The 4 best garage door openers, with advice from experts

Two children are walking in a garage with a chamberlain garage door opener over head for the best garage door openers of 2002.

Chamberlain

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If you lot haven't shopped for a garage door opener recently, you may have missed some of the advancements manufacturers accept fabricated in the last few years. They're safer to operate and run more quietly, and most tin be installed without hiring a professional person.

I've installed several garage door openers myself. For this guide, I also reached out to an expert in the field, Nick Yahoodain of Advanced Builders and Contractors. He has been in the construction and contracting business concern for over 16 years and has extensive feel installing garage door openers.

Based on my experience and with the help of Yahoodain, I've assembled this list of the best garage door openers you tin can buy. I've included a variety of types, features, and prices to make this listing as useful to as many people as possible.

Learn more nigh how Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

The best garage door openers in 2022

Best garage door opener overall: Chamberlain B6713T Ultra-Tranquility Smart Garage Door Opener, $299 on Amazon
The Chamberlain B6713T Ultra-Placidity Smart Garage Door Opener offers a valuable combination of reliability and convenience, thanks to an impressive collection of bells and whistles.

All-time garage door opener on a budget: Genie 7035-TKV Chain Drive Garage Door Opener, $290.99 on Amazon
Because it doesn't have advanced features, the Genie 7035-TKV Chain Bulldoze Garage Door Opener is perfect for those on a tight upkeep.

All-time garage door opener for heavy doors: Chamberlain B4613T Chugalug Bulldoze Smart Garage Door Opener, $299 on The Home Depot
The Chamberlain B4613T Belt Drive Smart Garage Door Opener has the horsepower needed to handle older garage doors while still running more quietly than other heavy-duty openers.

Best wall-mounted garage door opener: LiftMaster 8500 Aristocracy Series Jackshaft Garage Door Opener, $395 at LiftMaster
The ultra-quiet LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft Garage Door Opener mounts to the wall adjacent to the garage door and leaves the ceiling gratis for extra storage, unlike overhead options.

All-time garage door opener overall

Chamberlain

The Chamberlain B6713T Ultra-Quiet Smart Garage Door Opener offers a valuable combination of reliability and convenience, thank you to an impressive collection of bells and whistles.

Pros: Backup bombardment, placidity performance, uniform with Key by Amazon to let access for deliveries

Cons: Relatively expensive, doesn't work with Alexa or Google Assistant

If y'all desire a few extra benefits beyond what y'all'll find with your typical garage door opener, the Chamberlain B6713T could exist a swell fit. Yahoodain recommends Chamberlain models like this ane, citing its value and affordability.

The LED lighting system, instead of regular incandescent bulbs, is the most prominent of these features. These LEDs generate ii,000 lumens of vivid, white light. Combined with the angled trunk of the opener, the broad cast of the lighting makes this model very popular.

Like all current Chamberlain models, the B6713T allows you to apply MyQ smartphone control, letting yous monitor and admission your garage door from anywhere. Different many models, you don't demand to buy a carve up hub or gateway. This unit connects direct to your dwelling house WiFi network. If yous program on using a feature like this, brand sure your existing smart-domicile organisation is uniform and that your WiFi signal is strong enough to reach the garage.

Thanks to the motor, the Chamberlain B6713T is also an peculiarly powerful opener. This makes it suitable for doors weighing up to 550 pounds and upwards to ten feet tall. Even if you lot don't have an oversized heavy door, it can still be a good idea to opt for a heavy-duty unit similar this. By requiring less effort, your motor won't feel the stress and strain that weaker models exercise, which can increase the lifespan of the unit.

The Chamberlain B6713T comes with two remote controls. If your vehicle is HomeLink enabled, it tin connect straight to your car, eliminating the need for remote controls altogether. Just make sure to double-check with your car manufacturer, every bit some older model cars can accept problem connecting to more than recent openers.

Yahoodain recommends Chamberlain models like this one for homeowners looking to install themselves, unlike more professional person-style openers similar LiftMaster.

All-time budget garage door opener

Genie

Because information technology doesn't have advanced features, the Genie 7035-TKV Chain Drive Garage Door Opener  is perfect for those on a tight budget.

Pros : Very depression price, easy to install, lightweight design, works well for standard garage door designs

Cons : Includes inexpensive parts, doesn't have a lot of high-end features, not equally bright as other options

Most garage door openers are fairly expensive, and then if you're looking for a budget-friendly option, the Genie 7035-TKV could be a nifty choice. Despite the low cost, this opener has several valuable features found on higher-end options.

Information technology comes with ii pre-programmed remotes and is also compatible with existing HomeLink systems. A wireless keypad for mounting outside the door is also a nice perk non ever found on budget-friendly models.

The straightforward installation of the Genie 7035-TKV is another reason it beat out out other competitors. It uses a v-piece rail system that you snap together and includes everything else you lot need to mount to your ceiling, such every bit angle brackets and lag bolts.

Although it will likely have some fourth dimension (in that location are 76 steps), the interactive instructions make it easy to understand. I walked through the entire procedure and was very impressed with how helpful the instructions were.

Being a chain-drive model, the Genie 7035-TKV will exist louder than the other options on our list. The ¾-HP motor is also stronger than you'd typically find on a door this affordable, making it a suitable pick for heavier doors.

The backup battery is strong plenty to last for fifty cycles subsequently the power goes out, and the included Safe-T-Axle sensors help reduce the chances of accident or injury. Once the infrared beam running across the door's path is broken, the door volition immediately stop and contrary back up.

We would have preferred that the recommended Genie LED bulbs were included, but you can discover them at your local hardware shop or online.

Best garage door opener for heavy doors

Chamberlain

The Chamberlain B4613T Chugalug Drive Smart Garage Door Opener has the horsepower needed to handle older garage doors while still running more quietly than other heavy-duty openers.

Pros: Remote range of 1,500 feet, command panel displays time and temperature, lawmaking encryption prevents anyone from duplicating your remote signal, quiet operation

Cons: Relatively expensive, doesn't work with Alexa or Google Assistant

Many garage door openers can't handle the weight of heavy wooden doors found on older homes. The Chamberlain B4613T has a i.25-horsepower motor, which is quite a bit more than powerful than some other models, giving it the power to enhance oversized doors. Yahoodain recommended 3/4 HP or more when dealing with especially heavy doors.

The Chamberlain B4613T is chugalug-driven with steel reinforcement, which allows it to run quieter than typical concatenation-bulldoze garage door openers. Beyond its powerful motor, this Chamberlain model has a battery backup system, smartphone access, and long-range remote controls, all of which simplify the opener's operation.

These automation capabilities of the Chamberlain B4613T are what make information technology such an appealing option for me. Y'all can prepare a recurring schedule for opening and closing the garage door, like when you know your kids are coming home from schoolhouse. Y'all can also customize the overhead light, allowing it to turn on whenever anyone enters the garage and trips the motion sensors. (That's very nice for early mornings.)

Similar other Chamberlain models, the Chamberlain B4613T uses MyQ technology to allow yous to use your smartphone to control the door from anywhere. This is a great feature that eliminates the need for hibernate-a-keys or giving out your garage lawmaking to maintenance people or dog-walkers.

Best wall-mounted garage door opener

Liftmaster

The ultra-tranquility LiftMaster 8500 Elite Serial Jackshaft Garage Door Opener mounts to the wall side by side to the garage door and leaves the ceiling gratuitous for extra storage, unlike overhead options.

Pros: Motor has a lifetime warranty, compact design, ultra-quiet operation

Cons: Requires professional installation, expensive, backup battery must be purchased separately

Because it uses a jackshaft to open and close the door instead of a chain or chugalug, the LiftMaster 8500 is ane of the quietest garage door openers around. Yahoodain recommended professional LiftMaster models like this one because of their quiet operation.

A minimal footprint is besides one of the master benefits of the LiftMaster. The extra space can be used for overhead storage or for parking vehicles with roof carriers. The  LiftMaster 8500 is also easier to maintain than ceiling-mounted openers, which require lubrication and ladders to reach.

Like the Chamberlains listed to a higher place, the LiftMaster 8500 is MyQ-enabled (Chamberlain Group owns both Chamberlain and LiftMaster), only you'll have to buy a split hub to connect your domicile router to the opener. If you practise, you can control the LiftMaster from your smartphone, no matter where you are in the world.

According to Yahoodain, the LiftMaster 8500 requires professional person installation. If you don't know exactly what y'all're doing, you can easily injure yourself and besides cause expensive damage to your garage door.

Even though wall-mounted openers have a significant upside, they don't requite you that built-in overhead calorie-free that comes standard with ceiling-mounted models. But since you don't have anything cluttering upwards the ceiling, you lot can install whatever lighting organization you want.

Another potential downside to this opener is that you lot have to buy the fill-in battery separately, which adds to the already high cost. The 8500W model comes with a backup battery included.

Installing the bombardment is simple, though. After mounting it to the wall next to the opener, you plug information technology into the LiftMaster with a connector cord.

I more caveat is that the LiftMaster 8500 isn't uniform with all doors; you'll need to have a front end-mount torsion bar.

What else we considered

Ryobi GD201 Ultra-Tranquility : Even though this Ryobi model looked interesting and featured some interesting customization modules similar an extension cord reel and Ryobi battery pack compatibility, information technology ultimately seemed too complicated. If yous already have other Ryobi tools and would accept a use for these accessories, it could exist worth checking out.

Chamberlain B2405: Even though this opener is the updated version of our erstwhile meridian option, its lack of bombardment backup resulted in us leaving it off our list. It does feature all the MyQ capabilities of other Chamberlain models, though, and its belt drive should guarantee a quiet operation.

Garage door opener research methodology

Based on my personal feel helping to install garage door openers, as well equally the insight and advice from Advanced Builders and Contractors' Nick Yahoodain, I adult a set of criteria to gauge and compare potential picks for our list of the best garage door openers.

Functionality: This category is meant to ensure that the garage door opener does its primary job effectively — to open and close your door — and performs any other features properly equally well. Specifically, what specific attributes make this opener the top pick for its category, and what makes it more constructive than similar options?

Installation: Through reading instruction manuals, watching online videos, and my correspondence with Yahoodain, I familiarized myself with the specific installation requirements of potential openers. I used this data to identify whatever issues that potential customers would need to know before buying.

Special features: I noted any special features that besides come with the unit, like smartphone control or app connectivity. I likewise looked for interesting and helpful accessories, like LED lighting or quick-release keys.

Garage door opener FAQs

What type of garage door opener practice I need?

When selecting a garage door opener for your dwelling house or business, you have a few operating mechanisms to choose from. Each type of opener uses a motor to motility a trolley (or the motor itself) forth the rails, which lifts and lowers the door.

  • Chugalug drive: A belt drive uses a steel-reinforced safety belt to lift and lower the garage door, allowing it to run quietly and smoothly. If you take living quarters to a higher place the garage, a belt drive is a smart choice. Yahoodain explained that this type might demand more maintenance than others since the belt will stretch and get worn over time.
  • Chain bulldoze: A chain-drive garage door opener has been the most common type for many years. It uses a metal chain to movement the trolley to open and shut the door. Chain drives will crusade more than vibration and racket than other openers, but they tend to cost less than other options. Despite their noisy functioning, concatenation drives are stronger and longer-lasting than chugalug drives, according to Yahoodian.
  • Direct bulldoze: With a directly-bulldoze system, the motor functions as the trolley, which means the entire motor moves along the track. Because these systems don't have multiple moving parts, they tend to run quietly with minimal vibration.
  • Jackshaft: For a garage door opener with a jackshaft, y'all'll have less maintenance and moving parts to monitor over fourth dimension. This type of drive controls the torsion bar that opens and closes the door and is mounted on the left or right side of the door. Jackshaft openers tend to run more quietly than other options, although they're besides usually more expensive.

What features should I look for in a garage door opener?

Garage door openers traditionally have been uncomplicated devices. They still are, for the well-nigh part. Only as with a lot of household items, technological advances are finding their way into garage door opener hardware.

At that place are quite a few useful features in modern garage door openers that are becoming standard offerings instead of expensive perks.

  • Automated close: If you commonly forget to close your garage door, you can set some systems to automatically close it after a certain catamenia of time.
  • Battery backup: Some garage door openers take a battery backup then they'll still operate when the power goes out. Yahoodain stressed the importance of having a bombardment backup, explaining that it's one of the nigh important features to wait for in a garage door opener. A recent California law requires all garage door openers sold in the state have a backup battery, subsequently people were trapped in their garages during power outages related to wildfires in 2017.
  • Controls: Most garage door openers will ship with a wall-mount button for inside the garage and remote control devices you can place in your vehicle. Some volition have a keypad that yous place outside the garage door so you can enter a code and open the door.
  • Horsepower: The horsepower (HP) measurement describes the ability the garage door opener motor has. A motor with a greater horsepower measurement will open up and close the door more rapidly, while also being able to handle larger and heavier doors. According to Yahoodain, 1/2 HP should be sufficient for most garage doors, but for heavier doors, y'all may want to upgrade to 3/4 HP or more.
  • Security lights: Most newer garage door openers accept at to the lowest degree two bright bulbs, every bit well every bit motion-activated lights. Cheaper openers may exist express to a single calorie-free bulb that doesn't illuminate your whole garage.
  • Smartphone command: Many newer garage door openers allow you to connect the device to your home'due south WiFi network. You lot tin can then open and close the door through a smartphone app. Many of these apps volition alert you when the garage door is open for a certain menstruation. You should starting time make sure your new opener will be compatible with your existing domicile system and ensure your WiFi signal is strong plenty to attain your garage, said Yahoodian.

Alex Rennie

Freelance Reporter, Insider Reviews

Alex Rennie is a freelance author who specializes in the home comeback, DIY, and apparatus space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter for four years, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. Earlier Insider, Alex was a full-time carpenter living in New York Metropolis. There, he worked every bit part of a team designing, building, and installing big furniture pieces, as well every bit performing a variety of dwelling repair and maintenance projects. His expertise besides extends to the landscaping and gardening space, supported by experience every bit a landscaping professional. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free fourth dimension exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their domestic dog Louie. Acquire more most how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.

Kyle Schurman

Freelance Author

Kyle has been a freelance writer for 20 years, focusing mainly on consumer products. He has written product reviews, overviews, and how-to articles based on thousands of hands-on product tests.

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