Why Are Garage Doors So Expensive? (10 Reasons)

 

Garages can be a great benefit to homeowners.

Not only are they safe places to store your car, but they can also double as outdoor storage areas.

No garage is complete without a garage door.

The problem with garage doors is that they can be quite expensive.

Considering it’s just a door, you may wonder why a garage door is as expensive as it is.

 

Why Are Garage Doors So Expensive? (10 Reasons)

 

The average price of a garage door is around $5,000, but it can range from $2,000 up to as much as $10,000 or more.

Garage doors are expensive because of the material cost of producing them, the complexity of the door, the installation costs, and the eventual maintenance costs.

Let’s look at these factors in more detail.

 

1. Wooden Garage Doors

 

One of the most expensive types of garage doors that you can buy is wooden doors.

Wooden garage doors tend to be more expensive than steel or aluminum garage doors because they require more preparation.

Wood does not hold up well against the elements.

As such, it needs sealing to ensure it can withstand exposure to rain, sun, and other elements of the weather.

That usually means that the garage door manufacturer has to spend more money to prepare its wooden doors.

Some might even use certain types of woods that have natural insect-repelling abilities or greater resistance against water.

Those types of woods tend to be more expensive to source exactly because of those benefits.

Since it’s more expensive to source and make wooden garage doors, the manufacturer has to set a higher price tag on the finished product to offset those costs.

Wooden garage doors are also considered a luxury style of garage doors.

That also comes with luxury price tags.

Garage doors are expensive when they’re made of wood because wood is an expensive material.

 

2. Custom-Made Doors

 

If you have a custom garage, then you can also expect your garage door to be expensive.

Custom garages usually include an opening that doesn’t follow traditional or standard sizes.

You might have a garage opening that’s quite wide or tall.

To cover the opening, you need a custom door made.

The problem with custom garage doors is that they’re expensive to make.

The manufacturer has to spend all their materials and time on your specific order.

Since they’re making a product specifically for you, you’re the one who has to cover the full costs and markup of the final product.

When you buy a mass-produced garage door, you’re essentially sharing the cost of producing it with the wider public.

Certain choices you make might also influence the price.

For example, the material you choose might be expensive.

A lot of windows might also increase the price.

Any other additional features might also increase the cost of production.

The more specialized your garage door is, the more expensive it’s going to become.

Garage doors are expensive when they’re custom-made for you.

 

3. Garage Door Size

 

The size of the garage door can also impact its price.

For example, if you have a large two, three, or even four-car garage, then you’re going to need a large garage door.

You might even need several garage doors to fit into the opening.

Because you’re going to need a large garage door, the manufacturer is going to need to use more materials.

If you want a wooden garage door, the price is going to be even higher than if you had chosen an aluminum garage door.

Larger doors are also heavier.

It may require more expensive parts to lift its weight and ensure it opens and closes safely.

All those additional details also cost money.

Since the manufacturer’s production costs are higher, they’re going to charge you a higher price for your garage door.

Smaller garage doors are a bit cheaper since they don’t require as many materials or parts to make them.

However, even if you use several small garage doors to fit your three-car garage, the cost will still be high.

Garage doors are expensive when you have a large garage due to material and manufacturing costs.

 

4. Insulation Costs

 

While some people use their garages to simply park their cars and other equipment in, others use them as a workshop.

Some might have desks and tools to fill the garage.

When the opportunity arises, they go to the garage and start working on a project.

If you often find yourself working in the garage, an insulated garage door can be a great benefit.

An insulated garage door is essentially a door that comes with insulation.

It helps prevent hot or cold temperatures from entering the garage.

As a result, the garage ends up becoming a comfortable place in which to work.

It allows people to work in their garages in the cold and not feel as though their fingers are about to fall off.

It also ensures that those in the garage don’t succumb to heat exhaustion as quickly during the hot summer.

Insulated garage doors are more expensive than standard garage doors.

That’s because they cost a bit more money to make.

The manufacturer has to spend money on the insulating material, then build it into the garage door.

Because the garage door also provides an additional benefit, that also makes it a bit more expensive.

Garage doors are expensive because some of them use insulation.

 

5. Smart Door Openers And Garages

 

Smart technology is almost everywhere.

That also includes your garage door and opener.

In the digital age, you can now open your garage door practically anywhere.

Some garage manufacturers have partnered with certain technology businesses to create smart doors.

These garage doors might sense your car when you approach and open or close automatically.

Some simply allow you to control them through your smartphone.

Even if you’re at home, you can open the garage door with a click of a button.

It ensures that no one ends up stuck outside the home because they forgot a key.

That sort of garage door and equipment isn’t always cheap, however.

While basic smart technology packages might be affordable, others tend to be more expensive.

The smarter the garage door is, the more expensive it tends to be.

That’s because the manufacturers have to incorporate the technology into their doors.

That adds time and cost to their production cycle.

It also adds more benefits to the door.

Garage door manufacturers know that some people are going to be willing to pay more for those benefits.

That reinforces the price tag as a result.

Garage doors are expensive when they use smart technology due to the higher production costs and added benefits.

 

6. Durability

 

Garage doors need to last a long time.

They also need to be able to stand up to wear and tear.

Accidentally bumping into a garage door isn’t uncommon.

You might start to back up before your garage door is fully open and accidentally run into it.

You might also find yourself in a situation where you didn’t clear the parking area.

While some garage doors have sensors to keep them from closing in this instance, not everyone has one.

As such, the door might close on your car as you’re passing beneath it or after you’ve parked.

The result might be a damaged garage door.

Some doors are better than others at maintaining their shape.

They can withstand impacts and damage a bit better.

These doors tend to be made of more expensive materials like stainless steel.

Even basic garage doors with cheap materials are usually built to withstand most damage.

In most cases, garage doors are quite durable.

They’re built to be durable.

That affects the price because it usually means the manufacturer is using high-quality materials to ensure the door’s durability.

However, it also means that people don’t buy as many garage doors because they last a long time.

As a result, garage door manufacturers have to sell their doors at a high price to make as much money as possible while they can.

Garage doors are expensive because they’re durable.

 

7. Garage Door Maintenance Costs

 

The initial purchase of the garage door isn’t the only expensive part.

Eventually, you’re probably going to find yourself needing repairs.

Parts start to wear down or the door becomes dented.

Unless you happen to know how to fix a garage door yourself, you’re most likely going to call in a repairman.

That adds to the cost of owning a garage door.

If you have a smart garage door, you might even need to hire an electrician to take care of some of the problems with it.

Depending on the quality of your garage door, you might find yourself spending a decent amount of money on your door throughout its lifespan.

As such, garage doors aren’t just expensive to initially buy, but they can also be expensive to maintain.

Garage doors are expensive because you’ll likely have to keep spending money on them in the future.

 

8. Warranties

 

One of the perks of buying a garage door from a reputable manufacturer is that it usually comes with a warranty.

A warranty essentially helps shoulder some of the costs should the garage door become damaged or fail to work within a given time.

Each manufacturer has its own warranty duration, but you might find one for a year, two years, or even a greater number of years.

This makes garage doors expensive because it requires the company to take care of the cost should a problem occur.

They might find themselves losing some money if the garage door ends up having problems.

To ensure they don’t become bankrupt through the process, the company charges a bit more for their garage doors.

It gives them a cushion that they can use to cover repairs and other expenses related to warranties.

Garage doors are expensive when they offer a warranty.

 

9. Installation Costs

 

You’ll often find that when you buy a garage door, it isn’t only the garage door that you’re paying for.

You’re also usually buying an installation service, too.

Most people don’t know how to install a garage door.

They rely on the manufacturer to install it for them.

That adds to the cost of the garage door because you’re paying for their time.

It’s just like any other installation service.

Some garage door manufacturers might offer free installation services, but the cost of the service is built into the price of the garage door.

Garage doors are expensive because you’re usually also paying for installation service.

 

10. Costly Moving Parts

 

A final reason garage doors are expensive is that they use a lot of moving parts.

There are chains and gears that all work together to lift and close your door.

Because they’re moving parts, they start to degrade with time.

They’ll need replacing eventually which adds to the cost of owning a garage door.

However, those moving parts are also expensive to manufacture.

Because of how important they are to the garage door’s operation, the company invests a good amount of money in ensuring those parts are high-quality.

They become expensive to manufacture.

That adds to the price of the garage door.

Garage doors are expensive because they require pricey moving parts that you’ll need to replace with time.