Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost: Torsion vs Extension
A loud bang from the garage, a door that rises a few inches and stops, or a visible gap in the coil above the door usually points to a broken spring. The next question is the price. This guide covers published national ranges for garage door spring replacement, the difference between torsion and extension springs, and what moves a quote for homes in San Antonio, TX. Other repair types are covered in the garage door repair cost guide.
San Antonio Garage Door Experts is a free quote service, not a garage door company. It doesn't repair doors or set prices. Independent local garage door companies reply to requests and quote their own prices, and some of them may pay to receive requests.
How much does garage door spring replacement cost?
Two widely used national cost guides put a spring replacement, parts and labor, between about $120 and $540. Fixr splits its figures by spring type. This Old House gives a higher range overall. No dated, reputable San Antonio spring price list was found, so treat these as planning numbers.
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spring replacement | extension $120–$250; torsion $200–$350 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Spring replacement (second guide) | $300–$540 (avg ≈ $420) | This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Cable repair | $100–$200 · $170–$320 | Fixr, Jan 2025 · This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Service call / trip fee | $50–$75 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| After-hours or emergency surcharge | +$100–$300 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
Read the table as a spread, not a menu. A quote near the low end tends to mean one extension spring on a lighter single door during normal hours. A quote near the high end tends to mean a pair of torsion springs on a heavy double door, sometimes with cables replaced on the same visit.
Torsion vs extension springs: which one do you have?
You can usually tell by looking up from inside the garage with the door closed. Don't touch either type to find out.
| Torsion | Extension | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | On a metal shaft across the top of the opening, with a cable drum at each end | Along each side, above the horizontal tracks |
| How it works | Twists as the door closes and unwinds to lift it | Stretches as the door closes and pulls it back up |
| Common on | Many newer and heavier double doors | Many older and lighter doors |
| Published price (Fixr, Jan 2025) | $200–$350 | $120–$250 |
Extension springs should have a safety cable running through the middle of each spring. If yours don't, mention it when you ask for quotes.
One spring or two?
Many double doors use two torsion springs, and extension systems always use a pair. When one spring breaks, the other has done the same number of open-and-close cycles. That's why many companies suggest replacing both at once. It costs more that day, but it can save a second visit and a second trip fee later. Ask for both prices in writing and decide for yourself.
What else moves a spring quote
- Door size and weight. A 16×7 double door needs more lifting force than an 8×7 single, and three-car and insulated doors weigh more. The spring has to be sized to the door.
- Cycle rating. Standard and higher-cycle springs are priced differently. Ask what rating the quoted spring carries and whether a higher-cycle option is available, with its price.
- Cables and drums. A spring break can fray or slacken a lift cable. Replacing a damaged cable on the same visit can make sense, but it should be its own line item.
- Rollers and bearings. Worn rollers make springs and openers work harder. Some companies suggest replacing them during a spring job.
- Timing. Fixr puts after-hours or emergency surcharges at $100–$300. If the door is closed and no car is trapped, a weekday visit may cost less.
- Trip fee. Fixr puts a typical service call at $50–$75. Ask whether it is included in the spring price.
Signs a spring has broken
- A loud bang from the garage, often when nobody is using the door.
- A visible gap in a torsion spring's coil.
- The door rises a few inches and stops, or the opener hums and strains.
- The door feels extremely heavy or slams down faster than normal.
- One side hangs lower, or a cable looks loose.
Safety first: Torsion springs store enough energy to cause serious injury. Leave spring and cable work to a trained technician. If a spring has broken, stop using the opener and don't try to lift the door by hand. If the door is closed, leave it closed. If it is stuck open or partway, keep people, pets and cars out of the opening. Pull the emergency release only with the door fully closed.
This site doesn't publish spring or cable instructions. If your car is stuck inside, the emergency garage door repair page covers safe next steps.
Spring jobs in San Antonio homes
The median San Antonio home was built in 1985 (Census ACS 2020–2024). Many original doors from that era have likely had their springs replaced at least once, and some are on their second or third set. Newer subdivisions on the north and far-west sides more often have two- and three-car doors, which tend to need larger springs. Both patterns are general, not rules, but they explain why spring quotes vary so much across the city.
Heat is part of the picture too. San Antonio averages about 122 days a year at 90°F or hotter and about 18 at 100°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), and 2023 set a record with 75 days at 100°F or more (National Weather Service). That doesn't mean heat breaks springs; no source found ties San Antonio heat to a specific spring failure rate. Long hot stretches can thin lubrication, which is one reason to ask about a tune-up. The spring lifespan guide covers cycle ratings in more detail.
Questions to ask before a spring replacement
- Is my door on torsion or extension springs, and how many?
- What is the price for one spring, and for the pair?
- What cycle rating do the new springs carry?
- Are cables, drums or rollers included, and are they listed separately?
- Is the trip fee included or extra?
- What warranty terms apply to the springs and the labor, in writing?
- Will you test the door's balance and the opener's auto-reverse before you leave?
Texas consumer tip (educational, not legal advice): The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act lists as deceptive making false or misleading statements about the need for parts, replacement or repair service, and claiming work was done or parts were replaced when they weren't (Bus. & Com. Code §17.46(b)(13) and (22)). Ask for a written estimate, an itemized invoice and your old parts back. Complaints can go to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Texas doesn't license garage door companies (TDLR has no garage door program), so the questions above matter more than any badge on a website. The spring repair page covers the job itself. To get quotes, describe the door through the free quote form or call (726) 600-2478.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a garage door spring?
Two national guides put spring replacement, parts and labor, between about $120 and $540. Fixr (Jan 2025) lists extension springs at $120–$250 and torsion springs at $200–$350. This Old House (Mar 2026) gives $300–$540. A trip fee or after-hours surcharge can add to that.
Is a torsion spring more expensive than an extension spring?
Usually, yes. Both national guides price torsion spring jobs higher than extension spring jobs. Torsion springs sit on a shaft above the door and are wound under high tension, and they are common on heavier double doors.
Should both garage door springs be replaced at the same time?
Many companies suggest it. On a two-spring door, both springs have done the same number of cycles, so the second one may not be far behind. Ask for the price of one spring and of the pair, then decide.
Can I replace a garage door spring myself?
This site doesn't recommend it. Torsion springs store enough energy to cause serious injury. Leave spring and cable work to a trained technician, and don't try to lift a door with a broken spring by hand.