Broken Spring: What a Fix Costs

A broken garage door spring usually costs between $150 and $400 to replace, covering the spring, hardware, and labor. If you need service outside normal business hours, expect an emergency call-out fee of $250 to $500 on top of the repair. Most homeowners pay toward the middle of that range unless the door is oversized or additional parts are damaged.

Garage door springs are under extreme tension. A standard residential torsion spring can support a door weighing 150 pounds or more, and when that spring breaks, the door can slam shut with full force. Safety comes first: never attempt to lift, adjust, or remove a spring yourself. Contact a qualified technician and keep clear of the door until it is repaired.

What You Pay for a Spring Replacement

The national estimate for torsion spring replacement is $150 to $400. That range covers the spring itself, new cables if needed, hardware, and labor. Prices vary by spring cycle rating, door height, and whether your door uses one spring or two.

Here is how the math can break down for a typical two-car garage door:

• Standard torsion spring (parts): $75 to $175
• Labor (1 to 2 hours): $75 to $225
• Total estimate: $150 to $400

If the technician finds frayed cables during the inspection, cable repair adds another $150 to $350. Replacing both springs on a two-spring door roughly doubles the spring material cost but usually requires only one service visit, which is cheaper than calling a technician back a few months later.

Emergency Service Adds to the Bill

A broken spring often happens at the worst time, such as early morning when you are leaving for work. Emergency call-outs outside standard hours typically cost $250 to $500. That fee is separate from the spring replacement price.

Example total for an after-hours repair:

• Emergency call-out: $250 to $500
• Torsion spring replacement: $150 to $400
• Combined estimate: $400 to $900

If you can wait until normal business hours, you avoid the emergency premium. If the door is stuck open and poses a security or safety risk, the emergency fee is usually worth it.

When Other Repairs Are Needed

A broken spring rarely travels alone. The sudden loss of tension can stress cables, rollers, tracks, and the garage door opener. A technician may recommend additional work once the door is safely opened.

Related repair estimates:

• Cable repair: $150 to $350
• Garage door opener installation: $300 to $800
• Panel replacement: $200 to $600
• New door installed: $800 to $4,000

If your door is older and the spring broke because of general wear, replacing the entire door may make more sense than repeated repairs. A new door installed runs $800 to $4,000 depending on material, size, insulation, and design. You can compare repair versus replacement in our guide to garage door repair vs garage door opener.

Why DIY Spring Repair Is Unsafe

Torsion springs are wound tight enough to lift hundreds of pounds. When a spring breaks or a winding bar slips, the released energy can cause severe injury, broken bones, or worse. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies garage door springs as a recognized hazard, and the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors advises that spring adjustment be left to professionals.

Do not attempt to:

• Loosen or tighten set screws on a spring cone
• Remove a spring from the torsion tube
• Manually lift a door with a broken spring
• Prop the door open with objects under the tracks

A licensed technician has the winding bars, locking pliers, and experience to release tension safely. For more on why professional service matters, see our overview of garage door repair installation.

How Door Size Affects Price

Residential garage doors are commonly 8, 9, 10, 16, or 18 feet wide and 7 or 8 feet high. A single-car door usually uses one torsion spring, while a 16-foot or wider door often uses two. Larger doors require heavier springs with higher cycle ratings, which increases material cost.

Weight is another factor. An uninsulated steel single door might weigh 80 to 120 pounds. An insulated double door can weigh 250 pounds or more. The spring must match that weight. If a technician installs an under-rated spring, it will fail sooner and could drop the door unexpectedly.

If you want to understand how door dimensions relate to pricing, our article on garage door repair cost per square foot explains how size influences estimates.

Replacing One Spring Versus Both

Many two-car garage doors have two torsion springs. When one breaks, the other is likely near the end of its life too. Springs are rated by cycles, typically 10,000 to 20,000 cycles. One cycle is one open and one close. If your door opens four times daily, a 10,000-cycle spring lasts roughly seven years.

Replacing both springs at once means:

• One service call instead of two
• Balanced tension across the door
• Lower risk of a second break within months

The added cost is mainly the second spring and a small amount of extra labor. It is usually less expensive than scheduling a separate visit six months later.

Choosing a Repair Provider

Look for a company that lists spring replacement explicitly, provides a written estimate before starting work, and offers a warranty on parts and labor. Ask whether the quote includes disposal of the old spring and whether both springs will be replaced if your door has two.

Avoid any provider who asks you to disconnect the opener or manually release the door before they arrive. That creates a falling hazard. Wait for the technician with the door in its current position, and keep children and pets away from the garage.

For help finding a qualified service, review our directory of best garage door repair providers. If you are interested in routine care to extend spring life, see our garage door repair maintenance guide.

Bottom Line

A broken spring repair typically costs $150 to $400 for torsion spring replacement, with emergency service adding $250 to $500 if you need immediate after-hours help. Cable damage, opener issues, or full door replacement can push the total higher. Never treat a spring as a DIY project; the tension is dangerous and the job requires proper tools and training.

If your spring has broken, contact a professional technician promptly. A timely repair protects your door, your opener, and everyone who uses the garage. For broader pricing context, visit our full guide on how much garage door repair costs.