How Much Horsepower Does My Garage Door Opener Need?

Not very long ago, most people would buy a garage door opener based on what the seller would recommend. However, many people today know that it is the wrong approach mainly because the horsepower of the garage door opener plays a vital role in how long it lasts.

As Garage Door Repair Technicians, we emphasize that those in the market for a garage door opener pay close attention to the horsepower rating of the opener. As a rule of thumb, heavier garage doors require openers with more horsepower compared to lighter ones.

How Much Horsepower Does My Garage Door Opener Need

How Much Horsepower Do You Need?

Generally speaking, if it is a one-car garage with a steel door only, then a ½ horsepower opener will do for the most part. If it is a two-car garage or a single-car garage with a wooden insulated garage door, a ¾ Horsepower Garage Door Opener will be needed. Generally, garages that have carriage doors should get a 1HP opener and, if possible higher.

The critical thing to keep in mind is that horsepower is just the starting point for most garage door openers. You need to consider that there are other more important features that you will not be able to get from just horsepower alone. One instance of this is garage door openers with smart security features.

How Much Horsepower Do You Need

Weight to Horsepower Ratio

As a rule of thumb, the heavier your garage door is, the more powerful the garage door opener needs to be. So, if you have a thick steel, insulated garage door, a ½ HP opener isn’t going to cut it.

You also need to factor in the size of the garage door because, obviously, larger doors are heavier than smaller ones.

Weight to Horsepower Ratio

Common Garage Door Opener Horsepower Ratings

We have been repairing garage door openers for over a decade. We’ve come across quite a few garage door openers during this time, which are quite frankly very common across all homes.

The 1/3HP Opener – In our experience, this is the most common type available because it is also the least expensive. However, it offers the least power, and that’s why it does not last as long as it should. Openers that are at this level usually don’t last long unless paired with lightweight doors, like maybe a low gauge steel or aluminum door. While they can lift any door, if paired with a heavy door, its life will be significantly reduced.

½ HP – Now this is another popular choice because it works perfectly with double and single garage doors with average weight like a carriage style door. It can easily handle garage doors that are between eight to twelve feet.

¾ HP – Now there are certain garage doors, like, for instance, ones that are made from wood which are extremely heavy. A ¾ HP opener can easily handle garage doors measuring over 14 feet in width. Though it is the most expensive one you can buy, it will also last longer, which means a higher return on investment.