the boxes when it comes to features. It is quiet and very durable thanks to its steel-reinforced belt connected to a 1¼ horsepower motor. 

It comes with two wireless remotes, a keypad, and a wall-mount console. It also features a backup battery for continuous uninterrupted operations.

When it comes to security, this garage door opener really secures your garage and home by extension. The Genie Safe-T-Beam garage door safety sensors ensure your family’s safety with an infrared beam of light across the door opening.

Genie’s Aladdin app allows you to monitor your door as well as operate it or program the door to auto-close after it’s been left open for a certain amount of time. It will also pair with a digital assistant for voice control.

Product Specs

• Belt drive with a steel-reinforced belt
• Powerful 1¼ horsepower motor 
• Smart integrations for smart operations 
• Battery backup

Pros

• Smart features – The Genie 7155-TKV has built-in Wi-Fi and integrates with most home automation. It Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings and many more.
• Quiet – this garage door opener is extremely quiet while in operation. 
• Easy installation – the Genie 7155-TKV is pretty easy to assemble and install. You require no expert assistance to put it together.
• Powerful motor – the Genie 7155-TKV is powered by a 1¼ horsepower motor offering you strength and reliability.
• Battery back – the Genie 7155-TKV comes with a battery backup for continuous operations. 
• Keypad and remotes included
• Comes with built-in LED bulbs

Cons

• Extension rails required for 8-foot-high garage door 

LiftMaster Elite Series 8500W Jackshaft Opener 

Looking for high-performance and space conservation? The LiftMaster Elite Series 8500W is your go-to opener. This model is amazingly small in size and features a sleek, compact design that helps free up lots of ceiling space. 

Unlike most powerful garage door openers for heavy doors, Instead of the ceiling, it mounts on the wall right next to the garage door where it operates. 

Despite the size, the 8500W jackshaft opener packs ¾ horsepower in its 24V-DC motor. This motor is strong enough to lift any heavy garage door without trouble.

Like most high-end garage door openers, the LiftMaster 8500W comes with battery backup for continuous operation during a power outage. The 8500W is smart and comes with MyQ technology for smart operations.

Product Specs

• Smart integrations for smart and remote operations
• Battery backup for uninterrupted operations
• Integrates easily with MyQ

Pros

• Easy installation – this opener is extremely easy to install for DIY enthusiasts.
• Smart integrations – The 8500W jackshaft opener is smartphone-compatible
• Backup battery for continuous operations
• Extremely quiet operation

Cons

• Not compatible with roll up doors
• The unit does not support Homelink control on cars 2012 or older.
• It is quite expensive.

The Genie B6172H Smart Wall Mount Opener 

The Genie B6172H is built with space optimization in mind. This wall-mounted garage door opener is designed to save you garage space. 

Let this unit’s compact size not deceive you, this opener comes with a powerful 1¼ horsepower motor that easily lifts up to 850 pounds of garage door weight without any hassle.

For do-it-yourself enthusiasts, this garage door opener is pretty easy to install. You do not need to seek expert assistance to install it. You can easily install it all by yourself.

The Genie B6172H is a smart garage door opener. It has built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to connect to smart devices. The Aladdin Connect app allows you to monitor your garage door and operate it through your smart device.

As your home gets smart, so should your garage. This opener works with smart home devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can easily use voice commands to operate the garage opener.

When it comes to security, Genie’s automatic door lock is there to provide you with that extra layer of security and convenience.

What’s more, the unit has a Safe-T-Pulse safety feature that takes measurements while operating the door to help detect any slack issues.

Your purchase includes a 3-button remote that comes preprogrammed for convenience and easy use. Additionally, the battery backup that comes with this opener will afford you up to 50 cycles of the garage door opening and closing when the power is out.

Product Specs

• Battery backup
• Smart integrations with built-in Wi-Fi
• Powerful 24v DC motor
• Wall mount 

Pros

• Quiet – This garage door opener is extremely quiet with minimal operational noise
• Easy installation – The installation process is very simple and outright. The unit also comes with a detailed guide.
• Battery backup – this garage door opener comes with a battery backup option for uninterrupted operation during a power outage.  
• Wall mount for space consumption
• Powerful – This is the smallest but powerful garage door opener capable of lifting up to 850 pounds. 
• The kit comes with preprogrammed LED wireless light

Cons

• Relatively slow in operation when overwhelmed
• Slightly expensive

The Chamberlain B1381- has additional smart lights

Chamberlain has been among the top brands for reliable and best-value garage door openers. They manufacture garage door openers that suit your needs and offer you value for money.

The Chamberlain B1381 is no different. This model packs a lot of exciting features. 

For starters, it runs on a 1¼ horsepower motor that easily lifts your heavy garage door. It has anti-vibration technology for a smooth and quiet operation. It also works very well in extreme temperatures.

The Chamberlain B1381 also comes with the Chamberlain corner-to-corner lighting. You don’t have to worry about garage lighting with the unit installed.

You have the option to connect these smart floodlights to other smart lights in your home via the Wink app. They will give your home an elegant shine each time the garage door opens.

The Chamberlain B1381 is a smart garage door. It is Wi-Fi enabled and works well with MyQ. You can easily connect the opener to your smart devices and operate it remotely. You can open and lock your door using your phone as well as receive real time door action notifications.

When you connect this garage door opener to Amazon Key, you can safely receive Amazon packages delivered inside your garage. This ensures you do not have to be home to receive your dispatches from authorized Amazon delivery personnel.

Product Specs

• Belt drive garage door opener
• Powerful 1¼ horsepower motor
• Battery backup
• Smart garage control
• LED lighting

What to like

• Easy installation – The Chamberlain B1381 is a pretty easy opener to install. You do not need expert assistance. Just follow the detailed installation manual.
• Quiet – The Chamberlain B1381 is a belt drive garage door opener. It is extremely quiet with anti-vibration technology.
• Powerful – The Chamberlain B1381 runs on a 1¼ horsepower motor that easily lifts the heaviest garage doors around.
• Battery backup – this garage door opener comes with a battery backup option that gives you uninterrupted operation during a power outage.
• Smart garage operation – has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and efficiently works with MyQ.
• LED lighting – this unit comes with 3100 lumens of LED lighting for corner to corner garage lighting.

Cons

• 8 ft. and 10 ft. doors require an extension kit

How to choose a garage door opener for a heavy door buyer’s guide

The market is flooded with garage door openers. There are many brands manufacturing openers and rolling out models day by day. These garage door openers come with more and more features and technicalities.

You can easily get confused when shopping for garage door openers. However, worry no more. My team and I compiled a buyer’s guide to help you get the best garage door opener that suits you. 

Here is what to look for when shopping for a garage door opener for heavy doors. 

Drive Type

Garage door openers come with different drive types. Each drive type has its own advantage and disadvantages. Let us look at the different drive types a garage door opener might have.  

Chain-drive models

These are some of the most robust models. They consist of a metal chain attached to the motor. The garage door is pulled up and down by the chain. 

Chain drive systems are very strong and reliable. Given enough motor power, these systems can easily lift the heaviest garage doors available. These systems are very durable and can easily last up to 15 years with proper maintenance. 

The systems are however noisy and normally vibrate a lot while in operation. They also require frequent maintenance which might be pretty costly. 

Belt-drive models

Unlike chain drive systems, these systems use a belt to open and shut the garage door. For this reason, such systems are very quiet and produce very minimal operational noise.

Belt drive systems also require very minimal maintenance. They are also quite powerful provided you match them with the right motor power. 

Belt-drive garage door openers may be relatively more expensive than the chain drive options, but they are worth the price if you are looking for a combination of power and noise-free operation.

Screw-drive models

These are the best systems for extremely heavy garage doors. They consist of a threaded steel rod that rotates to create movement and drive the trolley carrying the garage door along the track.

Like belt-drive models, these openers are typically quieter than their chain-drive cousins. They also have fewer moving parts making them low-maintenance.

Direct-drive models

These are different from the other three models in design. They operate as a unit, with the entire gadget moving to open or close the garage door. The motor works as the trolley, traveling along the track to raise or lower the garage door in these openers.

The system is pretty quiet and powerful for very heavy garage doors. Due to the minimized number of moving parts, these openers are very low maintenance and very durable. 

Horsepower

Lift power is primal in garage door openers. Heavy garage doors in particular require a lot of lifting power. You however need to get the right lifting power for your garage door.

While more lifting power is desired, a lot of it can be pretty powerful for your door leading to breakage and system damage. Low lifting power on the other hand strains your opener leading to wear and tear.

For heavier garage doors, a lifting power ranging from ¾ horsepower to 1½ horsepower is sufficient. Check out this article to find out how much horsepower you need for garage doors.  

Safety and Security

Garage door openers are very powerful mechanical systems. For this reason, you ought to check for safety while purchasing one for yourself. 

Most garage door openers come with safety measures that protect you and your family while in operation. Automatic reversal is one feature you should look for while shopping for a garage door opener. This feature automatically reverses your door should the garage door sensors find an object on the door’s pathway. 

Security features are also crucial in garage door openers. Ensure you get a garage door opener with superior security features.  

Backup battery

Imagine being shut out of your garage door simply because there is a power outage in your area. Well… you don’t have to! Garage door openers now come with a battery backup that allows you to continuously operate your garage door amidst a power outage. 

Batteries in a garage door opener can last about 24 hours which is enough time to have power restored in your area. Here is a review of some of the best garage door openers with a battery backup.  

Smart features

Your home is getting smarter. And so should your garage. Most modern garage door openers come with smart features, including integrations with other smart home appliances like Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

If you wish to control or monitor your garage door system remotely from anywhere, you may want to go for a smart home-enabled opener. 

Wondering which is the best smart garage door opener? Check out this review. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are commonly asked questions about garage door openers for heavy garage doors

Q: How much weight can a garage door opener handle?

A ½ horsepower opener can handle about 300 pounds of weight, the equivalent of a two-car steel door average weight. Above that, a ¾ horsepower garage door opener will easily lift about 400 pounds, and the weight goes up as the horsepower increases. A greater horsepower can also mean a faster operation for some garage door opener models.

Q: Which is better a chain and belt garage door opener?

Belt drive systems are quiet in operation and require relatively less maintenance. However, these systems are quite expensive as compared to chain drive systems.

Chain-drive systems are less expensive than belt-drive systems. They are also strong and very durable. However, chain drive openers are quite noisy while in operation. 

Q: Can a garage door opener be too powerful?

Yes. A garage door opener can be too powerful for your garage door. While more lifting power is desired, a lot of it can be pretty powerful for your door leading to breakage and system damage. Low lifting power on the other hand strains your opener leading to wear and tear.

Q: How long do garage door openers last?

Most garage door openers last an average of approximately 10 to 15 years. However, depending on factors like frequency of usage and maintenance routine, the lifespan of the garage door might be extended up to 18 years. 

So, which is the best garage door openers for a heavy garage door?

The best garage door opener for a heavy door is the Chamberlain B970T smart garage door opener. It has sufficient lifting power ranging from ¾ horsepower to 1½. Along with horsepower, other features such availability of a battery backup option, smart integrations as well as safety and security are crucial in a garage door opener. 

We hope that you find this guide was useful and that it helps you get the right garage door opener for your needs. We will be delighted to hear any comments or observations in the comments section if you have comments or observations.