How much does Cable repair cost?

Based on 6,673 real quotes from businesses in United States.

$79

TYPICAL

$139

$245

Enter a zip code

Yelp calculates estimated costs by gathering and analyzing real quotes provided to consumers by businesses on Yelp. Actual costs may vary.

Key takeaways

Garage door repair companies usually charge a minimum service call fee to come to your home
Cable repair costs depend on the type and size of your door
Cable problems are often caused by other garage door issues, which you’ll pay to have fixed

Most garage doors use a spring-and-pulley system to lift and lower the door in a controlled fashion. The muscle for this system is a set of braided steel cables that connects the bottom of the door to the spring mechanism.

But over years of stress, garage door cables can deteriorate and weaken. If doors become misaligned, cables may pop out of their pulleys and bind on other components, sometimes leading to fraying or complete breakage. In coastal environments, damp, salty air can cause cables to rust.

Cables are one of the first things a garage door repair service looks at when homeowners tell them a door isn’t working right. Common signs that you might need new garage door cables include:

Visible corrosion and/or fraying
Slack in the cable
A garage door cable that isn’t connected to the door, pulley, or spring
Cable that wraps over the edge of a pulley instead of tracking in its groove
Noisy and/or difficult door operation
Misalignment of the door

If you suspect that something isn’t right with your garage door cables, have a professional garage door repair company check it out. If you hear a loud bang coming from your garage and discover a broken garage door cable, don’t operate the door until it’s fixed—that could lead to further damage or injury.

In this guide, you’ll learn about the typical costs of having your garage door cable repaired by a pro.

Total cost for garage door cable repair

Most qualified garage door repair companies bill $80–130 for an initial service call, which typically includes diagnosing the problem and minor repairs. If you need extensive repairs that take longer than an hour, you may be charged $40–120 for each additional hour of labor, depending on your location.

Garage door cable replacement typically costs $90–210, including parts and labor. But the total price may be higher for premium cables or a large 2-car garage.

Cost of garage door cable repair by problem

With good garage door maintenance—including periodic lubrication and professional door alignment—garage door cables will last 7–15 years or longer under normal use. But other garage door problems can lead to early cable failure. Here’s what you’ll typically pay to fix the most common issues.

Improper installation. Modern roll-up garage doors are typically installed with torsion springs on the wall above the door opening, which help raise and lower the door. If the torsion springs are mismatched with the cables (or the drums they wind around), it leads to undue strain that can cause the cables to fray or break. If they aren’t covered by warranty, you’ll typically need to replace both the springs and cables. Garage door spring replacement generally costs $150–250.

Misaligned doors. If the bottom part of the garage door isn’t level when it’s closed, or if the door lurches when moving up and down, the garage door may be off track, causing strain on the cables. The garage door company will check to see if the door rollers are intact and running inside the garage door tracks, and if the tracks are clean. If not, they’ll make the necessary adjustments and determine whether new cables are needed. Rollers can be reset in the tracks for $175–$300; the average cost for track replacement is $120–200.

Worn-out bearings. Garage door bearings work with the torsion springs to keep the door operating smoothly. If there’s grinding or squeaking in the bearings as the door travels up and down—along with visible cable wear—it’s a sign that both the bearings and cables need to be replaced. Bearing replacement typically costs $85–250.

Garage door sensor problems. If your garage door opener has a defective “auto-reverse” mechanism, that’s another potential cause of cable failure. New garage door opener systems come with safety sensors that detect anything in the door’s path as it closes—if there’s an obstruction, it will haul the door back up. But if the system isn’t working, and the door closes on an object without reversing, the cables may run off of their drums. Garage door opener repair typically costs $85–100.

Cost factors

Here are some other issues that can affect the price of garage door cable repair.

Type of garage door. Heavy materials (such as wood or steel doors) put more tension on springs and cables than lighter materials (such as fiberglass doors), so you’ll typically need tougher, more expensive replacement parts.

Garage door size. Larger doors are also heavier and harder to work with than smaller doors, so garage door repair prices are usually higher.

Where you live. Labor rates tend to be higher in large cities, so you may pay 5–50% more for common garage door repairs.

Warranties. Garage doors typically come with a warranty of about 5 years, which should cover replacement costs if the original ones are faulty.

FAQs

How much does garage door cable repair cost?

Most qualified garage door repair companies charge $80–130 for an initial service call, and $40–120 per hour for labor past the first hour. Garage door cable replacement generally costs $90–210, but can be higher for an especially large or heavy door.

Can I open a garage door with a broken cable?

Don’t operate the door until it’s fixed—it could lead to further damage or injury. Garage door repair isn’t typically a DIY home-improvement project, so it makes sense to hire a professional.

How often should you replace garage door cables?

Garage door cables last an average of 7–15 years, but with proper maintenance, some will last the life of the garage door—usually 15–30 years. But other garage door problems, such as improperly installed torsion springs or misaligned doors, can cause cable strain and early failure. Many garage door service pros will diagnose any issues for the cost of a service call, which is typically $80–130.

Find a garage door repair professional in your area.

Learn more about garage door services:

How are Yelp’s cost estimates calculated?

Every year, millions of consumers request quotes on Yelp from top-rated local professionals. We combine these real-life project quotes with data from the millions of people who interact with businesses on Yelp today. We use our years of expertise to create handy local cost guides that you can trust. Get accurate estimates on projects in your area, from roofing to moving.