How often should you replace garage door springs?
Updated July 2026
Standard garage door torsion springs are rated for roughly 10,000 cycles, which works out to about 7–12 years for a typical household opening the door a couple of times a day. When one spring breaks, replace both at the same time: they wore in together, so the second is close behind, and matched springs keep the door balanced. Because a wound spring stores enough force to injure you, this is a $150–350 pro job, not a weekend DIY.
What changes the interval
| Your situation | Interval | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One car, about 2 cycles a day | 12–14 years | Light duty barely dents the cycle rating, so springs run long |
| Two cars, 4 or more cycles a day | 7–9 years | Each open-and-close is one cycle, and they add up quickly |
| Garage used as the main entry | 5–7 years | Constant in-and-out burns through the cycle count fastest |
| High-cycle springs (25,000-cycle) | 15–20 years | Paying more up front for a heavier spring buys years of life |
| One spring has already snapped | Replace both now | The matching spring is near failure and an unbalanced door is unsafe |
| Cold-winter climate | A bit sooner | Steel gets brittle in the cold, so springs tend to break on freezing mornings |
The cost of skipping it
What skipping it costs: a broken spring leaves a 150–300 pound door held up by nothing but the opener, which is not built for that load and burns out its motor or gears ($200–500). Worse, a door that drops can crack panels or land on a car, a pet, or a person. The planned fix, both torsion springs swapped by a technician, is $150–350. Rolling that into your garage door maintenance checklist is the cheapest way to never get surprised.
How to do it (1 hour · Pro job (high spring tension, not DIY))
- Count roughly how many times the door cycles a day so you know where you sit on the 7–12 year range.
- Watch the springs above the door for a visible gap or a break in the coil; a snapped spring looks split.
- Test the balance: disconnect the opener and lift the door halfway by hand. Balanced, it stays put.
- If the door slams down or is very heavy to lift, the springs are failing, stop using the opener.
- Call a garage door technician and ask them to replace both springs, not just the broken one.
- Ask about high-cycle springs if you use the door heavily; the upgrade often pays for itself in years.
Knowing the interval is the easy half. OnOtto reminds you at the right interval, and it won't let you snooze it into next year. Tasks persist until they're done, and completing garage spring replacements schedules the next one automatically.
Put this on autopilot, free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Why replace both springs when only one broke?
On a two-spring door, both springs have taken the same number of cycles, so when one lets go the other is usually within months of the same fate. Replacing them as a pair saves a second service call, and it keeps the door balanced; a fresh spring paired with a worn one pulls unevenly and stresses the opener. Matched new springs are the standard technician recommendation for a reason.
Can I really not do this myself?
It is one of the few home jobs pros genuinely warn homeowners off. A torsion spring is wound to store hundreds of pounds of force, and winding or unwinding it wrong sends the bars flying, breaking fingers, wrists, and teeth. The parts are cheap, but the tools and technique are specific, and a $150–350 pro visit is far less than an ER bill. Extension-spring doors are only marginally safer.
How do I make the springs last longer?
Lubricate the springs, hinges, and rollers with a garage-door-specific spray a couple of times a year; dry, rusty springs fatigue faster. Keep the door balanced so the springs, not the opener, carry the weight. And if you use the door dozens of times a day, spec high-cycle (25,000-cycle) springs next time, which can double the service life for a modest upcharge.
What does a snapped spring feel like from inside?
Usually a loud bang from the garage, sometimes at night as the metal cools and contracts. After that the opener strains, hums, or refuses to lift the door, or lifts it a few inches and stops. Lifting the door by hand suddenly feels enormously heavy. Do not force the opener once you see these signs; you will trade a $150–350 spring job for an opener replacement too.