Broken garage door spring — repair cost & what NOT to DIY

Garage door torsion springs store enough mechanical energy to break bones, dent metal, and put you in the ER. They're behind about 1,200 emergency-room visits per year in the US. Of all the small home repairs, this one is the most strongly "call a pro" advised.

Why DIY is dangerous

A standard torsion spring holds 150–300 pounds of torque. If a winding bar slips during install, that energy releases in microseconds — straight up, often through a forearm.

What a pro charges

Standard spring replacement runs $180–$320 in 2026. That includes both springs (always replaced in pairs, even if only one snapped), labor, and balancing. Heavy commercial or oversized residential doors run more.

Same-day service standard

Almost every garage-door pro on FixItDial offers same-day spring replacement. The longest part is driving — the actual work takes 30–60 minutes.