Repairs and servicing
How much does a garage door spring cost to replace?
Replacing a pair of garage door springs in the UK typically costs £150–£350 inc. VAT and fitting, plus a separate £40–£80 call-out fee. Retractable gear (springs on both sides) usually costs more to replace than canopy gear. Springs are always replaced as a pair, never singly, to keep the door balanced.
Why springs are always replaced in pairs
Even if only one spring has failed, an engineer will replace both. The surviving spring has done the same number of open-close cycles as the broken one and is close to the end of its own life. Fitting a new spring against an old one also leaves the door unevenly balanced, which puts extra strain on the operator and cables.
What changes the price
Retractable gear (springs mounted on both sides of the frame, used on doors up to around 5m wide and mandatory on double doors) generally costs more in parts and labour than canopy gear (a single spring assembly on the head of the frame, used on narrower single doors up to around 2438mm). Access, door weight, and whether the coil size is a stock item or a special order also affect the final price.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Call-out fee | £40–£80 |
| Spring replacement (pair) | £150–£350 |
| Emergency / out-of-hours surcharge | £50–£150 |
Prices include VAT. London and the South East typically add 15–25%.
Questions people ask
- Can I replace a garage door spring myself?
- It is not recommended. Garage door springs are under high tension and store enough energy to cause serious injury if released uncontrolled. Fitting requires winding bars matched to the spring and a working knowledge of safe winding procedure, which is why this is treated as an engineer-only job in the UK trade.
- How do I know if it is the spring and not something else?
- A snapped spring usually shows as a loud bang at some point followed by the door feeling suddenly very heavy to lift, or an electric door that hums but will not lift. A visible gap in the coil, or one side of the door hanging lower than the other, both point to a spring rather than a cable or track fault.
- Does spring replacement come with a warranty in the UK?
- Most UK garage door engineers offer a warranty on both parts and labour for spring replacement, though the length varies by company. Always ask what is covered and get it in writing before work starts, since this is not set by a single UK-wide standard.
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